Our Lady of Fatima and the Rosary

My grandfather whom I was very close to began terribly sick during my senior year of high school. For a very long week at the end of January-beginning of February 2000 he lay in a coma in the hospital and we all just waited for the inevitable.

The morning he died, I put my great-grandmother's Rosary in my pocket and kept reaching for it. Sound normal? For me it wasn't. I had no idea really what it was. NO idea how to pray it. And no idea who the Lady was behind it.

But She knew me and for some reason I felt drawn to Her prayer at that moment. Without even knowing it I went to our Blessed Mother for comfort and haven't left Her since then.

Many times over the years since then I've turned to Her prayer not only for comfort but in thanksgiving and intercession.

It wasn't until I went to visit Sarah in Ohio that I began praying the Rosary every day. And the graces that have come from that daily Rosary are countless. I prayed my first 54-day Rosary Novena almost three years ago. And She heard those prayers and answered them in a way I will never forget.

About a year or so ago I "found" Our Lady of Fatima and have been drawn to Her very profoundly. Probably because of Her messages of the Eucharist and praying the Rosary.

Last Christmas I asked for one of the nice statues of our Lady of Fatima and got it from my parents. I hope that this will become a "family heirloom" that my children will cherish and pray in front of as they grow up (when they get here that is!)

For now She is displayed in my room in a special way and prayed in front of by me.

While I miss my grandfather very much I thank our Blessed Mother for choosing that time to enter into my life. It is through Her intercession that I was led back to Her Son through my "reversion" to the Faith. She led me through the Rosary to where I am today. And I know that with my hand in Her's I will not be led astray. With Her beads in my hands I am holding Her hand. And I won't let them go.