Nervous or struggling? Pray a mystery of the Rosary

This prayer has worked wonders in my life ...

Today I was awakened by the morning sun, and I got up feeling great. For some special reason, the only thing I wanted to do was to pray to the Virgin Mary. I knelt at the foot of my bed, and after every Hail Mary, it seemed as if the Virgin was smiling at me and saying, “Thank you, my son! I will never abandon you.“ What a beautiful way to begin the day!

The Holy Rosary has accompanied me throughout my life, and that makes me very happy. It seems like yesterday when my mom used to wake us up at 5 in the morning to go pray the novena to the Virgin in my hometown. It also feels just as recent when, during the month of May, the children in our family prayed at Mary’s feet and gave her flowers; or when, while I was a young seminarian, we would gather together around Mary to pray for our vocation and to pray that she would take care of our families.

I want to share an amazing experience with you. I don’t know how old I was, but I was still a child, and there was a big problem in my house. At that age, it seemed as if it were impossible to solve. I was very afraid, and I did the only thing I could do: I went to my grandparents to see if they could do something.

But even with their presence, I felt that someone else’s help was needed – so I searched for a rosary, and I began to pray to the Virgin Mary. It was extraordinary: as soon as I began to pray, God‘s peace filled me. I felt as if my Blessed Mother were consoling me, saying, “Don’t worry, my son. Everything will be OK …“ I can feel Mary consoling me as if it were yesterday!

When I remember these experiences, tears of emotion come to my eyes. When I see the marvels that the holy Rosary has worked in my life, the only thing I can do is say to everyone I can that they should pray the Rosary too. I recommend it so often, that a short time ago a friend of mine complained to me, saying, “You sound like a country doctor; you always give the same prescription.“

He said that to me because whenever anyone comes to me with a problem, I recommend that they pray the Rosary. “Pray the Rosary, pray to Mary, and you will see how our Heavenly Mother will not leave you abandoned.“

Thanks to this advice, I have seen many lives changed. I remember in particular Mrs. Cesarina, a 70-year-old woman whose children had abandoned her, because now they’re teachers or college graduates who are ashamed of their mother. This good woman was always sad, until one day I gave her a Rosary and I taught her to pray it. Problem solved! Now, she’s like a different person; she goes to Mass and she sits right up front with a smiling face, and whenever get she can, she tells me, “Father, thank you for teaching me to pray the Rosary. It’s done me so much good!“

Allow Mary to be part of your life, always pray the Rosary.

When you feel nervous, pray a mystery;

When you are experiencing difficulties, pray a mystery;

When you need company, pray a mystery;

When you need a consolation, pray a mystery;

When you need health, pray a mystery.

Repeat every Hail Mary with faith, and you’ll see that our Blessed Mother will tell you: “My son, don’t worry. Everything will be all right …“

And like a good village priest, let me remind you: Always pray the Rosary!