For a very long time the month of May, beginning this Saturday, has been dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I grew up in a Catholic family where we normally made a "shrine" in the home and placed a statue of the Virgin within it during that month. It may have been on the mantle of our fireplace in the living room but not ostentatious by any means. No, you didn't have to genuflect coming in to the home but certainly we were not shy about honoring the mother of Jesus during that month.
At one time I specifically remember a traveling statue of Mary, good size, that would go from home to home among willing parishioners for a week of prayer by the family who would gather to pray the Rosary during a week of May. I frankly attribute my vocation very much to a moment of prayer during the Rosary with my family.
Certainly as Catholic families or individuals the Rosary is a most simple and beautiful way to honor Mary's life shared in the life of her son, Jesus, as you pray the Hail Mary's and remember significant events in the sharing of joy, Jesus' earthly life, sorrow, and glory in the resurrection and coming of the Holy Spirit.
This year, Pope Francis has called upon all Catholic around the globe to take up the Rosary daily for a specific intention each day during May: the end of this pandemic of the Corona virus and a return to social, religious, and work life for all. Although we may think things are tough here in the U.S. many other countries around the world are suffering a great burden due to this: India, Brazil, Mexico, Italy to name a few.
So, as a Church one of the things we must do is pray; pray constantly. Each day from a Marian shrine around the world, the Rosary will be broadcast across the globe from the Vatican. It will be Rome time of 6 p.m. so you can make the adjustment accordingly to your local time: 9 a.m. on the west coast of the U.S. and 12 noon on the east coast.
Pray every day, if not the Rosary but some Marian themed prayer to the mother of Jesus for an end to this burden on all people over the last year.
Below is a link both to a helpful article on this opportunity and also a list of the Marian shrines around the world which will be participating in this prayer event:
Prayer event: https://www.ncregister.com/news/pope-francis-to-launch-rosary-marathon-for-end-to-pandemic
Marian shrines participating: http://www.pcpne.va/content/dam/pcpne/pdf/Eventi/rosario2021/Shrine%20List%20Ing.pdf
As she did at Cana, so may she influence her Son to have mercy on the world.
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