“Hey Patti, I’m getting serious about praying
for my family. I’m going to do a 40-day fast and daily rosary, do you want to
join me?” My friend Shellie Rusch asked me this recently. She has six kids and we have a spiritual
sisterhood in many ways.
for my family. I’m going to do a 40-day fast and daily rosary, do you want to
join me?” My friend Shellie Rusch asked me this recently. She has six kids and we have a spiritual
sisterhood in many ways.
As a wife and mother of ten, I had eleven
reasons to say yes. Well, twelve including me, and I certainly need all the
help I can get. It was a comforting
idea, to get serious about the spiritual well being of our families and to pool
our prayers and fasting together. It
wasn’t as if we had not always prayed for our families, but this would be
different—something more; something big. We had one intention: for the increased
holiness of our families. In the end, holiness is all that matters so it was
all we would ask for.
reasons to say yes. Well, twelve including me, and I certainly need all the
help I can get. It was a comforting
idea, to get serious about the spiritual well being of our families and to pool
our prayers and fasting together. It
wasn’t as if we had not always prayed for our families, but this would be
different—something more; something big. We had one intention: for the increased
holiness of our families. In the end, holiness is all that matters so it was
all we would ask for.
“What do you think of also doing an ongoing
novena to various saints?” I suggested. “It
only takes a minute or two.”
novena to various saints?” I suggested. “It
only takes a minute or two.”
“Great idea,” Shellie agreed.
And since we went to daily Mass, we would
offer up our Holy Communions. We
prepared to start on a Monday, September 23.
offer up our Holy Communions. We
prepared to start on a Monday, September 23.
Inviting
Others
Others
As Shellie and I anticipated ramping things
up spiritually, it occurred to us that others might like to join us. I called a friend. “Count me in,” she said without hesitation.
up spiritually, it occurred to us that others might like to join us. I called a friend. “Count me in,” she said without hesitation.
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| The Beautiful Rusch Family |
When another friend heard about it and expressed
enthusiasm, I asked if that meant she wanted to sign up. “I’d be a fool not
to,” she laughed. “There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain.” With so many joining, we needed to name our
group. We chose “Mary’s Moms,” after the Blessed Virgin Mary, the most perfect
mother. She would take our intention to
her son, Jesus.
The
Theology
Theology
Shellie and I trusted the promises Jesus made
in Scripture. “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on
earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father
in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them”
(Matt 18: 19-20). It was also our
understanding that when praying as part of a group, the graces are multiplied
and not watered down. So each one shares
fully in the spiritual fruits.
in Scripture. “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on
earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father
in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them”
(Matt 18: 19-20). It was also our
understanding that when praying as part of a group, the graces are multiplied
and not watered down. So each one shares
fully in the spiritual fruits.
We wanted to be
sure we had our theology correct. I
asked my pastor, Msgr. Thomas Richter.
He confirmed that we had it right.
Each mom–therefore each family–shares fully in all the graces through
our spiritual efforts; each receives all.
sure we had our theology correct. I
asked my pastor, Msgr. Thomas Richter.
He confirmed that we had it right.
Each mom–therefore each family–shares fully in all the graces through
our spiritual efforts; each receives all.
I asked Msgr. Richter about moms who had made the Total Consecration of
Jesus through Mary. Had we not, through
that consecration, already agreed to hand everything over to Mary’s care? Did participation in Mary’s Moms in any way
contradict that prior agreement?
Jesus through Mary. Had we not, through
that consecration, already agreed to hand everything over to Mary’s care? Did participation in Mary’s Moms in any way
contradict that prior agreement?
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| My Beloved Family |
“There is no conflict,” he said. “When
we hand everything over to Mary, we don’t ignore our own good desires.” Msgr. Richter explained that we were
following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. “It is not for your own ego
or will but you are offering it out of an awareness that this is what the Lord
wants and you present it to Mary to bring it to the Lord.” He explained further
that if we have done the Total Consecration, what we handed over to Mary was
our hearts.
Word
Spreads
Spreads
In less than 3 weeks, we had 45 moms. Since prayers
said together are multiplied, that means we each get the benefit of everyone else’s rosaries, Holy
Communions, prayers and spiritual sacrifices. 45 x 45 is 2,025.
said together are multiplied, that means we each get the benefit of everyone else’s rosaries, Holy
Communions, prayers and spiritual sacrifices. 45 x 45 is 2,025.
Our original plan of 40 days has changed. How
could we end such a wonderful, grace-filled union of sisters in Christ? So many have reported a powerful feeling of
Divine support through Mary’s Moms. We
have received emails with some of the following messages: “Thank you so much, I
needed this….This has come at just the right moment…Our family has experienced
a breakthrough; I believe it has come through Mary’s Moms…” When the first 40
days have ended, we will continue with ongoing novenas and Masses, rosaries,
and Holy Communions. People who cannot make it to daily Mass can offer up a spiritual
Communion.
could we end such a wonderful, grace-filled union of sisters in Christ? So many have reported a powerful feeling of
Divine support through Mary’s Moms. We
have received emails with some of the following messages: “Thank you so much, I
needed this….This has come at just the right moment…Our family has experienced
a breakthrough; I believe it has come through Mary’s Moms…” When the first 40
days have ended, we will continue with ongoing novenas and Masses, rosaries,
and Holy Communions. People who cannot make it to daily Mass can offer up a spiritual
Communion.
During the months of May and October—months
dedicated to Mary—we will encourage a forty-day fast, in any way one feels
called. There is the traditional Catholic fast: one big meal, two small meals
and no snacking. But abstaining from any sort of enjoyment is a form of
fasting.
dedicated to Mary—we will encourage a forty-day fast, in any way one feels
called. There is the traditional Catholic fast: one big meal, two small meals
and no snacking. But abstaining from any sort of enjoyment is a form of
fasting.
We don’t want to take the place of any
devotions people are already doing. Neither do we want to interfere with other important
intentions that should be prayed for daily, such as peace in the world, an end
to abortion, an increase in vocations, the poor and sick, the souls in
purgatory, etc. This began as a desire
to ramp things up for our families, but we do not want anyone going beyond what
they feel capable of doing or taking energy away from caring for their families
or others. Moms can simply participate to whatever extent they feel called to do so.
devotions people are already doing. Neither do we want to interfere with other important
intentions that should be prayed for daily, such as peace in the world, an end
to abortion, an increase in vocations, the poor and sick, the souls in
purgatory, etc. This began as a desire
to ramp things up for our families, but we do not want anyone going beyond what
they feel capable of doing or taking energy away from caring for their families
or others. Moms can simply participate to whatever extent they feel called to do so.
Join Us
What
began as a pact between two friends is open to any who want to join us. We have a Facebook page at Mary’s Moms. There are
a couple other small local groups by that name, so look for the picture of the
Blessed Mother holding baby Jesus with a blue background. The daily novena will
be posted on Facebook or you can get a daily email reminder of the novena along
with a bit of inspiration. Just send
your address to either mrusch@bis.midco.net, or pattiarmstrong@mac.com.
began as a pact between two friends is open to any who want to join us. We have a Facebook page at Mary’s Moms. There are
a couple other small local groups by that name, so look for the picture of the
Blessed Mother holding baby Jesus with a blue background. The daily novena will
be posted on Facebook or you can get a daily email reminder of the novena along
with a bit of inspiration. Just send
your address to either mrusch@bis.midco.net, or pattiarmstrong@mac.com.
We will keep your email private.
Our families are all different but we share
the understanding that the greatest gift we can give them is a nudge in the
direction of Jesus. And we trust that
the Blessed Mother is our greatest ally in this endeavor.
the understanding that the greatest gift we can give them is a nudge in the
direction of Jesus. And we trust that
the Blessed Mother is our greatest ally in this endeavor.
* If you are looking for a Man’s group devoted to the rosary, check out Real Men Pray the
Rosary.
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For more uplifting reading: Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories From Everyday Families a collection of stories on love and life, and Dear God, I Don’t Get It, children’s fiction that presents faith through a fun and exciting story.
Follow Patti at Twitter or like her other Facebook pages at Dear God Books, Big Hearted Families, A GPS Guide to Heaven and Earth
