Martyr's Rosary.
A friend sent me an early birthday present, a skull rosary from Rosary Workshop. They call it a Day of the Dead Rosary, but I use it in honor of the martyrs and those fleeing persecution. It is beautifully crafted.
My friend asked if I brought it to church and I laughed and said that would be ostentatious, I pray the rosary discreetly, bunching it in my hand so no one notices - this rosary is quite large. My friend was surprised - he seemed to think Catholics like to show off their rosaries and I'd be the envy of everyone. I laughed out loud. He's not a Catholic nor is he religious - so it is rather amazing to me that he would even think to give me a gift like this.
Anyway, I'm praying for the martyrs and those lost at sea, with or without the "Martyr's Rosary" - but the Martyr's Rosary is an excellent reminder.
Migrants crossing the Mediterranean.
The Pope - speaking on Sunday morning after the Regina Coeli prayer in St. Peter’s Square, - told tens of thousands of people “They are men and women like us, our brothers seeking a better life, starving, persecuted, wounded, exploited, victims of war. They were looking for a better life".
Faced with such a tragedy – Pope Francis continued - I express my most heartfelt pain and promise to remember the victims and their families in prayer."I make a heartfelt appeal to the international community to react decisively and quickly to see to it that such tragedies are not repeated," he said, before asking the crowd to pray "for these brothers and sisters". - VR
Ah...Terry. A beautiful rosary indeed and most appropriate too. Please include my family and me in your prayers as I do you and yours.
ReplyDeleteI read that ISIS has put out another video that purportedly shows them beheading a group of Ethiopian Christians this time. I only saw a picture of them walking them in orange colored jumpsuits along the ocean's shore. Not sure of how authentic it is. I read too that Boko Haram is adopting ISIS's plan on how to exterminate Christians.
So much tragedy and the world still just seems to roll over and goes back to sleep.
My prayers united to those of Papa Francis and all faithful and those working in this bloody vineyard of the Lord. May God come to the aid of His little ones.
I'll keep you in my prayers - of course.
DeleteI saw the article about ISIS and the Ethiopians - it's unbelievable. Pray, pray, pray.
That rosary is perfect for you. How good of your friend to choose a gift that suits you, rather than one better suited to the giver. If you eve want to appear eccentric, you should bring th rosary with you.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm already eccentric enough. You saw my organ outfit on the last post on Gather hymns. What?
Delete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteIf I had that rosary, I'd probably flash it around for the Memento Mori message!
Incidentally, I do have a big rosary of my own. If I bunched it up in my hand, I wouldn't be able to close my fist. =P And that's the reason why I normally only use it at home. At church, I pray on my fingers. When I had a smaller rosary, however, I brought it everywhere and didn't mind taking it out.
Truth be told, I prayed the rosary secretly like that in church when you weren't supposed to be praying the rosary because it was only for old ladies - that was what I was told way back when - so no one ever knew I was praying the rosary. It became a habit and I still pray it that way. Sometimes now I'll let it hang down, but I'm careful it doesn't slam against the pews.
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