Gardner parish to host Living Rosary for Life

By Christina Galeone
CFP Correspondent
GARDNER – Earlier this year, a member of Annunciation Parish’s Respect Life Committee shared with the group a beautiful tradition she had witnessed at another church. Parishioners regularly placed a rose in the hand of a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Whoever gave the rose would also spend some time in prayer with Our Lady. Knowing that Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron saint of the unborn and knowing that their own parish had a lovely outdoor statue of Mary, they were inspired to turn to the Blessed Mother in a new way to support their mission to promote “respect for human life in all its stages.”
“We just got a really deep urge to pull people into prayer with Our Mother,” Melody Phelps, the committee’s coordinator, recalled. She added “What better way than with the rosary?”
From that inspiration and desire, two upcoming faith-filled events emerged. At 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31, at the parish’s Holy Spirit Chapel’s outdoor Mary shrine, the committee will hold a Living Rosary for Life. Then, in honor of the Month of the Holy Rosary, it will hold a second one at the same place, at 50 Lovewell St., at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5.     
The events are open to anyone who would like to participate. Everyone who attends will stand in five clusters that represent the five Joyful Mysteries – The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Nativity, The Presentation and The Finding of Jesus in the Temple. At the beginning of each decade, a rose or another type of flower will be placed in a vase in front of the statue of Mary. Then, the pro-life version of the Joyful Mysteries – which includes the traditional rosary prayers as well as additional prayers – will be prayed. Finally, the event will conclude with everyone praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet near the chapel’s statue of Jesus.
Mrs. Phelps said that it “seems like the essence of doing God’s will is listening to his Mother.” Because Mary always encourages people to love, honor and be led by her son, and because Mrs. Phelps believes that prayer is the “most direct, viable way” to help our country to recognize the innate value of all human life, the committee’s coordinator and members are excited about the events.
“We did social action,” Mrs. Phelps said. “We did political action, and we’re involved in social activities. And, now, we’ve gone to the pure essence of prayer to Mary to intercede to her Son.”
Although the committee is not yet sure if a Living Rosary for Life will be prayed on a regular basis, it has tremendous hopes for the August and October events. Mrs. Phelps hopes that they will both grow the Church and show the power of the rosary in loving ways.  And she’s confident that Mary will hear their prayers. “She’s a beacon of light, and we thank her,” Mrs. Phelps shared, noting how important prayer is to combat the darkness in our world.  “We’re drawn more to Mary and more to prayer,” she said.