Une Minute avec Marie
Faire connaître et aimer Marie
Most of us have heard the saying from Father Patrick Peyton: “The family that prays together, stays together.”
This quote came to my mind one morning as I was cleaning up my daughter’s room and I noticed, through the window, a couple with rosaries in hand, walking and praying.
I see couples all the time walking early in the morning, but this couple was different. I simply watched them in admiration and could not help the feelings of joy and love that instantly flooded my heart. Bottom line – I wanted to know more. Why did they pray the rosary and how did they start praying as a couple?
(...) Jim and JoAnn had their first date on Dec. 7, 1999, and he took her to Brigtsen’s restaurant, not knowing it was her favorite dining spot. Following the date, he asked her out again for Monday night; however, she politely declined saying that she held a Monday evening rosary at her mother’s home and could not make it. This was something she had done for years.
When she told him this, he said he prayed the rosary as well and proceeded to pull out a worn-out leather rosary pouch from his pocket with a visibly used rosary in it. He kissed her goodnight on the forehead, and she knew from that moment that she would marry this man. He was the man she had prayed for. He met every quality on her list. They were married eight months later.
From the beginning, their Catholic faith has been at the center of their marriage, with the rosary being an integral part of their relationship. They lead a weekly Monday night rosary at their home, and they never travel without saying a rosary on long-distance car rides.
When COVID hit, they started a new routine of walking the neighborhood before 7 a.m. and praying the rosary out loud. As a former Jefferson Parish elementary school teacher and the founder of Jefferson Parish’s theater program, she believes praying out loud is best, because the more senses you can involve when praying, the better.
“God hears the prayers when they are recited out loud,” she said.
During their walks, so many people honk the horn or even stop them to ask for prayers for family members or special intentions. Outdoor workers who notice them praying will bow their heads and even recite prayers as they walk by. As of late, they started saying one decade of the rosary together before going to bed.
Their love of the Catholic faith and their devotion to the rosary is beautiful and inspiring. The devotion to the rosary was there before they met, and once they started dating, they incorporated it into their relationship. It is part of their love story.
I asked JoAnn if it is too late to start this practice in a seasoned marriage, and she said it is never too late. God is just glad you are here; start where you are. Be the one to encourage others by action because people notice. I surely did.