My most cherished possession is the gift my 93-year-old great-grandmother gave to me shortly before she passed away. The gift was a rosary that had been handed down to her from her father, my great-great grandfather.
The rosary consists of worn wooden beads, strung together by an aging tarnished chain. These beads used to total 15 decades; however, after years of fervent prayer and frequent repairs, their number has dwindled away to seven decades.
Although this rosary would have little monetary value to anyone else, it has significant sentimental value to me. This simple family heirloom has helped me realize how blessed I am to have the gift of a loving family. Just knowing the multitude of prayers that have been said on these beads has inspired me to carry on this Catholic family tradition.
Each time I pray the Rosary, its meaning becomes clearer to me. As the beads pass through my fingers, I walk along the path of Jesus’ life, with Mary as my guide. My dear heavenly Mother invites me to share in the childhood of Jesus in the Joyful Mysteries. She shows me how much Jesus suffered for the love of me in the Sorrowful Mysteries. The Queen of Heaven allows me to witness her son’s triumph over death in the Glorious Mysteries. As my heavenly Mother leads me through the life of Jesus, she also draws me closer to her Son, and a feeling of true peace envelops my soul.
I look forward to the day when I can continue the tradition of handing down this precious heirloom to the next generation of my family.