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SPF03.1- The Blessed Family's Rosary Apostolate
Our internal Blessed Family's religious community GM5 (Give Me High-Five) Rosebud-Rosary can be also a practical, catechetical and devotional combined "remedy" or improvement:
- For children that may find it less "boring" than an ordinary rosary, especially when it is possible to introduce some playful or exciting adaptations for them (see our GM5 booklet for practical suggestions, meditation samples, etc.)
- For seekers of a deeper and meaningful meditational rosary, now able to slow down the repetitional portion in order to better savoring each "Hail Mary", especially the Holy Name of Jesus in each mentioning, making "room-time" for personal additions like "I love you, Lord!", Thank You, Jesus!, etc.
- For busy people who would like to pray a rosary daily, but for whom reality and anxiety make it impossible.
Our special Blessed Family rosary, nicknamed the "GM5" rosary, & guidelines booklet for regular or meditated use, with double counts (see pictures below, at the Photos tab) is easier for children, realistic for busy people, more meaningful for beginners, catechumens, elderly, and even provides a deep experience for ascetics.
Since a white rosebud is a beautiful symbol for Our Lady as a child, and Little Miryam as the Blessed Family's Immaculate Princess our particular devotion (see prayer at the end), we would like to combine both and present the following Rosary devotion argument and proposal:
Because a Rosary is a "bouquet of spiritual roses" originally and normally offered up to Our Lady by a group of devotees, we have decided to also offer a "bouquet of rosebuds" or a combination of both to her as a child/teen in a more flexible means for solo or communal rosary prayers, hopefully more attractable / adaptable also for teens and children. Let’s assume that each regular rosary bead is a symbol of a rose fully opened, represented by the combination of two small prayers: The "Ave" (or Hail...) plus the "Holy Mary" prayer normally repeated by others. Now, if we consider each individual prayer as a single rose-bud than we can realistically slow down, by counting and keep praying the whole decade of each Mystery in less hurry, if we pray one bead for the Hail Mary and the next bead for the Holy Mary response. Therefore counting one bead for each (10) rose-bud per mystery. Many would agree that a bouquet of fresh, high-quality rosebuds is even more beautiful and fragrant than full-blown roses, if we use that saved time to smell each prayer and better contemplate each mystery. We need to better understand the practical implications and the seriousness of St. Pope John Paul II's warnings when he said:
“The Rosary, precisely because it starts with Mary’s own experience, is an exquisitely contemplative prayer. Without this contemplative dimension, it would lose its meaning… Without contemplation, the Rosary is a body without a soul, and its recitation runs the risk of becoming a mechanical repetition of formulas, in violation of the admonition of Christ: “In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their many words.”” (St. Pope John Paul II). In other words, we are convinced that praying "High Fives" would be preferable than praying "Low Tens", so-to-speak, especially because our "High Fives" proposal mandatorily combine a devotional dimension with a catechetical one, trading the saved time with more spiritual "flavors and colors", becoming potentially more pleasing to Our Lady and more fruitful to us than "Low Tens" IF merely prayed mechanically. St. Teresa of Avila, the great teacher and doctor of prayer life, in similar words, insists on being more concern with the quality than the quantity.
However, if daily prayer does not transform your life for better, rooting out serious sins, then pray more and/or change the way you pray, until entering/staying in a state of grace at any price and as soon as possible. The secret, as St. Teresa warned us, is that "without love for others, interior liberty and humility, real prayer is impossible." An authentic mystical experience of God supports a practical ascetic life and vice versa. Two sides of the same coin. And if we have those three pre-required conditions and intimate friendship with our Lord, then it doesn't matter much how/when/where we pray. And we will be naturally eager to pray more and work less, but work indeed, under deep Peace. Work indeed because working with God in a more creative and prayerful way, since we cannot create anything without God, but we can co-create everything "new" with Him and in Him even on a daily basis, if we are ready to face the end of our lives at any moment, regardless of age. God without man remains God, but a man without the friendship of God is nothing.
Thomas Merton, OCSO, a Trappist monk and a master of spiritual life summarized it in perfect terms using the keyword conversion: "Prayer is then not just a formula of words, or a series of desires springing up in the heart – it is the orientation of our whole body, mind and spirit to God in silence, attention, and adoration. All good prayer is a conversion of our entire self to God. Real Prayer as such (capital "P"), is like breathing from a pricelessly clean divine air, without health breathing the soul gradually enters the state of coma, without realizing it, or suddenly just die.
Therefore, seeking holiness deeply grateful for the infinite gift of the Christian Faith, pleading Mercy for us sinners and for the whole humanity until the "Final Perseverance," conscious that "for me" it could come today, through an unexpected death, is what really matters. After all, how can anyone keep pleading Our Lady's intercession with a such powerful "Hail Mary's" conclusion ("pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death,") over and over again - many doing so for a lifetime! - without minimally understanding its real meaning and critical importance? Let's learn from St. Teresa of Avila, that died proudly saying: "Finally, I'm dying as a daughter of the Church." She got it! Absolutely. And packed its real meaning synthesizing her whole life into this single, intriguing, and glorious statement, like timeless dynamite against superficiality, relativism, and mental laziness, so prevalent today.
GM5= "Give-Me-Five" or "Give Me High-Five" Rosebud-Rosary is prayed according to the following five suggestions. Introductory and closing prayers are also included:
1) Five mysteries with meditations (one distinct group of 5 Mysteries per each day of the week, see list below).
2) Five Offerings and/or Petitions, one per mystery
3) Five Hail Mary's per mystery (we call them "rosebuds" instead of full roses=Aves+Holy...)
4) Five Holy Mary's per mystery (we also call them "rosebuds," totaling 10 rose-buds per Mystery)
5) Five Our Father highlights, which consist of five prayers (Glory Be. Oh my Jesus..., Our Father, our indispensable ejaculatory - below - plus one free devotional ejaculatory like "The family that prays together, stays together; or asking for vocations, etc.)
Indispensable ejaculatory prayer: Oh Mary! Conceived without sin in the blessed womb of Saint Anne, please pray with your mom and dad for the salvation of our families, conversion of sinners, and (here goes each one of the five offerings or petitions).
Before the GM5' Blessed Family Rosary "deal!" every time parents heard a loud choir in perfect unity shouting, "Mommm! We are hungry! Let's go to McDonald's,” their only choices were to either say an unmistakably loud “Yes,” or a soft, careful quiet, "No, honey, we have plenty of food at home.” Now, as a third and providential option, moms and dads just need to raise their hand in silence, offering our Give-me-five rosary "deal": If children (already knowing the real meaning) agreed and sealed the "deal" with their hands playing "high-five" (no words necessary!) then, after or before such a "blessed" McDonald's dinner, the whole family will have the opportunity to enjoy a little prayer and play time together as a family. Just make abundantly clear to them, over and over again, that only the family that prays together, will be able to stay together. No "deal?" No McDonald's; it’s that simple(*)! No words necessary! Evidently "McDonald's" here is just a symbol; it could be a video game, a nice movie, anything.
* = And say a quiet prayer: Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, pray for us!
HERE'S THE 1,2,3 "DEAL." We challenge you:
Click here to read the 7 surprising things that happen from the rosary, if prayed often.
Below, little Miryam our Immaculate Princess on her “throne,” God the Father's masterpiece, spotless human diamond, divine gift to St Anne, that she gave, with herself, completely to St. Joachim, who entrusted her to St Joseph, that gave her to Jesus, who entrusted her to St. John, and then extended her motherhood to all of us! Evidently she learned the "total gift of self" from her mom and dad:
Oh Immaculate Princess!
Precious little Miryam of papa Saint Joachim, conceived without sin in the blessed womb of mama St. Anne, In your overflowing fullness of grace, we plead please remember us, as you remembered even your homemade baby-dolls, and the many kisses your mom & dad "had" to give on them - in addition to yours! - because of your "intercession": Protect us from tragedies, especially grave sins, therefore defending us against the Evil One, and keep us in peace under your angels, we beg you, we trust. United to your beloved parents, please pray for us, little Princess, who have recourse to thee as adoptive brothers and sisters that we may live a life of ongoing conversion, always within your Son's Church, as holy and joyful as possible; in your name loving and protecting every child, every grandparent, every pregnant woman, every family, until safely united with you in Paradise, forever! Full of hope and confidence we plead, through your sweet, kind and most pure heart of a little Jewish girl forever alive within you, for the sake of your mom and dad's unforgettable ocean of tender love, prayers, and homey protection, and for the inexhaustible everlasting treasure of holy memories and consolations that they infused in the deepest reaches of your being, as an essential portion of your eternal Heaven, that God the Father, rich in Mercy, through your intercession, in the blood and merits of your son Jesus Christ, our Messiah and Divine Redeemer, will indeed grant humanity a new Pentecost, with all the grace and blessings that we need to really understand the power of fraternal unity in the Holy Spirit, and become a New Humanity, meek and humble of heart, loving and courageously faithful to the Will of God, until the last day of our lives, up to the last generation. Ad majorem Dei gloriam, Amen!
Sts. Anne and Joachim, Pray for us and our families!
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1) If you pray the rosary at least once a month, please keep doing it and consider yourself invited to try our "Give-Me-5" also once a week. After all, can't you "hear" our loving and powerful Mother, always thirsting for our companionship, almost begging us for more "roses of reparations" like saying: "At least 'give-me-five' (kisses,...) once a week, and I will be even more close to you, therefore able to better protect and guide you on how to overcome your weekly trials and tribulations"?
2) If you pray the rosary at least once a week, please keep doing it and consider yourself invited to try our GM5's Rosary also daily, which will also give you three (3) additional sets of Mysteries, one distinct group of five mysteries for each day of the week (see list below), since one of our main purposes is to combine devotion with catechesis.
3) Finally, if you pray the rosary daily, please keep doing it and consider yourself invited to try our "Give-Me-5” rosary of rose-buds whenever you are going to pray for your daily "obligation," but are feeling anxious for any reason, sleepy, tired or just have little time and would love to use more of that time to better meditate on the five mysteries and learn our three additional sets of Mysteries as prayed by the members of our nascent Blessed Family religious community and friends.
We are living in a world day by day more determined to promote sin and even eager to celebrate grave sins as if harmless, when in fact sins are the only root source of real evils. In such a global culture evermore hostile against the Christian Faith and the sacredness of human life, let's not forget the evident heartfelt plead of our sweet and merciful Mother, for the sake of mankind, begging us like saying: "At least "give-me-five (kisses, roses, problems, reparations, hugs, loved ones, consolations, illnesses, hopes, thanksgiving, you name it...) whenever you can and as "high five" (so-to-speak) as you can," for our own benefit. She will never allow herself to be overdone in generosity: "O Mary conceived without sin in the sacred womb of St. Anne, pray for us who have recourse to thee."
AND HERE ARE THE SEVEN GROUPS OF MYSTERIES AS A CATECHETICAL PATH FOR THE WHOLE WEEK, FIVE MYSTERIES PER DAY, ONE ROSEBUD COLOR SYMBOL (see pictures samples below) FOR EACH SET OF MYSTERIES.
(Note: Our three additions will be corrected/improved in order to receive the "nihil obstat" version as soon as possible, from the proper Ecclesiastic authority. Suggestions/corrections, extensive to our whole website, including orthographic improvements, are always welcome and deeply appreciated, just go the CONTACT tab.)
1st set: TUESDAY: The Foundational Mysteries (White):
1st- Our Grandfather Abraham's decision to believe and obey God to the point of sacrificing his own beloved son Isaac.
2nd- The granting of the Ten Commandments through Moses and his interconnected Mission to lead the people of God out of slavery
3rd- The foundational blessed marriages of St. Joseph's and St. Mary's parents.
4th- The Immaculate Conception of St. Mary in the sacred womb of St. Anne.
5th- The Holy Matrimony of St. Joseph, son of David, and his most holy wife St. Mary.
2nd set: WEDNESDAY - The Joyful Mysteries (Pink):
1st- The Annunciation.
2nd- The Visitation.
3rd- The Nativity.
4th- The Presentation.
5th- The Finding of Jesus in the Temple.
3rd set: THURSDAY - The Luminous Mysteries (Orange):
1st- The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.
2nd- The Wedding Feast at Cana.
3rd- The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God.
4th- The Transfiguration of Jesus.
5th- The Institution of the Eucharist.
4th set: FRIDAY - The Sorrowful Mysteries (Red):
1st- The Agony in the Garden.
2nd- The Scourging at the Pillar.
3rd- The Crowning With Thorns.
4th- The Carrying of the Cross.
5th- The Crucifixion.
5th set: SATURDAY - Mysteries of the Cross and our Redemption (Burgundy):
1st- The absolute Sovereignty of God the Father & His awesome Salvation Plan.
2nd- The Mystery of the incarnation of God the Son as a Messiah.
3rd- The seminal power of Christ spoken words and rituals for the establishment His Church.
4th- The 7 "words" of Christ on the Cross, especially His abyssal screaming of abandonment and subsequent consummation of His sacrifice.
5th- The overwhelming success of Jesus' Mission (in light of His resurrection) and its consequent "Economy of Salvation", which is not restricted to spiritual/eternal Salvation.
6th set: SUNDAY - The Glorious Mysteries (Yellow):
1st- The Resurrection of Jesus.
2nd- The Ascension of Jesus.
3rd- The Coming of the Holy Spirit.
4th- The Assumption of Mary.
5th- The Coronation of Mary.
7th set: MONDAY - The Contemporaneous plus Eschatological Mysteries (Blue):
1st- The Church living magisterium, the primacy of Peter and the priceless legacy of the Papacy.
2nd- The establishment of the Catholic Religious Orders and Institutions.
3rd- The Marian Apparitions, devotional advocations and sacramentals.
4th- The imminent moment of my death and the unfathomable merciful gift of Purgatory.
5th- The end of time and space, followed by the Resurrection of all human bodies for The Final Judgement.
THE "GIVE-ME-HIGH FIVE" ROSEBUDS DOUBLE-BEADS ROSARY IS ALSO VERY HANDY FOR THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET! (Just follow the same HERE'S THE DEAL 1,2,3 equivalent adapted steps, based on the challenge, above.)
At a solemn liturgy instituted by Pope Saint John Paul II, related to the Divine Mercy universal annual feast day of 2018, during a blessing for pious objects which included our GM5 ("Give me high five") Rosary, we discerned with joy and surprise a clear call to use and promote the use of this specially designed Rosary to pray the chaplet of the Divine Mercy, in addition of the Marian Rosary.
The purpose, evidently, is to use the same concept of "rose-buds" pair of beads to slow down and better savor the repetition portion of each decade of the chaplet, using 5 beads for the historical argument "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion" and another 5 beads for the response/petition "Have mercy on us and on the whole world." Therefore, we hope to remove, even more, the so frequent excuse of lack of time or anxiety, from "busy people," children and everybody else, at the same time hoping to improve the quality and spiritual fruits of each Chaplet.
Five (5) are also the pious modes or instruments through which we can reach a full devotion to the Divine Mercy. Besides the obvious prerequired need to sincere Trust in Jesus' Mercy and parallel sacramental needs like proper Confession, at least Sunday Mass, etc., here is the list of those five (5) means, including a detailed explanation below (by James F. Gontis). They are:
1st: The Image of the Divine Mercy
2sd: The Divine Mercy Chaplet
3rd: The Hour of Great Mercy – 3 P.M.
4th: The Novena to the Divine Mercy
5th: Divine Mercy Sunday
1st: The Image of the Divine Mercy:
(Words in bold are words of Jesus to Saint Faustina as recorded by her in her diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul).
Paint an image according to the pattern you see with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You… I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory (47, 48).
I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature: "Jesus, I trust in You" (327).
I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world (47).
The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross (299).
By means of this image, I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works (742).
Not in the beauty of the color, nor of the brush lies the greatness of this image, but in My grace (313).
2nd: The Divine Mercy Chaplet:
Begin with the Sign of the Cross First three prayers – Our Father, Hail Mary, Apostles Creed On each of the "Our Father" beads of the Rosary, the following prayer is said, sung, or chanted: Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, of your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. On each of the Hail Mary beads of the Rosary, the following prayer is said, sung, or chanted: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. At the end of the Chaplet, say three times:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world. End with the Sign of the Cross.
Sister Faustina records in her diary entitled Divine Mercy in My Soul that the Lord Jesus spoke these words to her regarding the chaplet: Say unceasingly the chaplet that I have taught you. Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy. I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My Mercy. (687)
Write that when they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the merciful Savior. (1541) Note: This in no way implies that the Divine Mercy Chaplet is a replacement for the sacraments. It is not.
3rd: The Hour of Great Mercy – 3 P.M. :
As recorded in her diary, the Lord Jesus asked Saint Faustina to pray in a special way at the 3 o' clock hour each afternoon. This is the hour that our Lord died on the Cross. Below are some of the things that Jesus recommended that St. Faustina do during this "Hour of Great Mercy." Note: It is clear in St. Faustina's diary that these recommendations are not only for her but for others as well. They are excellent ideas for us to incorporate into our own lives of prayer.
At three o' clock, implore the Lord's Divine Mercy for the whole world and especially for sinners (cf. Divine Mercy In My Soul #1320). Immerse yourself in our Lord's Passion, even if only for a moment, and particularly in His abandonment at the moment of agony. St. Faustina writes in her diary that Jesus promises that He will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Him in virtue of His Passion (cf. Divine Mercy In My Soul #1320). Note: What one asks for must be in accordance with the will of God. At three o' clock, immerse yourself completely in the Lord's Mercy, adoring and glorifying it. Invoke the omnipotence of the Lord's Mercy for the whole world and especially for poor sinners. Jesus said to St. Faustina that in this hour one can obtain everything for oneself and for others for the asking. Note: What one asks for must be in accordance with the will of God. Can make the Stations of the Cross, make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, or simply immerse yourself in prayer for a moment where you happen to be.
4th: The Novena to the Divine Mercy:
(Words in bold are words of Jesus to Saint Faustina as recorded by her in her diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul).
Begins on Good Friday and ends on Saturday in the Octave of Easter. As recorded in her diary, our Lord asked Sister Faustina for prayers for different groups of people each day:
First Day – Today bring to me all mankind, especially all sinners… Second Day – Today bring to me the souls of Priests and Religious… Third Day – Today bring to me all devout and faithful souls… Fourth Day – Today bring to me those who do not believe in God and those who do not yet know me… Fifth Day – Today bring to me those who have separated themselves from the Church Sixth Day – Today bring to Me the meek and humble souls and the souls of little children… Seventh Day – Today bring to Me the souls of those who especially glorify and venerate My Mercy… Eighth Day – Today bring to Me the souls who are detained in Purgatory… Ninth Day – Today bring to Me souls who have become lukewarm…
5th: Divine Mercy Sunday:
(Words in bold are words of Jesus to Saint Faustina as recorded by her in her diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul).
On April 30, 2000, at the canonization of St. Faustina, Pope John Paul II said the Sunday after Easter Sunday would be a known as Divine Mercy Sunday. A plenary indulgence is available to those who observe Divine Mercy Sunday following the usual prescriptions – Sacramental Confession, reception of Holy Communion, free from all attachment to sin.
Fitting ways to commemorate Divine Mercy Sunday:
-Sincerely repent of all of our sins. -Place our complete trust in Jesus. -Go to Confession. -Receive Holy Communion. -Venerate the Image of the Divine Mercy, e.g. a bow before the image. -Be merciful to others through our prayers, words, and actions.
This Feast emerged from the very depths of My mercy, and it is confirmed in the vast depths of My tender mercies (420).
It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter… I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fountain of My mercy (699).
Regarding some required or conditioning spiritual dispositions: :
The Sacrament of Penance: The Tribunal of Mercy (Words in bold are words of Jesus to Saint Faustina as recorded by her in her diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul).
When you go to Confession, to this fountain of mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul (1602)
…In the Tribunal of Mercy (the Sacrament of Confession)… the greatest miracles take place and are incessantly repeated (1448).
…Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy (1602).
The Holy Eucharist: The Presence of Mercy
The Holy Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, under the appearances of bread and wine.
Each time we receive the Eucharist, we receive the Lord Jesus in His totality as true God and true man.
“All the good that is in me is due to Holy Communion.” – St. Faustina
“Herein lies the whole secret of my sanctity.” – St. Faustina
The Holy Eucharist is the font of Divine Mercy. The Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life.”
Complete Trust in Divine Mercy (Words in bold are words of Jesus to Saint Faustina as recorded by her in her diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul).
I am Love and Mercy itself (1074).
While there is still time, let them have recourse to the fount of My mercy (848).
He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of my justice (1146).
Let no soul fear to draw near to me, even though its sins be as scarlet (699).
My Mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world (1485).
Sooner would heaven and earth turn into nothingness than would My Mercy not embrace a trusting soul (1777)
OUR LADY'S 15 PROMISES FOR PRAYING THE ROSARY.
Besides the Indulgences attached to the Rosary, Our Lady revealed to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche additional benefits for those who devoutly pray the Rosary. Note that the Rosary is the non-liturgical prayer with the most published Magisterial / Papal documents expounding on its excellence. Vatican II's summary on Our Lady is contained in Lumen Gentium chapter VIII.