Of all the prayers you go through when praying the rosary, Hail, Holy Queen is my favourite one. That's why I look forward to that final bead of the rosary, not because it signifies the end of the final decade (of 5), but because I get to complete my prayers with the one that speaks to me the most. (It's funny how I first struggled to remember the last two lines of this prayer when vowing to pray the rosary every day for Lent. That quickly changed)
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To you do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this exile show unto us
the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Today I completed my 40 days of praying the rosary. It's a couple of days early as Lent really actually becomes a 45 day season, due to all the Sundays, which apparently meant that each week one could take a one day break from the Lenten sacrifices? I'd never heard of this before, and will just go on as if I hadn't. I feel like taking a break defeats the purpose of the personal challenge. But I suppose that even when you go on some diets, there are some days of grace.
Overall, it's been a success. I know now that praying the rosary is not something you can just rush through, and can easily become monotonous and lose its meaning if you break your focus, which is why each daily mystery should not be ignored.
There were times over the last few weeks when I replaced my rosary prayer with my before-I-lay-me-down-to-sleep prayer, and would doze off or completely fall asleep, so I learned to create a better environment for my mind as well.
I get to hang up my rosary now, but it is not in the corner of my closet with my necklaces, it's on my cork board where I can see it, because I feel comfortable taking it with me now and finding time for it when I or somebody may need some prayers.
As for my other two challenges:
-I commented on my consumerism the other day and am continuing to break out of the mold. Again, I think I am becoming closer to developing better habits.
-Swearing. I certainly do think the words and sometimes they do slip. But they are not directed at others anymore. And when I hear others swearing, my heart drops to the floor and I have to cast down my eyes. It's a shame that it can define how others are, but I can't change everyone - the challenge was first to change myself, and I feel like a more dignified individual.
I read all of Shane Koyczan's poems in his book "Visiting Hours" yesterday. It's true that he has the capacity to break your heart and then mend it. Make you laugh and make you cry. I will not post the words of them here, because it is important to experience his words by hearing them as well.
So go to
and listen to one today.
If you only have time for one (prepare to want to listen to them all), then let the one be: Visiting Hours
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