family prayer | The-Rosary-In-Our-Hands
Recognizing the place of the Blessed Mother in my life and the importance of the Rosary was a gradual process for me. I was blessed to be raised in a Catholic home, the youngest of seven siblings, and was fortified by the love of my mom and dad (60+ years) as well as an aunt who lived with us while growing up. The Catholic faith and the Mass were always important to my family. I was in rich soil.
Mary Had a Special Role in Hearing Our Requests
While I do not remember praying the Rosary on a regular basis during those early years, I do recall that we would go to Mary and pray the Rosary together when people in the family needed significant intercession. We trusted that Mary had a special role in hearing our requests and praying for us, presenting our petitions to her Son. One memory of praying together as a family was in early college. My sister-in-law was hemorrhaging after giving birth to my nephew, and we prayed the Rosary as a family, receiving a call shortly afterward that she would be okay (a doctor who was pioneering a way to help women in these situations just happened to be in town for a presentation and was called to help).
A pivotal Eucharistic conversion moment happened for me while on retreat during my senior year of high school. After that time and into college, I began to appreciate more the power of Mary’s prayers for us. One of my brothers was deeply influenced by Mary in his own ongoing conversion and vocational discernment, which made an impact on me. I also began to recognize the “little signs” showing Mary’s closeness and prayer for me during my life, whether during grade school (Our Lady of the Assumption was the patroness) or while I was on my high school senior retreat at a location named after Mary.
Praying the Rosary Regularly
In college, my mom encouraged me to treat my then-girlfriend (now my wife) as I would the Blessed Mother, which supported a path of chastity. I began praying the Rosary more regularly in college, including during runs or walks. My aunt gave me a “dashboard Rosary” one Christmas, which jumpstarted a regular practice of praying the Rosary in the car to and from college and later, on the way to work, going to Sunday Mass, and on family trips — a practice that has continued to this day.
Today, our daily family prayer often consists of praying a decade of the Rosary for particular intentions often voiced by our kids, and we pray a Hail Mary at dinner for all the intentions of our extended family — a practice requested by our mom and dad several years ago. Praying with Mary and asking for her intercession is a regular rhythm of our lives. Much room for growth, of course, but we seek to follow, in our little and imperfect ways, Jesus Himself, who gave His mother to us as our own. Mother Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!
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.
About the author:
Andrew W. Lichtenwalner, PhD is the Director of the Office of Evangelization and Discipleship in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. He serves on the Family Rosary board of Holy Cross Family Ministries, the board of Life-Giving Wounds, and the advisory committee for Newman Ministry. He was also a member of the advisory committee for Chesterton Academy of Atlanta. His faith was nurtured through family life and the love of his parents and siblings, with the support of Catholic schools, campus ministries, and parish life in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. After taking time in college (University of Georgia) to discern the Lord’s call, Andy married his college sweetheart, earned an MA and PhD in theology (University of Dallas and The Catholic University of America, respectively), and worked for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for twelve years before returning home to Georgia. Andy and his wife are blessed with four living children, with three little ones entrusted to the Lord.