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Sep 19, 2015
Catholic Influencers· Faith· Life· Wine and Chocolate

Rosary Group and The Origins of Prayer, Wine and Chocolate

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It was the last season of Friends, and Thursday nights became the night that I looked forward to the most. Four girls in the their twenties/early thirties were facing some unique heartaches. Colleen was pregnant and getting out of a horrendous relationship, Kaelie was married but was having trouble getting pregnant, and two of us (Anna and myself) needed healing from past relationships. Thursday nights the four of us came together to eat, watch Friends, talk and pray the Rosary. Often we would invite other friends. It became a night of comfort, a source of strength and a place to get advice on how to move forward when things just felt, well – awful.

Flashback to years before this “Rosary Group” began, my life was a roller coaster of emotions that eventually put me into a deep depression. Some people from a young age know what career they want to pursue and what they want to do before they “settle down”. I only ever “knew” one thing – I wanted to get married and have a family. From the time I was 16 until I was 23 I dated my first love (let’s call him “T”). When I graduated college and began teaching, I asked my best friend and boy friend (“T”) if he wanted to marry me. He said he didn’t know. Then I said goodbye. Sort of . . .we had said goodbye before and that wasn’t the end, so I don’t think I really thought the goodbye was real. Then, like a dream or a movie, I was in love with another man, “G”, and “G” was in love with me. Three years later, on Good Friday, “G” broke up with me. That same day, “T” proposed to his present wife. THE.SAME.DAY. (Seriously, who get’s engaged on GOOD FRIDAY???? You couldn’t wait until Easter and put the ring in a cute colored egg or something, really??? Sorry, end rant!) Anyway, six months later, “T” was getting married on the same day I had my first date that was arranged online. At this point I was living in my fourth apartment in three years. When you’re a Catholic schoolteacher with a ton of student loans to repay, you live with roommates. But when you’re in young twenties, those roommates get engaged and married . . . often. By the time I was “online dating” I lived in a cute apartment; solo. Most of my friends were married. But I began making new friends during this time. One of them was Anna, and it was through our friendship that the Rosary nights began . . .

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Anna’s mom had a group of friends that prayed the Rosary together. One day Anna invited me to go with her. I was so excited. I always wanted to have friends to pray with, but most of my friends made fun of me or just claim to not be into that stuff. Plus, Anna was a cool, beautiful girl with a million friends. She isn’t the type that you expect to find praying the Rosary. I had the best of both worlds with Anna as a friend. Cool and a shared faith. After going with her mom’s friends, Anna suggested we get friends together for our own Rosary group. So we did. And although some of the original four girls’ lives have gotten busy in combination with them moving much further away, other girls have joined us and it is still something we do about once a month.

I often wonder what people picture when I invite them to or simply mention “Rosary night”. Do they picture three or four women dressed like nuns, kneeling and chanting? I often feel the need to say, “It’s not what you picture, we talk, drink wine, eat chocolate and pray – sitting on the couch, while we are sipping our wine and enjoying the chocolate.” The gatherings still provide comfort, friend therapy and joy. All of our prayers were answered. Colleen had a healthy daughter who is now 11 and Colleen married an incredible, respectful man who loves both her and her daughter dearly. Kaelie has three children – the first two were twins. Anna is married and just had her second baby. Oh yeah, and me. I got married . . . and no, we didn’t meet online . . . We adopted the most adorable, awesome son any parent could dream of. Lately our children have been present at Rosary nights. I strongly recommend you and one or two or three of your friends try it!! Here are some recommendations if you do:

  1. Have everyone bring something. A bottle of wine, a casserole, a chocolate cake, candy, etc. Make it an event that is social!
  2. Have an intention book. Write each person’s name on the top of their own page. While you’re talking, pass the book around. Each page should have a column to write what she is thankful for and what she is asking the Lord with help with (Petitions). Date each time you get together. It’s pretty cool to look back on as time goes by . . . often you see how many prayers are answered.
  3. Don’t expect it to only be an hour long. One of the greatest aspects of Rosary night is the ability to verbalize your intentions and to let others do the same. It’s really like free therapy. It helps to have people listen to your sorrows and struggles.
  4. Don’t forget to bring Rosaries, and maybe even another prayer book.

Have you had prayers answered through the recitation of the Rosary? Do you have a night where you combine faith and friends that has brought you blessings? Please share!

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Comments

  1. Cheryl Morey says

    January 12, 2016 at 12:42 pm

    We had a rosary group years ago, and our priest left, some of us moved away, needless to say … it ended. I can and do say, the Rosary is a powerful Weapon. We did receive another priest. The church had it’s scandal, we left the church, I went elsewhere, changed denominations, Mom was dying. And now, trying to return, doing it ALONE , but with the prayers of our Lady and all the Saints. Please pray for help and direction while we enter this new phase of our lives , finding a place for our senior years to end our lives, and mostly a miracle of the will to do it.. I don’t pray for wealth, just willingness to follow, and continued spiritual growth, and adjustment throughout this process. Sounds like a lot, huh? St. Jude to the Rescue.
    Ps. Ever look @ “Our Lady. and often pictures are with Daisies @ Her feet.? Got my email address due to that.

    • Amy says

      January 12, 2016 at 9:02 pm

      Praying for you Cheryl! Thank you so much for sharing part of your story! I am going to look for the daisies at Our Lady’s feet now – I don’t think I noticed before! May God give you peace and companions so you are not praying alone!

  2. brianna george says

    February 17, 2016 at 10:32 pm

    Sounds like it has been a great faith building activity for you. I grew up Catholic, but never heard of rosary groups before.

  3. Marci Smith says

    February 18, 2016 at 10:51 am

    I love this origin story! I don’t pray the rosary (different denomination) but this really makes me want to start a prayer group!

    • Amy says

      February 18, 2016 at 8:52 pm

      I definitely say go for it!!! Matthew 18:20 . . . Plus, it helps to have friends to talk to and listen!!! Also, wine . . . and chocolate 🙂

  4. Brittany @ Everyday Thoughts says

    February 18, 2016 at 11:13 am

    I’m a born and raised Catholic, went to Catholic high school – the whole gamet. I’m ashamed to say I’ve only prayed the rosary a handful of times. So that was my intention for Lent. I downloaded the rosary on my phone and I listen to it once a day. I love the idea of a rosary prayer group. It sounds so comforting and uplifting. Great post!

    • Amy says

      February 18, 2016 at 8:53 pm

      I love that you’re praying the Rosary for Lent! I have a cd in my car, and have to confess, I don’t listen to it as much as I used too. It really is a meditative, relaxing, powerful prayer! Thanks so much for commenting 🙂

  5. Aubrey Vick says

    February 18, 2016 at 10:51 pm

    I liked this post! It is such a powerful thing to have a group of supporting and caring people that can come together to uplift one another! I would love to start a prayer group with some friends and have something similar to this- especially the wine and chocolate part 😉

    • Amy says

      February 19, 2016 at 1:38 pm

      I highly recommend it! We have often added readings from prayer books too! It’s such an awesome experience 🙂

  6. Kristin says

    January 4, 2017 at 2:44 pm

    I just love this idea!!! Thank you for sharing.

    • Amy says

      January 4, 2017 at 4:24 pm

      It has brought so many blessings – I highly recommend it! 🙂

  7. Nelly says

    August 24, 2017 at 4:46 pm

    Amy, I was just texting back and forward with a Friend on how hard it is to gather Gals to pray the Rosary… These recommendations will be very useful!! Thanks for sharing your story, too… It is amazing how the Lord walk us to His path!

    • Amy says

      August 26, 2017 at 7:21 am

      Thank you Nelly!!! I hope you and some friends get together soon for the Rosary – and maybe some wine and chocolate too 🙂

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I need your help! This week I'm putting my final I need your help!

This week I'm putting my final touches on two talks . . .

One is for the Catholic Writer's Conference this weekend (it's virtual) and the other is for a Confirmation Retreat (live and in-person)!

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