Miraculous Medal Prayers
or hundreds of years, the rosary has played an important role in the history of the Catholic Church. It has brought forth countless miracles, resulted in millions of conversions, and brought comfort and peace to many. So many generations have enjoyed the many blessings through this simple, yet profound, prayer. But sadly, the same cannot be said for the younger generations.
The Association has launched a new program called "Bring Mary to Kids." The program's ambitious goal is to rekindle an appreciation of devotion to Mary and encourage young children, and their families, to pray the rosary.
Our initial focus is to work with second graders in Catholic schools. As they prepare to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, our hope is that they'll learn to come to him through Mary. All students participating in the program are given a packet with a Miraculous Medal, a rosary, and an activity book teaching about Mary and the rosary. This packet is theirs to take home and share with their family.
The second grade classrooms participating in the program will receive a Pilgrim Rosary kit containing a statue of our Blessed Mother, a rosary, and information on how to pray the rosary. The program calls for each child to keep the kit at home for one week. The family is encouraged to pray the rosary together. The kit is returned at the end of the week so another student may bring it home.
Second graders who have already participated in the program have been enthusiastic about including Mary in their everyday activities. Some inspiring responses include:
1. "I took the Blessed Mother statue with me to soccer practice so she would watch over me."
2. "I placed the Blessed Mother statue on our dinner table to include her with our family meal."
3. "Each night before going to bed, I placed the Blessed Mother statue on my night table so she would watch over me as I slept."
"I took the Blessed Mother statue with me while four-wheeling so she would keep me safe."
The History of the Association of the Miraculous Medal
In order to spread devotion to Mary as an association was formed shortly after the first medals were distributed. The Association was established at the motherhouse of the Congregation of the Mission in Paris. (In appearing to Saint Catherine, a Daughter of Charity, Mary entrusted to the Daughters of Charity and the priests of the Congregation of the Mission the work of spreading this devotion to her through her medal.)
As with many of the words we use today, "rosary" has its roots in a Latin word, "rosarium," meaning "garland of roses" or "rose garden."
Catholic Prayers, Christmas poetry
