There is Something About Mary Series – Blessing and Belief

Ponder:  Did you know that you can bless yourself anytime you need it?  How often do you truly listen to what you believe?

The Rosary prayer actually consists of a series of smaller prayers, all of which take about twenty minutes to pray.  We will ponder, pray, and reflect each day on a portion of this beautiful prayer.  

As we start, we hold the rosary and begin with the sign of the cross (#1 below), which orients our heart to the universal and ecclesial nature of the Rosary. 

Pray:  The Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Reflect:  As I pray the Sign of the Cross, it orients me, places me in the sacred and signals the Spirit within me.  I call upon the Holy Trinity, acknowledging God my Father, His son, Jesus Christ both human and divine, my savior, my brother and teacher, and the Holy Spirit who lives within me. I am blessed by God and He smiles showing favor.  I am blessed! Amen

Next, holding the crucifix of the rosary, we pray the ancient Apostles Creed (#1 below), which is a summary of our baptismal promises. 

Pray: The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

Amen

Reflect:  Next as I pray the Apostle’s Creed, I am reminded what I believe is the prayer is a summary of the doctrine of the apostles and New Testament.  I stand in solidarity with other Christians as these words capture the message of the Gospels.  I am in awe because I am individually linked to all Christians (the past 2,000 years and with Christians in the future) in the common community that God has designed.  I take to heart what I believe about my faith.  I stand firm in the Church militant, that exists on the earth, and unite with the Church suffering, the souls in purgatory, and the Church triumphant, the church in heaven; the saints known by the church as well as those saints known only by God.  I am reminded that I am called to holiness and to be a saint. Amen

Act:  Every time I look in the mirror today, I will bless myself with the sign of the cross.