Boise

Country: United States
State or province: Idaho

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Lucy Stamm
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The Rosary, Still Powerful - 2023-08-13

August 20, 2023

The Rosary still powerfully leads people to love Jesus. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate.

As we were setting up and not yet paying attention to people passing by, a man stopped to say he had picked up a Rosary from us last week (nope, I didn’t recognize him <g>). He thanked us for being out there and giving away more Rosaries, and wished blessings on the apostolate. Pray for all those who receive a Rosary from SPSE teams across the nation that their lives will grow closer to Christ.

”Zach” (or was it “Shawn”?) and his father “Scott” (from a state in the deep South) stopped, glad to see us out there. Zach is heading to seminary in a state east of here. He’s one of eight classmen from Idaho, I think he said. Once he’s ordained, he’s hoping to become a chaplain in the military. May God grant perseverance for seminarians and plenty of vocations to the priesthood across our country and around the world.

A man and woman stopped, perhaps son and mother. They were Christian but unfamiliar with the Rosary. We explained how the devotion helps you grow closer to Jesus Christ and they each chose one. They said their names, something like “Andre” and “Andrea”.

A 20-something woman in pink stopped for a Rosary. She struck us as almost homeless. She wasn’t very articulate, but listened as we explained the Rosary and its prayers. She asked how much they cost. “Free!” we happily told her. So she chose one, and spent the rest of the hour at a nearby picnic table.

A young adult man with a skateboard also sat at a picnic table across from us, no doubt hearing us offer Rosaries over and over. Finally, he made the decision to come to the table. But, just at that moment, a flurry of passersby appeared, including three college football players on electric scooters. One of the scooters braked hard in order to miss our incipient visitor. The man directly behind him made an amazing maneuver and actually avoided hitting him. Noting his athletic reflexes, e. Chuck asked him what position he played on the football team. “Tight end,” he replied. Three out of the four athletes accepted Rosaries. Meanwhile, the original young adult had hung back until the students moved away from the table. Then he came forward and requested a color. He struggled to get the Rosary over his head (but managed to) while politely listening as e. Chuck talked about the Rosary prayer. Though of few words, our visitor insisted on shaking our hands to thank us. Pray for all these young people as they seek a connection with Our Lord and Savior.

Then there were the two teenage skateboarders who had been arguing earlier around the fountain. They did not seem terribly serious about the Rosary or faith, but e. Lucy persisted in encouraging them to use it reverently to ask God questions. Even as they skated away, the evangelist continued to exhort them to faith. Please pray they perceive the reality of God and the importance of turning to Him.

A family, consisting of father and 3 children (perhaps 10-13 years old), stopped when the children wanted a Rosary. It was okay with their dad, so we set them up with Rosary and the pamphlet on how to pray it. The father declined. Lord, may the children come to You!

“Justin”, this time, unsmilingly yet in a conversational tone, offered what may have sounded like an offer to “help” us, but was really a statement of just how little he valued the Rosaries. E. Chuck replied, “No man, we want you to repent.” As usual, he sped away without another word. Please continue to pray for “Justin”, that his angry/violent actions will de-escalate and that the Holy Spirit will find a way into his heart.

An toothless, homeless-looking man stopped to chat about speed limits(?). After a lengthy, almost nonsensical conversation with e. Chuck, our visitor gladly accepted a Rosary. May God bless, heal, and guide him.

A Catholic couple in town for a conference asked where they could attend Mass for the Feast of the Assumption on the following Tuesday. We gave them a map to area parishes that included contact information. Pray for all traveling Catholics that they find a Mass to take part in.

A young man broke from a group to choose a Rosary. As he was looking them over, a woman stopped who turned out to be his mother (it seems she had fallen behind the young folks). Though he did not seem to know what he believed, she said, as much to him as to us, that he had been baptized Catholic. Pray for this family, and for all baptized Catholics outside the Church, that they realize faith and salvation are ongoing needs.

I seem to remember a guy skidding to a stop on his bike to choose a Rosary. Christian, he was very positive about the possibilities of the Rosary.

Altogether, we gave away 15 or so Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a map to area parishes.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to send people to us with hearts prepared to perceive their need for Our Savior Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

We still encounter people who don’t know of the Rosary and how God blesses those who use it to grow closer to Him. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

“Go with the strength you have” (Judg 6:14).