You can Obtain Anything With the Rosary

In this age of chaos and confusion we can find strength and refuge in Our Lady, Mary.  In 1887, St. Therese of Lisieux wrote;

“Through the Rosary, everything can be obtained.  According to a graceful comparison, it is a long chain that connects Heaven to earth, one end is in our hands, and the other in those of the Blessed Virgin.  As long as the Rosary is recited, God will not be able to abandon the world, for this prayer is powerful on his heart.  It is like the leaven that can regenerate the earth the earth.  The sweet Queen of Heaven cannot forget her children who constantly repeat her praises.  The Rosary rises like incense to the foot of throne of the Almighty.  Mary then returns it as the beneficial dew, which comes to regenerate the hearts. There is no prayer that is more pleasing to God than the Rosary".

While she knew that there is that no prayer, or prayers, that are more pleasing to Mary, or her son, Jesus.  She understood the power of this prayer, but her life also models some of the problems we all face.  The Church has long recognized that people get distracted when reciting the Rosary.  Many saints also struggled with distractions,  St. Thérèse is no exception.  In her Story of a Soul, she writes that she has a hard time fixing the mysteries in her mind.  However, she did not give up. Rather, she placed her trust in the Blessed Virgin, she trusted that the Blessed Mother knew Thérèse’s intentions.

St. Therese knew the promises of Mary.  The eleventh promise for those who faithfully recite the Rosary is; You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary.  St. Therese knew something that many people do not recognize.  While it is best to say the Rosary reverently and thoughtfully, Mary looks at our hearts and sees our intentions.  When I was young, the Rosary was not encouraged in my household.  We were all Catholic, but the Rosary was not honored.  In my CCD class, one Saturday morning, I heard about the Rosary.  Immediately, I wanted to say it.  The teacher never fully explained the prayers, probably assuming that all Catholic households knew this devotion.  For years I had seen these odd-looking necklace-type things around the house; in drawers, on shelves, or in boxes.  Now, I knew what they were and I knew where I could lay my hands on one.  I grabbed it and went into my room.  I thought, mistakenly, that I should say the “Hail Mary” on ALL THE BEADS.  I did it, but I did not understand why Mary would wan all of these same prayers.  Over the years I learned about the mysteries and wealth of prayers.  But the take-away point is that I truly feel that Mary looked upon the, misguided and flawed, faith of a little boy and patiently indulged him- not as the Queen of Heaven, but as a mom.  Now, I am a Theologian and I learned that faith does have to be perfect.  Mary, and her son, Jesus, look toward a pure and strong faith.  This creates a good context for miracles or the obtaining of anything.