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There are many tools that parents need to teach their children how to use. The potty, shoelaces, letters and silverware are a few. If we don’t take the time to teach our children how to use these essential tools, they will be at a disadvantage as they progress through life.
As Catholic parents, there is an additional tool that we can teach our children to use. It is a tool that will help them all through their lives. Once they learn to use it, they will never forget. It is a sacred tool. It is the rosary.
John and I knew that we wanted our children to know how to pray the rosary. We believed that, if we could teach it when they were little, it would stay with them and benefit them throughout their lives. When our children were little, we had a lovely little video that taught the rosary through song. We also would pray the rosary together on long car rides. This was a great way to turn cranky kids (and parents) into a peaceful family.
A favorite experience of the rosary is visiting the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Lewiston, N.Y. At the shrine, there is a beautiful giant rosary. We all love walking around the heart-shaped pool and stopping at the lights to pray each prayer.
We have made certain that our children have rosaries of their own. It always thrills me to enter my children’s rooms and see a rosary hanging on a bed post or find one tucked under a pillow. I know that my children can turn to the prayers of the rosary at times when they are stressed or sad or afraid, or when they are joyful or excited. As a mom, this brings me great peace.
