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"Love the Madonna and pray the Rosary, for the Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world." St. Pio of Pieltracina For Reflection: What are the evils of the world rampant in our midst today? What one "evil" is assailing me personally? Am I willing to pick up the weapon of the Rosary and fight against it through the intercession of Our Blessed Lady?

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"The rosary is not a road, but a place, it has no goal but a depth. To linger in it has great compensations." Romano Guardini For Reflection: How is it that the Rosary is a place? How can I linger in it so as to reap its compensations? What does this require of me when I sit down to pray the Rosary?

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"Contemplating the scenes of the Rosary in union with Mary is a means of learning from her to 'read' Christ, to discover his secrets and to understand his message." Pope John Paul II For Reflection: To what extent is Mary helping me to "read" Jesus better? What impact is this having on my life of prayer and my daily life? 

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I love to invite friends and family to my home for dinner! It is part of a long-standing tradition my husband, Anthony, and I began early in our marriage. Though he has gone to his eternal reward, it has brought me much pleasure, consolation, and no small amount of joy to continue this tradition.

I  have found through the years that a small gesture of hospitality has the capacity to do so much. It can be a soothing balm to a troubled spirit, a healing gesture that resolves an estranged relationship, a happy celebration to highlight key moments in a person's life, a gift of presence when a sign of solidarity is needed. It can also be just plain fun! Today, scheudules are so busy that gestures of hospitality are frequently omitted from the family agenda.

But, as women, we have an innate desire to bring people together. And, when this desire is united to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, great things can happen.

Just this week, I hosted a small dinner party at my home. Among the guests was Father Philip Scott, F.J. It was clear that this get-together was ordained by God. The Holy Spirit was abundantly present. Indeed, the old charismatic song holds true:  "Great things happen when God mixes with man!"

One of the fun highlights of the evening occurred when Father Philip asked me for a "bib." Given that he lives in Peru and realizing he probably didn't mean the kind a baby wears, I asked him if it was an apron he wanted. He said, "Yes, an apron." I offered him a variety (apron drawer open as you can see), and he selected my Women of Grace apron -- once again confirming to me that "real men love women of grace."

I would categorize this evening as one of those that is blessed  -- and, as many blessings are -- a great deal of fun!

Who might God be prompting you to ask to dinner and what joy might He have in mind for you? I can assure you,it is well worth extending the invitation!

Father Philip and friends, thanks for a great time!

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"The contemplation of Christ has an incomparable model in Mary. In the recitation of the Rosary, the Christian community enters into contact with the memories and the contemplative gaze of Mary." Pope John Paul II For Reflection: As I pray the Rosary, do I make a mental effort to see Jesus through the eyes of Mary? When I next pick up my beads, I will ask Mary to help me see her Son through her so that I might know Him more perfectly.

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"If [the pray-er of the Rosary] should listen daily to this secret teaching in the depth of his heart, this prayer would kindle in him the desire of heaven, of the glory of God, and the salvation of souls; it would give him a love of the cross and strength to carry it, and from time to time a foretaste of heaven, a certain savor of eternal life." Reginald Garrigou- Lagrange For Reflection: What do I think it means to "listen to this secret teaching in the depth" of my heart? To what extent have I experienced any of the spiritual realities of this quote while I have prayed the Rosary? How can I aid myself during my prayer time to listen more closely?

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"The proficient who would thus live a little better each day by the spirit of the Rosary, would reach the contemplation of the mystery of Christ, a certain penetrating understand of the life of the mystical body, or of the Church militant, suffering, and triumphant. Under the continual direction of Jesus and of Mary Mediatrix, he would enter increasingly into the mystery of the communion of saints." Reginald Garrigou- Lagrange For Reflection: According to this quote, what is contemplation of the mystery of Christ? How can the Rosary help us to do this? To what extent do live the spirit of the Rosary?

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"[The Rosary's] form is that of a prayerful and contemplative presentation, capable of forming Christians according to the heart of Christ." Pope John Paul II For Reflection: Have I experienced my own heart being conformed to that of Christ as I have prayed the mysteries of the Rosary? Have I witnessed an increased desire for virtue in my life? How have my attitudes, habits, actions, and reactions come under the influence of Christ as a result of my prayer time? (Read the next three Grace Lines to see how this is accomplished through the Rosary).

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"Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, as in lectio divina or the Rosary. This form of prayerful reflection is of great value, but Christian prayer should go further: to the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him." Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2708 For Reflection:,br> How can meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary help to move me toward "the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him?"

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"Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire. This mobilization of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our heart, and strengthen our will to follow Christ." Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2708 For Reflection: How does this depiction of Christian meditation differ from other ideas of meditation presented in the secular culture? Why do you think all of the faculties of the soul are helpful in entering into prayer? How can I engage my intellect, imagination, emotion and desire when I pray the Rosary?

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