family prayer | The-Rosary-In-Our-Hands
Waking yet again with a tear-stained pillow and used tissues on my nightstand, I rolled out of bed to begin another day of homeschooling my three young boys.
My marriage had been very rocky for two months and I didn’t know WHY, but I knew I felt abandoned. I began praying the Rosary religiously every single day because I knew only an act from Heaven could save us. My husband’s heart was hardened toward me ... and he would not reveal why.
Somehow, seven years in, I had suddenly woken up one day and we were only roommates.
Pleading for Intercession and Hope
It was Thursday, August 27, 2020, Saint Monica’s feast day — and I attended the Praise and Worship Adoration at my parish. What a gift that was, to lay my soul bare and raise my arms high and open my hands to release everything I could and receive everything I could. I pleaded for Saint Monica’s intercession for our marriage that night and tears of renewed hope streamed down my face.
September 16, 2020 arrived and my husband had left his phone home accidentally after going to work. I opened it with my breath held, and it was almost as if I knew I’d find what I did. And I was aware of Our Lady’s presence in that moment; she spoke to my heart: “This will be difficult, but I am here with you.”
Anger flooded me. Resentment, sadness, devastation.
But after dealing with all these emotions throughout the day, my last thoughts were, “I’m going to fight for this man. I’m playing a tug of war battle with Satan for his soul, and I’m going to win.” This must have been graces from the Blessed Mother!
God's Grace at Work
When he got home from work that day, his mom took the kids and we left for a drive. He didn’t speak and I prayed over and over, “Come Holy Spirit,” because I did want to scream.
We parked in our church parking lot, I turned to him and asked, “Do you still want to be with me?”
He burst into tears. Emotional intimacy I had been praying for for the past four years came flowing out. He told me everything, how captive he was held, and how it began in early childhood. I held him as he cried and whispered in his ear, “I forgive you.”
Our marriage has only healed more each year since then and I still thank God often for this miracle.
Place every single worry you have in Our Blessed Lady’s arms through the Rosary!
Venerable Patrick Peyton, known as "The Rosary Priest," devoted his priestly life to encouraging family prayer, especially the Rosary. This October, for the Month of the Holy Rosary, Family Rosary (an apostolate founded by Father Peyton) and Catholic Mom have teamed up for this daily series dedicated to the Rosary.
