SFX Marian Devotion Group: A Crown of Roses A Day (2011

Introduction

A Crown of Roses A Day

A gift of prayer in conjunction with SFX Golden Jubilee Year

What is it?

The word ‘rosary’ is from the Latin word rosarium meaning a garden or garland of roses but was also commonly used to designate a collection of similar material, such as an anthology of texts. Ultimately, it came to refer to fifty salutations to the Blessed Virgin Mary^[1] before the Rosary structure evolved into the present one.

Every five decades of the Rosary devoutly prayed is a little crown of heavenly roses which we place on the heads of Jesus and Mary. So the complete Rosary is a large crown of roses^[2], which is the gift that we want to give to Our Lord and Our Lady in conjunction with our Golden Jubilee Year.

Objectives of weaving “A Crown of Roses A Day”

1) To spiritualise our gift of rosaries to the poor^[3];

2) To sanctify our Golden Jubilee Year, corresponding to our Parish Priest, Fr. Simon Yong’s call for a renewal of holiness in this year of grace;

3) To pray for ourselves, our Nation and the Church, and rekindle the Christian hope that we are called to live and bear, especially in today’s climate of despair.

Ultimately, may all take up praying the Rosary daily.

How do we weave “A Crown of Roses A Day”

At least four persons pray the Rosary everyday, each a different set of mysteries (to make a complete Rosary of 20 mysteries a day as a parish). Each may pray anywhere and anytime of the day.

No reminders will be sent, as each registration is your own commitment to God.^[4]

When: 2 Feb 2011 (SFX Parish 50^th Anniversary) until every recipient of our rosaries are prayed for.

Special intentions for each decade:

1) That the beneficiaries of the hand-made rosaries be alleviated of their poverty, and that they experience God's love in their lives.

2) That all those who contributed and made the rosaries live in the grace of God and be blessed abundantly.

3) For our beloved Parish and Parish Priests, that we truly and always live "as Church in faithfulness to Christ".

4) For the Souls of Purgatory, especially the deceased who have in one way or another built our Parish over the last 50 years.

5) For peace, justice and unity in our Nation, the Church and the world.

You may be part of this by:

1) being a pray-er. Choose a set of mysteries and a date to pray. Register on the SFX website or outside the Santa Maria della Strada Chapel. You may register to pray only once a day, but for an unlimited number of days.

2) being a SOS Prayer Warrior to fill up contingency empty slots, and pray during that slot. You may register online or leave your names and contacts in the box outside the chapel.

3) encouraging others to pray and/or initiating group prayers to pray “A Crown of Roses A Day”. You may register as a group or BEC.

4) helping others who have no Internet access, sick or elderly or home-bound to register as pray-ers.

Together let us realise this spiritual gift. It is a gift for our poor brethren and our gift to Our Lord and Our Lady. Ultimately, may our gift of “A Crown of Roses A Day” be a pleasing Parish Golden Jubilee gift to God our Heavenly Father.

Note: More resources are available on the parish website: http://www.sfx.com.my/

^{^[1]}Miller, J.D. (June 2002). Beads and Prayers: The Rosary in History and Devotion. Retrieved 8 September 2010 from Christendom Awake Website: http://www.christendom-awake.org/pages/dmiller/beads&prayers.htm

[2] St. Louis de Montfort. The Secret of the Rosary. Retrieved 22 January 2011 from Rosary Center - Rosary Confraternity: http://www.rosary-center.org/secret.htm

[3] In 2010, our BECs and several non-parishioners started hand-making and sponsoring rosaries for the poor under the SFX Parish Assembly – May Group 2010 project. They made more than 2500 rosaries and are still counting.

[4] You may check your slots on the website to keep track, or use the reminder cards placed outside the chapel.

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