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The internet and our smart phones can be a great thief of time and attention.  We love this easy way to connect with our loved ones . . . but often we forget to include the source and Love that is our Creator and Eternal Father.  Many good, faithful Christians have recognized this and have created ways to gently remind themselves and others to include prayer in our everyday routines.

The greatest and most innovative creators of this have got to be John Paul and Annie Deddens.  John Paul and Annie are the Founders of PrayMoreNovenas.com

Before I even thought about blogging – and before I entered the world of social media, I somehow came across Pray More Novenas.  I thought it was a great idea for a website to send me a reminder to pray – so I subscribed immediately!  I’m still subscribed today – and now I am a huge fan of Annie’s other ministry, Catholic Wife, Catholic Life!

If you have not already, definitely sign up for PrayMoreNovena’s newsletter.  John Paul and Annie now host online retreats in addition to their novena reminders!  It’s a great resource!

Now, if you are one of the 500 million people who scroll on Instagram daily – I have 3 places you can visit where you can pray with others – and be prayed for by others – right there on the gram!

But first, I am going to suggest you download this FREE lock screen package and put one of the 10 lock screens on your phone immediately if not sooner! It is a smart, holy, virtuous idea to say a prayer before going on social media – whether that be Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook or TWITTER (people are so angry on Twitter why is that?)!  I found that when I used this prayer I limited my time on social media much more than when I don’t say the prayer.  It’s a great reminder of God’s love and will for us!

Now that you are on “the gram”, here are 3 places you can pray with hundreds of others on Instagram!

Pray the Rosary in the Morning

1. ManyHailMarysataTime 

ManyHailMarys was started by Kristin Reilly, founder of OneHailMaryataTime.  Kristin and her sister Jill lead the Rosary every morning on Instagram Live – often with guests (I got to do this once, it was so fun!  It was also the one day Instagram went down this summer lol).  Over 200 women wake up and pray the Rosary on Instagram – it is very moving and remarkable.

I attempt to join in and at least listen, but inevitably that is one time during the day where every child needs me to hug, feed, provide drink and give attention to at a pretty intense level.

Since I found myself often interrupted, I thought of a way people who might be having the same issue could still pray using Instagram, but do so in a shorter time span and at any time during the day.  So that leads us to the next place you can pray on Instagram every day . . .

The Rosary is so powerful!  Read this incredible story here: The Power of ONE Rosary

Pray a Novena or Short Prayer when you get a free moment

2. PrayerWineChocolate

Since I have noticed that my post titled 11 Quick, but Powerful, Prayers (with free printable)* tends to get a lot of traffic – and since I myself get pulled away from the Rosary on Instagram almost daily, I decided to post shorter prayers on my Instagram stories every day. I also am quite aware that I often intend to say a novena, but fail at saying it on consecutive days.  Before I started this short prayer on my Insta-stories idea, I had been attempting to pray the Saint Joseph novena for months.  So, I started this practice to not only help others, but to keep myself accountable.

Right now the plan is to say novena prayers, then take 3 days to pray more traditional prayers addressing God our Father and Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Then, choose another novena and keep going.  I am, however, open to suggestions!  If you have any, send me an email or direct message me on Instagram!

*Just want the printable?  Click here, subscribe and it will be emailed to you! 11 Quick Powerful Prayers
We just got finished the Novena Rose Prayer!  St. Therese is one of my favorite saints

Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet

3. dailydivinemercy

The third place you can pray with others is on dailydivinemercy’s profile.  DailyDivineMercy also uses Instagram Live (like manyhailmarys).  Pray with a devout married couple and pray for the souls in your family and those who have passed away.  I often see dailydivinemercy go Live, but at that point of the day, I am so tired.  However, I love that this is an option – and at the end of the day!

Don’t get me wrong, I love to scroll Instagram to connect with others and simply to relax after my children go to bed, but I also want to make sure I stay connected with God.  After all, He loved us before Instagram

Check out these new Prayer Wine Chocolate products!  Each purchase helps support this ministry!

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This post contains affiliate links.  Please see my About Me page for more details.

 But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

After three ER visits and being transferred to a second hospital by ambulance, I was really ready for a clear diagnosis and some idea of when I could go home.

I had not seen my two youngest children in at least a week.  All three of my children were wearing down my husband and the family members helping him out.

But, there I was, sitting in a hospital bed.  My visitors during the day were very rare.  Everybody has jobs and if they didn’t have work, they were watching the three little ones so my husband could go to work.

So, when Rose, my friend’s mother called and asked if she could visit.  I said, “of course”!

*** You can pray the Rosary with hundreds of others everyday on Instagram – find out more details here: Insta-Prayers: 3 Times a Day You Can Pray With Others On Instagram

Rose took the train into center city and came to see me.  She asked how I was doing.  We talked about how we need to not work ourselves so hard we get sick.  She told me about the time she was in the hospital in her 40’s.

Then, she asked if I wanted to pray the Rosary.

I said sure.

I hate to admit it, but all that time in the hospital, I’m not sure I prayed one Rosary alone.

I love when people offer to pray with me.  I am not so great at praying the Rosary alone.  Maybe it’s my ADHD combined with my spiritual weakness.

So in my private room, with the door closed, we started praying the Rosary.

During the second decade, there was a knock on the door.

The Infectious Disease doctor at this hospital had finally come to see me.  He had with him at least two students.  I told him to come in.  He started to, but then hesitated.

He asked,

“are you praying?”. 

We answered yes. 

Then I said that it was okay.  I assured him that he could come in to talk (thinking we would just pick up where we left off after he left). 

I’ve learned from my hospital stay and the hospital stays of my son and husband’s that doctor’s rounds happen once a day.  This was my opportunity to talk to this physician and I probably wouldn’t get another until tomorrow.

em>The I.D. Dr responded to my assurance that he could stay and talk in a surprising way.

He said,

“What you are doing now is FAR more important than anything I will say.  I will come back.”

I looked at Rose.  Rose looked stunned.

I looked back at the doctor and said okay, thanks.  He then repeated, “I will come back.”

Then he opened the door, got halfway out of my room and turned back.  He asked, “Are you Catholic?”

Rose and I both said yes.

He said, “Please say one for me too”

I responded “absolutely”!

We continued praying and I found myself praying the rest of that rosary for that doctor.

We finished and Rose told me she had never seen a doctor say that in her whole life.

Rose was a hospital charge nurse for years.

Rose’s visit ended shortly after our prayer.  Hours went by and around 5:30 in the evening, true to his word, the doctor came back.

He told me that he had no certain diagnosis, but a lead as to what he thought my illness was caused by.  He talked about a follow-up test.

I told him we prayed for him.  He thanked me.

The next day he came back and told me that the follow-up test did not come back positive, but he was going to treat me for the illness that he thought I might be plagued with.

As he was sitting across from my hospital bed he talked to me about my health (or lack there of).

Then, he told me that he prayed the night before. 

He confided in me that  prayer was something that had been lacking in his life and something that he had not done in a long time. 

Then he thanked me for bringing prayer back into his life.

I have to admit I thought that was really cool and had a wow moment.  During my hospital stay I had noticed others letting their lights shine in such cool ways.  Here was a moment where I could say I had let my little light shine too.

About a month and a half later I had a follow-up appointment with the same doctor.

I thought about canceling it.  I had to get a babysitter.  I had to travel an hour into town and then another hour back.  I felt better and really didn’t see the need for this visit.

But I went.
After discussing my possible diagnosis,

I asked him:

“Are you still praying?”

He said yes.  He also said he called a priest and is meeting with him in a week.  Then he added, “perhaps I will go to Confession after not going for five years.”

I smiled.

The first promise of the Rosary is:

Whosoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.

Perhaps this was a signal grace.

I’ll take it.

If you like stories like this, you will LOVE this one: God Hears Us: A Spiritual Adoption Miracle it includes a free printable made by Meg Florkowski!

I can’t wait to tell you more  . . . don’t miss it!  Sign up for my email list and make me smile!

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Some of my favorite Rosaries are from Pink Salt Riot and Relics by Rose!  Shop these links:

Relics by Rose Rosary bracelets

and

Pink Salt Riot Rosary Bracelets

Get a health care worker you LOVE a gift!

JUST LOVE PRINTS MEDICAL WORKER GIFT BUNDLE

Inspire young girls to nurture their faith! Donate a Be Yourself Journal!

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“Why pray to Mary when you could pray to Jesus?”

I feel like this is asked of Catholics often – and I feel like it is a great question.

As someone who became Catholic as an infant, I didn’t always understand the extreme devotion some people had towards Our Blessed Mother.

Personally, most of my private prayers start with:

Dear Jesus

Dear God

Dear Heavenly Father

Dear Holy Trinity

Dear Lord Jesus

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always understood  that I could ask her to pray for me.  I believe that she, like any other Christian, would pray for me if I asked her too.  But, I didn’t really “get” how some Catholics really seemed to venerate her or go straight to a Hail Mary over a “Dear Jesus, please help” prayer.

And since I didn’t really get it, I couldn’t defend this portion of my Catholic faith . . . and that bothered me.

I wondered if I was Catholic for the right reasons.

I had (and still have) this amazing friend who is a very faithful born again Christian.  We would often get into discussions about our faith.  Many times she would ask “why” we as Catholics did or believed certain things.  I wanted to be certain I was giving the right answers – and I was interested in knowing the church’s reasons and explanations for her doctrine and traditions.

7 Ways Mary Won My Heart (Without Taking Love Away From Jesus)

1. Researching Apologetics

So, I took it upon myself to read more.  One book I found that I remember being very helpful was A Philadelphia Catholic in a King James Court.

This book was set around a fictional story where a high school student lost his dad who was working as a firefighter. The main character spent the summer with his mother’s non-Catholic Christian family in the mid-west.  He would get into conversations about faith and found himself reading some of his father’s books in order to understand his Catholic faith more deeply.  Each time his Protestant uncle would ask him a question about the Catholic faith, these resources allowed him to answer those questions and pinpoint the origins to a Scripture passage.

I learned a lot from that book, but one part about Mary stands out in my memory:

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; she (ipsa) shall crush your head“

Genesis 3:15

I remember it thinking, “wow, that definitely doesn’t say women.  That is one woman being talked about in the very first book of the Old Testament.”

That does make Mary different from every woman who has ever lived – including the holiest of saints.

Still, I saw Mary as another Christian who would pray for us if we asked her – just like our friends at church or family member who we know pray.

I’m not sure how other Christians feel about that – or even if my good Christian friend agreed – but that’s how I felt.

This was a neat discovery, but I don’t think I changed my prayer life at all.

2. Praying the Rosary

A few years went by and a friend invited me to go pray the Rosary with her mom and her friends.  This happened a few times until about 4 of us started our own Rosary group.  It was more than a prayer group though – it was “Friend Therapy”.  I lived by myself and was going through a rough time. These three friends that came to pray – they too were going through some tough times.

We would eat together, watch Friends (it was the last season) and then, we’d say our intentions.  We let a lot out that we were struggling with and aching over.  Then, we would pray the Rosary.  It was this tradition where “prayer, wine, chocolate” was born!  Years later we were talking about all the intentions we had prayed for and I said, “we should write a book”!  When we brainstormed names, “Prayer Wine Chocolate” was the clear winner!

For me, those Rosary nights were not so much about devotion to Mary, but were about finding comfort in friends that share my faith and gathering to ask Jesus for help.  So many of our prayers were answered in time.  The meditation calmed me. Thinking about the mysteries, the intentions and the words of the prayers helped me get in a deep state of prayer. The memories, friendships and eagerness of us wanting to get together to pray for years now have instilled in me a great love for that prayer.

In addition to my own experience, reading Immaculee Ilibagiza’s incredible experience in the book Led by Faith  increased my awe of how the prayer has made a difference in the life and faith of others.

Remind yourself to pray the Rosary with these unique, cool socks!

3. Reading Heaven is For Real

I don’t recall how I heard about this book, but I read it in 2 days.  It was so interesting and if you’ve seen the movie, I feel like it just did not demonstrate the amazing story I read in the book. (get the book on Amazon here: Heaven is For Real)

A Christian Pastor’s four year old son survives a very scary sickness and hospital stay.  Soon after his illness, he tells his parents that he met his sister (a miscarried sister that he was never told about) and mentions and other things that happen while he was in surgery.  The little boy, Colton, told his father that he saw him praying while he was in surgery.  Colton described meeting his grandfather and sitting on God’s lap. The things he saw compelled his father to write it down and eventually became this book.

What fascinated me – and how this relates to Our Blessed Mother – was not actually in the main part of the book, but in the Epilogue.

In the Epilogue, the author states:

” A lot of our Catholic friends have asked whether Colton saw Mary, the mother of Jesus. The answer to that is also yes. He saw Mary kneeling before the throne of God and at other times standing beside Jesus. ‘She still loves Him like a mom’. Colten said.”

Reading this I shook my head yes and thought, that is exactly what we as Catholics believe.  She kneels in front of the thrown of God . . . she is praying for us.  She is standing next to Jesus.  I envision her standing there, looking the same direction as Our Lord . . . at us.  Rooting for us, loving us and desiring that we open our hearts to God’s grace.

And the catechism of the Catholic Church states:

We believe that the Holy Mother of God, the new Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of Christ” (Paul VI, CPG § 15).

Or, In four-year-old language, “She still loves Him like a Mom.”
This witness made an incredible impression on me because it was given by a non-Catholic.

 

4. Wearing a Miraculous Medal

It’s amazing how the Lord works in our life.  I contacted the Miraculous Medal Shrine in Philadelphia because I knew they had a gift shop and I was planning on writing a post about giving gifts at Christmas that remind us of our faith.  The Shrine was more than generous in donating products to include in a giveaway, but the director asked me – are you going to write only one post?  That made me stop and think.  He had said yes to the long list of gifts I requested . . . I could do more than one giveaway and write more than one post.  I ended up writing Five Reasons Why I Wear a Miraculous Medal which became an extremely popular post.  As I was writing it, I did a lot of research and came across this:

Our Blessed Mother instructed Saint Catherine Laboure to “have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around their neck.

I had a Miraculous Medal someone had given me on my keychain up until that point.  That statement made me think, I should wear one as a necklace.  I barely ever wear jewelry so I thought this might dress me up a little bit and at the same time, maybe I’ll receive great graces!

And I really don’t know how to explain it – but I do believe I did start to receive more graces.  I became more in tune with how to pray, asking God “help me to be who you want me to be” and simply being more drawn to learning more and praying more.  It was after this that a friend of mind suggested Marian Consecration.

My response: “Marian what?”

5. The Book 33 Days to Morning Glory

The complete title of this book is 33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat In Preparation for Marian Consecration.

I had never heard of the book or Marian Consecration.  My friend who suggested it might have sent me the book in the mail.  I honestly can’t remember.  I followed the suggested directions.  I started on a date that would have me end on a day that was dedicated to a title of Mary.  I can’t remember which date or title.  I read the book in 33 days.  It was perfect for me because it only required a small reading each night.  I found each day’s reading fascinating.

For me, the book/retreat helped me learn about saints who held a special devotion to Mary and how Our Lady plays a role in leading us to Jesus.  I’m pretty sure the purpose of the book isn’t to educate, but to foster a relationship “to Jesus through Mary”.  But, I felt like it was a great learning experience.

6. Our Lady of Guadalupe Stalked Me

I realize that sounds nuts, but I really don’t know how else to put it.  I wrote about it here: Our Lady of Guadalupe: Her Image Still Appears

It’s a great story that ends my life as a mother of one and begins it as a mother of three

7. Being the Mother of a Son

I know how much I love my little boy.  The love of a mother is something incredible.

I think of moments that I’ve seen my son wanting to play with others and them not embracing him. In those moments, my heart desires that those children see all the good in him.  I want them to see him the way I see him.

I imagine Mary feels the same way about others loving her son.

I want others to love my son.  I want others to love God.  For Mary, both of those passionate feelings are rolled into one.

Personally, those are both pretty intense feelings.  I am sure they are pretty intense in our Blessed Mother’s Heart too.

I imagine Mary reaching her hand out the way a mother would if we were climbing a mountain together.  She is ahead, but Jesus is on top. I’m behind and struggling, she grabs my hand and helps me up each time I ask.  My goal is to get to Jesus, she just wants to help me get there.

The post 7 Ways Mary Won My Heart (Without Taking Love Away From Jesus) appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

Again, [amen,] I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19-20

Years ago, when I was in my 20’s, my life was not where I’d dreamt it would be.  I was still single, hoping for a happier future, and often felt depressed and lost. A group of my friends and I started “rosary nights”.  We would get together with food, our troubles and each other.  We would pray the Rosary together.

We still do.

Rosary above from Small Things Great Love

Here are five reasons why we love our Rosary group – and highly recommend you start one too

1. 1. 1. Friend Therapy–  Before praying the Rosary, we would each take a turn sharing our intentions.  When we first started, most of us were having quite a hard time understanding “why” we were in certain situations and enduring certain heartaches. Saying our intentions out loud often led to great discussions among people who truly cared for one another.  Lots of listening, advice giving and tears were shed.  All of it was therapeutic.  Bonds of trust and friendship were formed in ways only pray allows.  It still provides a safe place for each of us to discuss our greatest challenges – and enables us to hand them over to Our Lord and His Blessed Mother.

         

      2. The Promises of Our Lady to those who recite the Rosary – Ideally, I know I should pray the Rosary on my own, daily.  Realistically, it doesn’t happen all that often.  I know this is something in my life that needs work. But in the mean time, planning Rosary Group with friends gets me to pray the Rosary more than I would if this group didn’t exist.  And Our Lady has made twelve promises to those who recite the Rosary in a devout way!  Some of those promises include: receiving signal graces, help lifting our hearts to desire eternal things rather than worldly prizes, obtaining what we ask for, and receiving Our Lady’s special protection and greatest graces.  You can see all twelve promises of the Holy Rosary by clicking here.

   3. You gain the merits of each person’s Rosary! – Saint Louis Marie de Montfort wrote a book titled The Secret of the Rosary.  In this work, Saint Louis gives numerous reasons and benefits to praying the Rosary in a group. Saint Louis said it is better to pray the Rosary with a group than alone.  One reason is simply because our minds are far more alert during public prayer than when we pray alone. Other reasons include that when we pray in a group, the prayer of each one belongs to all. “We make one great prayer together, so that if one person is not praying well, someone else in the same gathering who prays better may make up for his deficiency. In this way, those who are strong uphold the weak. Those who are fervent inspire the lukewarm. One who says his Rosary alone only gains the merit of that one Rosary. But if he says it together with others, he gains the merit of each Rosary. This is the law of public prayer.”(Saint Louis de Montfort) You can read more about Saint Louis and his wisdom of the Rosary at How to pray the rosary everyday.  Gaining the merits of each Rosary helps me make-up for the days I didn’t get to saying it!

2. 4. The Rosary is a form of meditation.  The benefits of meditation extend to every aspect of our health – physical, mental and emotional.  In other words, IT’S SO GOOD FOR YOU!  The benefits of the Rosary extend from our spiritual health to our physical, mental and emotional well-being.  Scientific studies have shown that those who meditate decrease stress, improve their immune systems and even achieve better academically. Meditation has even been effective in helping addicts overcome addiction.  Meditation also helps those who have been diagnosed with ADHD.  It lowers the risk of heart disease and improves blood pressure!  There are studies upon studies that show the benefits of meditation.  It’s a scientific fact that it’s good for you!

5 .It’s a BREAK from all of life’s WORK!  Planning this time on the calendar is     important.  Since people you love – who are in need of prayers – are often requesting the group meet, the event gets a level of importance and prominence on the calendar.  When one of the women in the group calls and says, “I need to pray”; you make arrangements to get there – with or without kids.  When you plan for a “girls’ night”, and get the opportunity to “get away”, it really is a refreshing, re-charging evening.  It’s an opportunity to reconnect with friends and enjoy adult company.  And if there is no one to watch the children – bring them.  It’s worth it.
I hope you ask some friends to start a Rosary group with you soon!  I love to hear about it! God Bless You!  Thanks for stopping by  Cheers!

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