May Fatima Family Holy Hour For The Church

Thank you for joining our May Fatima Family Holy Hour for the Church! May 13th is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Following is the Holy Hour Format to print and perform at home.  If you cannot do this on May 13th, please choose another day during this month. God bless you and may Our Lady shower graces upon you and your family during this difficult hour in the Church.

PRINTABLE VERSION OF MAY HOLY HOUR FORMAT

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Candle-Lighting for Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

(please light a candle next to a picture or statue of Our Lady)

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O Jesus, we thank Thee for this beautiful Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, which celebrates her appearance to the three holy children in Fatima, Portugal and all the miracles and wonders which took place there.  We thank Thee for our togetherness today all over the world honoring this joyful feast, though it is at a sorrowful time for Thy Holy Church and the whole world.  We light this candle for the intention of reparation to Thy Mother's Immaculate Heart, which so grieves over the sins of the world at this present hour.  We especially wish to console her for the terrible injustice to unborn children, for she is Mother to all.  May these little lights of ours ascend to her Queenly throne in Heaven and show her that indeed, there is still love for her on earth.  Love for Thy Mother always directs us to Thee, O Jesus, our Savior, Whom she holds up to the world in her loving arms.  Forgive us our sins and let us enter into this Holy Hour in a spirit of contrition and spiritual communion with Thee.  We beg Thee for a return of the Holy Mass, all the sacraments and the normal functioning of the Catholic Church. Forgive us for the disrespect given to the Holy Eucharist. We offer as well, all the intentions of those participating.  Amen. 

All Ye Holy Angels & Saints, Pray for Us!

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us!

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Hymn:  "Immaculate Mary"

(Brian Foley, Jeremiah Cummings)

Immaculate Mary, your praises we sing
You reign now in Heaven with Jesus our King

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!  Ave, Ave, Maria!

In Heaven the blessed your glory proclaim
On earth we your children invoke your sweet name

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!  Ave, Ave, Maria!

We pray for the Church our true mother on earth
And bless Holy Mary, the land of our birth

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!  Ave, Ave, Maria!

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Fatima Reading & Prayer

The First Apparition ~ May 13th, 1917

...the three children took their flocks out to pasture in the small area known as the Cova da Iria. After lunch and the Rosary, they suddenly saw a bright flash of something like lightning, followed quickly by another flash in the clear blue sky. They looked up to see, in Lucia’s words, “A lady, clothed in white, brighter than the sun, radiating a light more clear and intense than a crystal cup filled with sparkling water lit by burning sunlight.” The children stood there amazed, bathed in the light that surrounded the apparition, as the Lady smiled and said: “Do not be afraid, I will not harm you.” Lucia, as the oldest, asked her where she came from.

The Lady pointed to the sky and said: “I come from Heaven.” Lucia then asked her what she wanted. “I have come to ask you to come here for six months on the 13th day of the month at this same hour. Later I shall say who I am and what I desire." Lucia then asked if they would go to Heaven and was told yes, she and Jacinta would go to Heaven, but Francisco would need to say many Rosaries first. The Lady then said: “Are you willing to offer yourselves to God and bear all the sufferings He wills to send you as an act of reparation for the conversion of sinners?” Lucia, as spokesman for all three, readily agreed. “Then you are going to have much to suffer, but the grace of God will be your comfort.”

Lucia recounted that at the same moment as she said these words, the Lady opened her hands and streamed a “light” upon the children which allowed them to see themselves in God. The Lady finished with a request: “Say the Rosary every day to bring peace to the world and the end of the war.” [She was referring to World War I.] With that, she began to rise into the air, moving towards the east until she disappeared.

The children...tried to think of ways they could make sacrifices as the Lady had asked, resolving to go without lunch and to pray the full Rosary. Francisco and Jacinta received more support from their parents than Lucia...the attitudes of the local inhabitants ranged from skepticism to utter contempt, and the children thereby suffered many insults. They would have much to suffer, just as the Lady had told them.

Text courtesy World Apostolate of Fatima, USA, slightly edited.

The first apparition of Our Lady to the children was not their first encounter with Heaven.  An angel appeared to them previously, three times, and gave them two prayers, as follows:

"My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love Thee!  I beg pardon of Thee for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee!"

"Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I adore Thee profoundly.  I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference with which He is offended.  By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners."

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Glorious Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary

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Litany of Our Lady of Fatima

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for our dear country.
Our Lady of Fatima, sanctify our clergy.
Our Lady of Fatima, make our Catholics more fervent.
Our Lady of Fatima, guide and inspire those who govern us.
Our Lady of Fatima, cure the sick who confide in you.
Our Lady of Fatima, console the sorrowful who trust in you.
Our Lady of Fatima, help those who invoke your aid.
Our Lady of Fatima, deliver us from all dangers.
Our Lady of Fatima, help us to resist temptation.
Our Lady of Fatima, obtain for us all that we lovingly ask of you.
Our Lady of Fatima, help those who are dear to us.
Our Lady of Fatima, bring back to the right road our erring brothers.
Our Lady of Fatima, give us back our ancient fervor.
Our Lady of Fatima, obtain for us pardon of our manifold sins and offenses.
Our Lady of Fatima, bring all men to the feet of your Divine Child.
Our Lady of Fatima, obtain peace for the world.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Let Us Pray: O God of infinite goodness and mercy, fill our hearts with a great confidence in Thy dear Mother, whom we invoke under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary and our Lady of Fatima, and grant us by her powerful intercession, all the graces, spiritual and temporal, which we need.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

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Final Prayer

O Most Holy Trinity, look upon the work of Thy Hands with mercy and give us the peace we so desperately need.  Shower Thy graces upon us like the rain, like a great flood engulfing us and end these many sorrows.  We live in unprecedented times, uncertain times.  Deliver us from all evil, visible and invisible and from all fear.  Help us to prepare for the days to come and to extricate ourselves from this inauthentic culture.  We pray for the triumphalism of Holy Mother Church and the salvation of all souls.  Give us peace in our hearts and courage to face the future and win our Heavenly reward.  Our Lady of Fatima, we love you!  Pray for us!  In the Holy Name of Christ, Nomen Christi.  Amen.

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Closing Hymn:  "Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above"

(Contractus Hermannus)

Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria.
Hail, Queen of mercy and of love, O Maria.
Triumph, all ye Cherubim,
Sing with us, ye Seraphim,
Heav'n and earth resound the hymn,
Salve, Salve, Salve, Regina.

The cause of joy to all below, O Maria.
The spring through which all graces flow, O Maria.
Angels, all your praises bring,
Earth and heaven, with us sing,
All creation echoing,
Salve, Salve, Salve, Regina.

O gentle, loving, holy one, O Maria.
The God of light became your Son, O Maria.
Triumph, all ye Cherubim,
Sing with us, ye Seraphim.
Heav'n and earth resound the hymn,
Salve, Salve, Salve, Regina.

Thank you for joining us!  See you June 13th for the June Fatima Family Holy Hour!

For email reminders, please contact us at: director@nomenchristi.org

Image courtesy https://www.catholiccompany.com/getfed/five-prayers-taught-at-fatima-by-mary-the-angels/

Fatima Family Holy Hours for the Church

This Wednesday on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima (and for the next six months)! This is an at-home program to do with your family in private (you will never see us do anything where prying eyes can observe-you get my drift about how I feel about all this online activity we are forced to engage in now). Please be prepared to print a copy for each member of your family, so they can easily participate. We did a similar program on the 100th Anniversary of Fatima, all 6 months in a row, commemorating each apparition.

WE NEED TO BECOME STRONGER NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*** Spiritually ***

*** Mentally ***

*** Physically ***

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“What we do now echoes in eternity.”

Marcus Aurelius

If you think its time to stay home watching “Casablanca” for the 82nd time and scrapbooking….think again! We need to be prepared from this point forward for anything and everything (but not with fear). Demand to receive confession and Holy Communion. Start lifting weights. Go hiking in the wonderful outdoors without a mask, so you are not breathing in your own carbon dioxide and depressing your immune system. Take vitamins C and D. Get plenty of seeds and plant a garden. Stockpile supplies and water (only those in good supply). Buy rural property and precious metals. Learn how to fish. Learn to meditate and increase your mental strength under stress. Throw yourself on God when you get depressed-He never disappoints! Do it now. Teach your children. Pray on it. WE GOT THIS!

Image is a promotion of the show “Doomsday Castle,” which aired in 2013. I have not seen the show, but here is some info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomsday_Castle

May is the Month of Our Lady!

Each month in the Catholic calendar is dedicated to a particular intention and this month, it is Our Lady. It is sad Catholics have gotten away from this unifying theme each month. We have largely forgotten that we are the Body of Christ on earth, all as one. Many are focused on their own parishes, not even having any knowledge of what is going on in the parishes around them, nevermind the larger picture. Each month, I will be discussing the focus for that month (I’m not known for being perfectly timely, as I have many domestic responsibilities, family in need and my own health issues-my hubby and I are empty nesters, but I still have lots on my plate-please be patient with me when I am flaky).

So how can we honor the Mother of God this month? I never claim to have all the answers and I always encourage others to be self-empowered and use their own creativity. What I would suggest, as I’ve been saying a lot these days, is to re-commit ourselves to daily Rosary and devotion to the Immaculate Heart in all the requests of Fatima (which we will be discussing in the coming days in detail). Please think of how you can devote yourself to her this month with your family. God will certainly look upon the world with greater mercy if He sees there is love for His Beloved Mother!

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday in the new. Let us never feel abandoned by God, even in dark moments. If you are feeling depressed, just say “I give myself to Thee” and commend it all to Him. Our priest gave a wonderful homily this morning over the internet (where they can see everything-hmmmmm). He said you should never let anything take your joy away. We have Christ and the Good News of the New Covenant-anything less than joy is an insult to Him. He explained that when we are caught up in the cares of the world, our joy can be taken away, but we must keep our eyes on the Eternal. What a great and consoling message at this time.

Following are some notable feasts this month (some old, some new). If you have been following me for several years, you know I have a particular interest in the Doctors of the Church. I always say, if you wish to read one book of each Doctor, it will take 35 years! This month, we have 5 Doctors of the Church. My husband and I read about one of them per month in the book, The 35 Doctors of the Church: https://www.tanbooks.com/thirty-five-doctors-of-the-church.html?___SID=U This month, we are focusing on Saint Robert Bellarmine, whose feast is May 13th. I once read his “Hell and Its Torments” and was forever changed. Have a blessed month of May!

May 3-Good Shepherd Sunday (new), Sts. Philip & James the Less

May 9-St. Gregory Nazianzen, Doctor

May 10-St. John of Avila, Doctor

May 13-OUR LADY OF FATIMA* (take a look at the World Apostolate of Fatima site https://www.bluearmy.com/ for prayers and info), St. Robert Bellarmine

May 15-St. Isidore the Farmer (Nomen Christi Apostolate counts him among our patrons), St. Dymphna, patron of mental disorders (many are experiencing anxiety right now)

May 16-St. Simon Stock, seer of the Brown Scapular, another of Our Lady’s requests (good time to be wearing it!)

May 18-20-Minor Rogation Days-trad custom-prayer and penance

May 21-ASCENSION OF THE LORD-check your diocese if this is a Holy Day of Obligation

May 24-ASCENSION OF THE LORD (new)

May 25-St. Bede the Venerable, Doctor (new)

May 27-St. Bede the Venerable, Doctor (old)

May 30-Vigil of Pentecost

May 31-PENTECOST, The Visitation, The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (what a wonderful triple feast!)

*Nomen Christi Apostolate is dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima

Picture above is from my own yard-I believe our home has protection!

Are You Having Trouble Getting Dental Treatment At This Time?

Saint Apollonia was a virgin martyr and is the patron saint of dental disease. She died in the year 250 and her feast is February 12th. Many are having difficulty obtaining dental treatment during this time. If you have a dental problem and your dentist refuses to treat you, consider praying Saint Apollonia’s novena below. The whole world is suffering a very great chastisement. O God, have mercy on us all!

Novena To Saint Apollonia

O Glorious Apollonia, Patron Saint of dentistry and refuge to all those suffering from diseases of the teeth, I consecrate myself to you, beseeching you to number me among your clients.
Assist me by your intercession with God in my daily work and intercede with Him to obtain for me a happy death. Pray that my heart be like yours, inflamed with the love of Jesus and Mary, through Christ our Lord.
O My God, bring me safely through temptation and strengthen me as Thou didst our own Patron Saint Apollonia, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint Apollonia, pray for my intention, (mention intention). Saint Apollonia, pray for us!
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…

(Repeat the above for 9 consecutive days)

From https://catholicsaints.info/ :

We know that she lived in Alexandria, and that on February 9th of the year 250, during the persecution of the Christians ordered by the Emperor Decius [Apollonia was tortured and put to death]…one of the chief authorities for the history of the early Christian Church is the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea in the fourth century. If we turn to book VI, chapter 41, of this work, we shall find there a letter from Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria, written to Fabius, Bishop of Antioch, which gives an account of the Decian persecution at Alexandria, and also tells us all we really know of Saint Apollonia….

“Then with one accord, all rushed upon the houses of the pious, and whomsoever of their neighbors they knew, they drove thither in all haste, and despoiled and plundered them, setting apart the more valuable of the articles for themselves; but the more common and wooden furniture they threw about and burnt in the roads, presenting a sight like a city taken by the enemy. They also seized that admirable virgin Apollonia, then in advanced age, and beating her jaws, they broke out all her teeth, and kindling a fire before the city, threatened to burn her alive, unless she would repeat their impious expressions. She appeared at first to shrink a little, but when suffered to go, she suddenly sprang into the fire and was consumed.”

Image courtesy flickr.com

Prayer, slightly edited, courtesy: https://novenaprayer.com/

Sat the 25th is a Rogation Day

This is the Major Rogation Day, traditionally celebrated in the Church. The Rogation Days are similar in spirit to the Ember Days, seeking mercy and blessings upon the coming season. These were the celebrations that made people love the Church and feel connected to her. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to bring all these beautiful practices back? This Rogation Day, as the world and the Church continues to suffer, how appropriate a time to observe this ancient tradition! From “Catholic Answers Encyclopedia:”

“Rogation Days, days of prayer, and formerly also of fasting, instituted by the Church to appease God’s anger at man’s transgressions, to ask protection in calamities, and to obtain a good and bountiful harvest…The Rogation Days are the 25th of April, called Major, and the three days before the feast of the Ascension, called Minor.” For full text: https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/rogation-days

The “Litany of the Saints” was normally recited on the Rogation Days. Pray it with your family! https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/litany-of-the-saints-250

Also, if you did not have the chance to perform the Divine Mercy devotion last Sunday, wouldn’t this Rogation Day be a great time to do that? Please see our previous post for our “at home” program. It doesn’t take long! My husband and I prayed it and it was quite a blessing and consolation at this time, especially the closing prayer:

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

This Rogation Day is also the feast of Saint Mark. Saint Mark, pray for us at this hour!

Divine Mercy Sunday At Home

I was disappointed to see, when viewing the sites of my local parishes, not only no live-streamed Divine Mercy devotions, but not even any suggestions of how to perform this devotion at home. So, I came up with my own home program. The contemplation of the image is an idea I got from our Bishop’s (Bishop Barres) letter to the diocese of Rockville Centre, New York. The “Act of Contrition” just seems appropriate when seeking mercy. I included the “Prayer of Petition” to give Saint Faustina some recognition. And of course, her wonderful Chaplet!

If you do not have time for this today, please consider performing this devotion some time this coming week, with your family. EWTN does broadcast the Chaplet. Please see their schedule for this week: https://www.ewtn.com/tv/shows/chaplet-of-divine-mercy In addition, also on their site, here is everything you ever wanted to know about the Divine Mercy devotion: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/divine-mercy-12705

It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway, that there has never been a more important time for this! Blessings to you and your families on this wonderful feast!

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Contemplation of Divine Mercy Image of Christ

This is the image above, given to us in Saint Faustina’s vision. A red stream and a white stream emanating from the Sacred Heart of Christ, representing the Blood and Water which flowed when His Heart was pierced on the Cross. If you have this image in your home, place it in front of you as you say the following prayers.

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Act of Contrition

Oh, my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen. I also resolve to avoid all occasion of sin.

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Prayer of Petition

O Jesus, who filled Thy handmaid Saint Faustina with profound veneration for Thy boundless Mercy, grant me, through her intercession, the grace for which I fervently pray: (mention request). My sins render me unworthy of Thy mercy, but be mindful of Saint Faustina’s spirit of sacrifice and self-denial and reward her virtue by granting the petition which, with childlike confidence, I present to Thee. Amen.

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Chaplet of Divine Mercy

With your Rosary beads, recite the following prayers: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/pray-the-chaplet

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Prayer of Petition (slightly edited) courtesy https://www.daily-prayers.org/

Image courtesy http://stviator.azurewebsites.net/?s=%3Fpage+id%3D1829&search_404=1

Easter Saturday

From today’s Mass:

The Lord brought forth His people with joy, alleluia: and His chosen ones with gladness, alleluia, alleluia!

Give glory to the Lord, and call upon His Name: declare His deeds among the Gentiles.

Alleluia, alleluia! This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us rejoice and be glad in it. Alleluia!

Praise the Lord, O ye His servants, praise the Name of the Lord!

Blessed be He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. the Lord is God, and He hath shone upon us, alleluia, alleluia!

All ye who have been baptised in Christ, have put on Christ, alleluia!

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What joyful words we have in the masses of this Easter week! The “Alleluia” resounds. And how much we need right now, to be reminded of the joy of the Good News of Christ. Tomorrow is the feast of Divine Mercy. Let us participate in any video or home devotions. Let our prayers rise to God on high and secure mercy for this world, as we experience the just punishments for sin.

Short Rosary Meditation: The Descent of The Holy Ghost

The Descent of The Holy Ghost

“Descent” is a dramatic word. What does dictionary.com say? Here is an excerpt:

descent: noun
-the act, process, or fact of moving from a higher to a lower position.
-a passage or stairway leading down.
-any passing from higher to lower in degree or state; decline.

Let’s go through this. “Higher to a lower position.” When we contemplated the Ascension, we spoke of Christ traversing from earth to Heaven. Now Heaven descends to earth. “Passage or stairway leading down.” This stairway, leading down from Heaven also helps us to ascend back up to Heaven, through the fruits and gifts of the Holy Ghost. “Passing from higher to lower in degree.” The Higher comes down to the lower, not to degrade Himself, but to uplift us to Himself. How extraordinary. And people think Catholics are negative?

So here we have the Third Person of the Most Holy Trinity, taking His turn to come to earth, the final great Act in this Story of God’s revelation of Himself to mankind and ultimate redemption. First, the Father came to the Jews, then the Son came to die, then the Holy Ghost came as the “Giver of Life,” as we are told in the Nicene Creed. We received Him in our Sacrament of Confirmation, but how often do we think of this sacrament and its implications in our daily lives? We must study the fruits and gifts we received and make every effort to increase these virtues within ourselves.

Especially at this time, let us resolve to give God our very best, to not disappoint Him and to avail ourselves of all the graces given to us. Dear Holy Ghost, help me to love, know and understand Thee better with each passing day!

Easter Friday-A Solemnity!

Today is a solemnity-no penance required. From today’s Mass:

The Lord brought them out in hope, alleluia, and the sea overwhelmed their enemies, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Attend, O My people, to My law; incline your ears to the words of My mouth.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord; the Lord is God, and He hath shone upon us.

Alleluia, alleluia! Say ye among the gentiles: the Lord hath reigned from a tree.

All power is given to Me in heaven and on earth, alleluia: going teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, alleluia, alleluia!

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We have many wonderful sentiments in the above words today. First, we are reminded of the virtue of hope. God never forgets His children. The second line gives us the antidote to our current situation. Its not a vaccine. Its not a mask. Its not “social distancing.” Its not closing your business. Its living God’s Law, revealed first through the Jewish people and now, through Christ’s Church, built upon His great sacrifice, His own Blood. We also have “This is the day…,” each day this week, reminding us that no matter how difficult life gets, this is His world and He wills that it all goes on. Finally, we contemplate Our Lord’s power, knowing He’s got it all under control.

I hope you have been praying the Glorious Mysteries each day this Easter week. I know, if you are not used to praying the rosary every day, it may be hard to stay motivated. But whenever you push past that laziness and the temptation to put temporal concerns above the spiritual (“I don’t have time”), the rewards are ALWAYS extraordinary and you NEVER regret it! Last night, as my hubby and I prayed it, it was wonderful to meditate on these most beautiful of Mysteries. Visualizing Our Lord resurrected in great radiance, ascending in glory amidst the clouds and Our Lady crowned in Heaven among the angels, lifted me right out of the earthly sufferings of this hour and into a space of great wonder and joy. Its something the world does not comprehend. So let’s all try to turn over a new leaf and do as Our Lady of Fatima requested-daily rosary!

One more thought: many don’t pray the rosary because they are too perfectionistic and it overwhelms them. The answer: don’t try, just do it. 99% of the battle is getting started. Just start blurting out the Apostles Creed and you’re good to go! If your mind drifts, and it will, just gently pull it back and keep going. Its fine. Our Lady knows we are human. We NEED the rosary right now. Our Lady of Fatima foresaw these days and she told us to pray it. Its never been more important!