Why Catholics Pray the Rosary
Today is October 7, Feast of the Holy Rosary, a fitting day to think about this devotion. Where did the Rosary come from? It’s not in the Bible. St. Paul tells us to sing hymns and offer prayers for leaders, but says nothing about praying these prayer beads. According to a legend, the Rosary began when the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Dominic in the fifteenth century and gave him a rosary to pray. This legend arose because the Dominicans promoted praying the Rosary. So how did the Rosary originate?
The Origin
For ages, people kept track of prayers using notches on wood or beads. Long ago it was the custom to pray the 150 psalms. But illiterate people prayed 150 Our Fathers instead on beads called the paternoster (Latin for “our Father”). Lady Godiva bequeathed her paternoster made of gems to a monastery.
Retreat in Africa
Originally I was invited to give an eight-day preached retreat to our Sisters in Africa. However, my visit lengthened so I could also speak to different groups: our Associates, novices, and temporary professed Sisters. For the retreat I chose the theme Pillars of Religious Life. Each day I presented two talks on a topic fundamental to our life as consecrated women. Afterward the retreatants participated in an activity related to the topic.
On the evening before the retreat, I spoke about the procedure and how the Sisters could get the most out of the retreat. I explained that every day they would have questions that they might use to go deeper into the topic and personalize it.
Day 1: Intimacy with Jesus
During the day the Sisters were to ponder quotations about love for Jesus on a handout and look up Scripture verses about it. The activity was to write a letter to Jesus and sign it “Love” and their name. But this wasn’t all. They were also to write a letter from Jesus to them, just letting the words flow, not imagining what he would say to them. They would be surprised.
Day 2: Love of God for Us and Our Love for God
During the talk the Sisters received Sacred Heart badges and cards with Fr. Pedro Arrupe’s reflection “Falling in Love.” In the evening the Sisters met in small groups to share their favorite name for God or Jesus. Some of them sang hymns to express their thoughts. Following this, volunteers shared their favorite names with all 35 Sisters.
Day 3: Scripture as God’s Word
The retreatants viewed a PowerPoint presentation on Scripture. They received a small card with a Scripture verse they were to consider as God’s love note to them. On the reverse side was another verse that would be revealed after scratching off the coating. The Sisters also had a Bible IQ test to take during the day.
For the activity, each Sister received a square of aluminum foil for a prayer activity. First, she was to think of her favorite Bible story. Second, come up with an object that would represent that story. And third, somehow make that object using the foil: tearing it, folding it, or writing on it. All was to be done in silence while speaking to Jesus about why they chose that story. After a while, the Sisters shared what they had made and why. One striking symbol was flames of fire.
Day 4: Praying with Scripture
During the day I explained praying mantras as well as using all five senses to bring a Bible story to life St. Ignatius style. The story of Bartimaeus served as an example. The retreatants received cards with the Jesus prayer. Then they listened to a presentation on lectio divina, (sacred reading). The evening activity was praying lectio divina in small groups using a psalm on a prayer card.
Day 5: The Eucharist
The presentation included a PowerPoint on the Eucharist. The Sisters sang the song “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me.” The activity was silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Day 6: Creation
After a reading from Genesis, was a talk about God speaking through creation. The retreatants were to spend time outside enjoying nature and finding something that spoke to them. Or they were to dwell on an experience they had with creation that became a cherished memory.
For the activity, the Sisters brought something from creation to the whole group and explained what God said to them through it. Sisters brought soil, branches of a bush, and flowers. One Sister presented herself. Another Sister told of seeing a donkey with its child walking behind. The little donkey followed its mother closely, never looking from side to side. We concluded with a litany in which each Sister named her created thing and everyone responded, “We praise and thank you, God.”
Day 7: The Holy Spirit and Ministry
After a talk on the Holy Spirit as our invisible partner, the Sisters listened to ten tips for staying on fire for the ministry. They were to choose a motto for themselves similar to St. Francis’s “My God and my all” and St. Julie’s “How good is the good God.”
For the activity, the retreatants created a bookmark with their motto and then placed them on a table.
Day 8 Our Blessed Mother
This was the Feast of the Assumption. The talks were on Mary and how we can follow her, the first and best Christian. A PowerPoint presentation on the Blessed Virgin was included and a review of the Rosary. The retreatants received prayer cards with a Marian prayer and my tatted flowers:
The reverse side read:
The activity was a celebration of the end of retreat. It included a ritual: I, with my three “guardian angels” to help, sliced heart-shaped cakes, lifting the knife three times as Sisters repeated “Happy New Life.” The cakes were cut into cubes and toothpicks inserted. These were set on the dining room tables for supper dessert.
I was impressed by the Sisters’ spirituality and their joyful simplicity. Meeting them made getting the nine shots and Visas and flying over the ocean twice worthwhile.
What was the most memorable retreat you ever made? Why?
African Safari
One day Sisters Mary Christine and Teopista took me on a safari in Nairobi National Park. This park is the only national park within a city. As we drove along the dusty roads though flat grasslands, the city skyline was visible in the background. Vincent, our driver, helped us spot animals and informed us about them. He also provided me with binoculars.
The roof of our jeep was raised so we could stand for better views, even balancing on our seats. We saw these animals among others: zebras, giraffes, lions, monkeys, buffalo, crocodiles, baboons, ostriches, hippos, rhinos, hyenas, impalas, buzzards, and a waterbuck. The city park had no elephants.
I’m ready to leave. The hat and shawl weren’t needed and soon removed.
Our tour began where three circles mark where elephant tusks and rhino horns are buried as a testament to eliminating poaching.
The hippos were hiding.
Giraffes were plentiful. I learned that they walk with side legs together. Can you spot the giraffe looking at you?
A parade of about fifteen zebras crossed the road in front of us.
We saw female impalas and one male on the side of the road. Now you understand the logo for Impala cars.
Many ostriches live in the park.
A Kenyan soldier guided us on a walking safari around Hippo Pools. He helped me walk over rocky parts of the narrow path and kept me from falling off cliffs. He pointed out an alligator, whose legs can be seen in the photo, and took us to a black rhino’s cave.
Here is a rhino with a white bird on its back. The bird keeps the big animal free of insects. We also saw a mother rhino walking with her child walking a distance behind her.
We waited on the road to see if five female lions would stand. Sister Christine could see them, but to me they were invisible until one stood, something Sister said was a blessing. I have it in a video. At the entrance to the park, Sister Teopista took a picture of a statue of a lion in case we wouldn’t see one.
I also have a video of a group of baboons coming toward us on the road. We had to cover our snacks so they wouldn’t jump in the jeep and steal them. Two hyenas were walking toward us too, but I only captured one of them with my camera.
Here is the origin of the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”:
SNDs in Africa
During the three weeks I was in Africa, I became acquainted with our Sisters in Kenya and Tanzania. They are grateful to the Sisters from other countries who established their delegation. A poster of those missionaries seen above is displayed in their convents and schools. Among them is Sister Annete Adams from Chardon, who served there for 23 years. The African Sisters also produced this song in celebration of our 175th anniversary:
Associates
Associates are mainly laypeople who make a covenant to share in our charism and ministry. Like us, they proclaim God’s goodness and provident care. Sister Mary Annete Adams began this program in Africa, and it is still flourishing under the leadership of Sister Mary Teopista. I spoke to the group about St. Julie Billiart, who founded the original Sisters of Notre Dame. They presented me with a cashmere shawl with images of the Sacred Heart. When I wear it, I’m reminded that Jesus has my back!
Candidates
Women who are interested in becoming Sisters first live together and experience community life. We have two groups of candidates, one in Kenya and another in Uganda. I met the candidates and Sister Mary Emma, their director in Kenya. Presently there are 31 candidates.
Postulants
Candidates who persevere become postulants and live in Uganda. There are thirty-one of them. Since I chose not to fly to that country (which I later learned was a site for Ebola), I wasn’t able to meet the postulants.
Novices
I met our 30 novices in Kenya and spoke to them for about an hour. Sister Mary Pascalia is their director and has a lovely rapport with them. The novices do not wear a veil, whereas when I was novice, we wore starched white veils.
A Sister from Indonesia is staying in Africa to be formed as a novice director under Sister Pascalia’s direction.
Our novices are a joyful, energetic group. In the evening they had a celebration for me and for three novices who are going to spend time in local houses. They all sang and danced with enthusiasm, accompanied by drums. Entertainment included some stand-up comedians.
The novitiate house is on the delegation house property. The novices keep busy running the farm there, providing food for the Sisters and the students. They even work in the slaughterhouse!
Junior Professed
There are 60 junior professed Sisters of Notre Dame, that is, women under temporary vows. This includes eight “tertians,” who will profess final vows in December. The young Sisters are studying or already involved in ministry. Some are teachers and nurses. Many of them made the eight-day retreat I gave.
Afterward, thirty of them were gathered at the Karen House for three weeks of formation. Sister Margaret Mbuba is the capable junior directress as well as the superior of Karen House. I spoke to the juniors about the life of St. Julie Billiart and then the joy of being a consecrated woman. I mentioned that laughing massages the liver. That night at supper the young Sisters at the table next to me were loud and boisterous. When I asked what was going on, they said, “We’re massaging our liver!”
Papua New Guinea
Several of our Sisters from Papua New Guinea now live in Africa. One evening two of them prepared a meal for us, as I explained in a previous post.
While I was in Karen House, Sister Rose from Papua New Guinea renewed her vows. A special holy hour was in her honor. The day before, I was asked to meet with her to prepare her for the day. After she renewed her vows, the community celebrated by encircling her and singing. She was given a basket of lollipops, which she passed around. Then she cut the traditional heart cakes with the junior director and me assisting.
Guardian Angels
In each convent where I stayed, a “guardian angel” saw to it that I was on time for events, helped me with meals, and explained things: Sisters Mary Mercy, Wompi, and Lucia (kneeling). On days when Sister Mercy was assisting with a surgery as part of her training as a surgical nurse, Sister Rose substituted. Sister Rose was so small that the Sisters told me I could fold her up and take her home in my carry-on!
More information about our African Sisters can be found at https://sndusa.org/east-africa-ministries/Here is another video of a 175th celebration:
African Meals
I’m often asked how the food was in Africa. It was very palatable, not spicy at all. Because the Sisters operate farms where they grow their own crops, the food is fresh and free from chemicals. They also raise their own animals.
Breakfast was eggs, cheese, pancakes, yogurt, sausage, peanut butter on bread. Chapati (chewy, flat bread) was at every meal, but regular bread was also available. Usually for lunch and supper, we had rice and shredded cabbage, sometimes with slivers of carrots mixed in. We had all kinds of beans and potatoes, even French fries. What I assumed was mashed potatoes turned out to be white maize (corn). We had soups, like peanut soup. I was introduced to cassava. Meat was often chicken. I found the chicken gizzards tough. Here is a picture of the salads:
Fruit was plentiful: avocados, papayas, passion fruit, apples, pineapple, many bananas, and a lot of watermelon.
The Sisters drank plain hot water or water mixed with a little milk. I had bottled water, instant coffee, or tea.
One morning a Sister asked if I ate fish. I said yes. That night at supper large fish with the heads and tails were served. The fish of the Sister sitting perpendicular to me was smiling at me all during the meal. Considerately, the Sisters had prepared a bowl of the meat for me.
Before meals, the Sisters stood in line to wash their hands at an urn and dry them.
Each morning and afternoon the Sisters enjoyed “tea breaks” with popcorn and other treats.
One evening Sisters from Papua New Guinea made supper according to their culture. Banana leaves served as plates. (But these were set on plates for us.) The food was set on a large blanket on the floor, and we danced around it in colorful skirts, New Guinea style. The food included chicken, greens soaked in coconut milk, and cassava.
The novices run one of the farms. They even work in the slaughterhouse! Here are some of their animals. Their latest addition is a fish pond.
At Karen House, where I gave the retreat, there were seven sheep, including a ram and a lamb. Each Christmas and Easter, a sheep gives its life. The herd replenishes itself.
Here are some of the Sisters’ crops:
Stay tuned. Next week I’ll report on the Sisters.
