In the Register; Scarf; and, Beads!

I've heard that the Cadets did a really good job for Remembrance Day - I'm proud of you all!  I really wish I was there with you.  I am humbled that the letter that I posted on the blog actually was included in another blog called EL's Retort (http://elsretort.blogspot.com/).  I was also touched when I was told of how it was read out by the staff of another school and how I have been included in the prayers of many.  I was interviewed by Ms. Sheila Dabu from the Catholic Register about the blog (http://www.catholicregister.org/content/view/2471/849/).  There I found that even fellow colleagues of mine were interviewed for the article.  In the end, I really hope that with all of you and your prayers that this blog (among other things) is helping others to come closer to Our Lord and stirring up prayers for peace.   I'm doing okay here.  The temperature got really cold all of a sudden.  We were even thinking it would snow earlier this week!  Anyhow - we're all bundling up in our jackets and such.  It's funny to think how we are all decked out still in light clothing, having been used to the high temperatures so much.  It is quite a shocking change from the scorching heat which we were so used to!  The air is dry, so the cold dry air seems to shock the skin.  Everyone was hoping that with the cold - would also come some peace and respite from the violence, but - as you have been witness to on the news, such hopes have not been the case.    This week I was surprised with an unexpected package.  Way back while I was praying my thanksgiving for receiving the Blessed Sacrament after Holy Mass (a custom I try to do for about 10 mins after having received the Blessed Sacrament), I was given a letter from a Deacon here on base.  The letter was from a 'faith community in Canada' to 'Any Canadian Forces member'.  The author introduced herself in the letter and encouraged the recipient that Canadians back at home supported the Troops overseas.  I wrote a short letter thanking her for the gesture.  Well what do you know?  This week I was surprised to open a package to find a hand-knitted scarf from her!  Anyways - if you're reading this - Thank you!   I found a curiosity in the Chapel today.  Here - alot of people send us Rosaries, prayer booklets, etc..  What I found was in a package with the label 'Pathfinder Prayer Beads'.  Right away, I thought this thing was a Rosary made out of Ranger Beads and Parachute Cord (so that it would be tactical).  I have one, and they're pretty cool.  You could have it on your Tactical Vest and nobody would really notice it!    I digress.  I picked it up this set of beads to investigate it and found that it had some distinct differences.  In the place of a Crucifix, it had a black plastic cross - like we have a crucifix, but with no corpus.  It also did not loop around like our Rosaries do, but it begins with a cross and has beads attached to it in a single line.  The concept is to pray a prayer on each bead... except that the prayers are not Hail Mary's.  The brochure included gives 2 options to pray.  Option One:  begin by opening with the 'Come Holy Spirit' prayer we all know, then meditating on a point on each bead.  Option 2 is (tell me if this sounds familiar): Pray the Sign of the Cross, The Apostle's Creed, the Our Father, then... repetitions of the Jesus prayer, and finished off by the 'Glory Be'.  There is a series of 10 beads for a repetition of the 'Holy Holy Holy'.  I was surprised, but pleasantly shocked.  After all the resistance to the Holy Rosary by some Christians, here is a non-denominational 'rosary'.  On their website (http://pathway2christ.com/about1.html) they say the 'beads focus on various scriptures from the Holy Bible reflecting on our relationship with Jesus Christ and the freedom that relationship brings', and that 'Our main goal is to provide a way of focusing on communication with Jesus Christ'.  Bingo!  I guess they've just hit on what the Holy Rosary which has been around for hundreds of years in the Catholic Church is for!  Nevertheless - I'm not going to be one to stop them.  It's an interesting avenue of approach for ecumenism, I think!  However - The Holy Rosary remains our bouquet of roses to Our Lady.  Through it we meditate on the life of Christ and converse with Him and His Blessed Mother.  The power of the Holy Rosary is undeniable, so I don't blame others for wanting something like it.  Our Lady has on several occasions, asked us to pray it every day.  If you do - she guarantees you will never be the same again.  When I get decked out in 'battle rattle' - I still see that the most powerful 'weapon system' on my person remains to be... the Holy Rosary in my pocket.  Pray it every day - at least a decade at a time.  After a while get to a whole Rosary.  You can pray it while walking down the street looking cool with one hand in your pocket (as you hold your Rosary beads), and nobody will even know.  Or - like in some extreme circumstances - you can do so while holding a rifle.  How about while driving (or flying in a helicopter)?  The Holy Rosary CAN fit into your day, but - given as important as it is - try fitting your day around the Holy Rosary (and maybe also even the Holy Mass!).  You will never regret it!  In doing so - you will not only serve your country, but also be a knight (or dame) for Our Lady - fighting for Her most noble of causes!    Sancta Maria, Spes Nostra, Sedes Sapientiae - Ora Pro Nobis!