Our Lady, Conceived Without Sin, Pray for Us!

Today is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. It's one of those special days around here. Three years ago, our family attended Mass together, I remembered #1 served, then after Mass I knelt before the Tabernacle while our pastor conferred to me the investiture of the Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

Investiture with the Blue Scapular

Celebrant: Lord Jesus, You chose to share our human nature. We humbly ask You to bless this scapular made in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Grant that those who are clothed in it lend themselves to moral renewal among people. And may this, Your servant, invested with the scapular, through the intersession of the Virgin Mary Immaculately Conceived also deserve to be clothed in You, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

The celebrant sprinkles the scapular with holy water and places it over the shoulders of the recipient, saying: Sister, receive the Blue Scapular, from now on a sign of your belonging in the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, that by her help you may divest yourself of “the old man.” May God grant that you may wear it cleansed of every sin and free of all stain, and thus pass into eternal life. Amen.

My protector...not sure if she comes out when I exercise so that she may shield me or to extend blessings to all those who pass by. Probably both :0)

It seems, as is proper, that the Holy Spirit is around for all the little and big things in life...to guide me as I walk, often losing my way. As a woman, wife and mother, though, Our Lady has a special place in my life. She points the way always to her Son and she helps me to hear when the Spirit is only a whisper. How blessed we are to have such a loving Mother in heaven!

This morning I attended Mass alone but was surrounded by others who had come for many different reasons, I'm sure. How blessed we all were to participate, as is custom here on Saturday, in the novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

"O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."

She's not done! Is Mary ever done being kind and helpful to us? This coming week ends with the 100th (!!!) anniversary of the Miracle at Fatima. Three young shepherds who were visited by the Blessed Mother as she entrusted to them messages from heaven. One of the simplest and most powerful is to pray the rosary daily for peace. Let's all pledge to pray at least one rosary every day between now and Friday, to show our love for this most gracious of all mothers. She who leads us always, happily, to her Son.

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!