• February 12, 2024, Today’s Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET • The Audio Podcast of this Rosary is Available Here Now! Yesterday, February 11, was the 32nd World Day of the Sick, a commemoration instituted by Pope St. John Paul II. The World Day of the Sick takes place each year on the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. On this day in 1858 in Lourdes, France, the 14-year-old peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous saw the Virgin Mary, wearing a white dress and holding a rosary. It would be the first of 18 appearances of Holy Virgin in Lourdes. In one apparition, on the feast day of the Annunciation, Mary said, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Since then, Lourdes has been a popular travel destination. Thousands of people say their medical conditions have been cured through pilgrimage, prayer, and the water flowing from a spring to which Bernadette was directed by the Blessed Virgin. Experts have verified 69 cases of miraculous healing at Lourdes since 1862. Ave Maria! Jesus, I Trust In You! To Jesus through Mary! Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will! + Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York
The Catholic Church celebrates today the Memorial of St. Agatha (d. 250), a virgin and martyr who died in defense of her purity, in Catania, Sicily. After Quintanus, the governor of Sicily, tried in vain to force her to consent to sin, imprisoned for a month, and then had her breasts cut off, but that night Agatha was miraculously healed by the apostle St. Peter. When asked why she lived the servile life of a Christian, St. Agatha answered: "I am a handmaid of Christ, and that is why I bear the outward appearance of a slave; yet this is the highest nobility, to be a slave to Christ." The governor threatened her with the most dreadful tortures if she did not renounce Christ. Agatha countered: "If you threaten me with wild beasts, know that in the Name of Christ, they grow tame; if you use fire, from heaven angels will drop healing dew on me." She was then rolled over sharp stones and burning coals and finally taken to prison where she died while praying. "O Lord Jesus Christ, good Master, I give You thanks that You granted me victory over the executioners' tortures. Grant now that I may happily dwell in Your never-ending glory." Ave Maria! — Jesus, I trust in you! — Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will St. Agatha, Pray for Us! + Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York • YOUTUBE • SPOTIFY • APPLE PODCASTS • YouTube video: Daily Rosary broadcast at 7:30 pm ET • Podcast available on eight networks
• February 4, 2024, Today’s Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET • The Audio Podcast of this Rosary is Available Here Now! In today's Sunday reading (Mk 1:29-39), we see a day in the public life of Jesus: He heals people, drives out demons, prays, and preaches. As followers of Christ, we are invited to pray, serve the poor, and evangelize throughout Galilee. The Gospel of Mark presents as a healer. In him, divinity and humanity come together. "In him, the divine life and divine power are breaking through," writes Bishop Barron. "God’s deepest intentions appear—what God plans for us in the kingdom to come is now historically anticipated." Ave Maria! Jesus, I Trust In You! To Jesus through Mary! Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will! + Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York
• February 3, 2024, Today’s Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET • The Audio Podcast of this Rosary is Available Here Now! Today, February 3rd, we celebrate the memorial of St. Blaise (or Blase), a fourth-century saint and martyr who enjoys widespread veneration in the Eastern and Western Churches due to many cures attributed to him. On this day the Church gives a "Blessing of the Throats" in honor of St. Blaise, who was a physician and Bishop of Sebaste, Armenia. From the eighth century, St. Blaise has been invoked on behalf of the sick, especially those afflicted with illnesses of the throat. St. Blaise is included in the list of Fourteen Holy Helpers. Today, two candles are blessed with a prayer that God will free us from illness. St. Blaise lived in a cave on Mount Argeus and was a healer of men and animals. According to legend, sick animals would come to him on their own for help, but would never disturb him at prayer. While arrested, and in prison, Blaise ministered to and healed fellow prisoners, including saving a child who was choking on a fish bone; this led to the blessing of throats on Blaise's feast day. Ave Maria! Jesus, I Trust In You! St. Blaise, Pray for Us! To Jesus through Mary! Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will! + Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York
• February 2, 2024, Today’s Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET • The Audio Podcast of this Rosary is Available Here Now! Today, forty days after the birth of Jesus, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also popularly known as Candlemas Day — since it takes place the Procession and Blessing of Candles at Mass. Christ Child is revealed as the Messiah through the canticle and words of Simeon and the testimony of Anna the prophetess. The Presentation of the Lord concludes the celebration of the Nativity. And with the offerings of the Virgin Mother and the prophecy of Simeon, the events now point toward Easter. Overall, Jesus’ presentation signifies God made man’s entrance to His temple, presenting Himself to those who were searching for Him. It also reminds us that prayer, penance, and contemplation result in a solid interior life that brings true Christian charity. During the episode of the Presentation, we see Simeon’s prophecy of Mary’s sufferings. Pope John Paul II taught that ‘Simeon's words seem like a second Annunciation to Mary, for they tell her of the actual historical situation in which the Son is to accomplish his mission, namely, in misunderstanding and sorrow.’ (Redemptoris Mater, n16) Only those who pray and offer penance, like Simeon and Anna, are open to the breath of the Spirit. They knew how to recognize the Lord in the circumstances in which He manifested Himself because they possessed an ample interior vision. In addition, today, and given that consecrated men and women are to be the light in the world — imitating Jesus, the Light of the World — we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. Pope St. John Paul II instituted this celebration in 1997. The Church demonstrates its gratitude to all those who dedicate themselves in a privileged way to prayer and have a particular religious vocation to the contemplative life. Ave Maria! Jesus, I Trust In You! To Jesus through Mary! Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will! + Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York
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