As part of the International Marian Festival that will take place in Paray le Monial, France, August 14-19, the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary will be prayed on five continents of the the world simultaneously beginning at 5 p.m. (Paris time) on Sunday, August 16. Those in the United States who wish to join in this worldwide prayer should note that 5:00pm Paris time is 11:00 a.m. Eastern time (8:00 a.m. Pacific) Sunday.
The Rosary will be prayed with excerpts from Scripture and meditations from John Paul II which he used during a visit to France in 1986, when he consecrated the world to the Virgin Mary.
“John Paul II will entrust our important prayer intentions to the intercession of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary close to the Father,” organizers said.
The purpose of the worldwide Rosary is to continue the dedication of the world to the Virgin Mary by John Paul II. All are invited to pray, and if possible to gather together in local communities of families, friends or parishes wherever they are. In the words of the organizers, “we invite you to pray the Glorious Mysteries of our Rosary for Peace in the World, the conversion of sinners and the mission of France as the eldest daughter of the Church.”
Organizers further advise: “In order that the recitation of this rosary may reflect our love for the Virgin Mary, we thus will recite it with the greatest gentleness and of all our hearts.”
A list of Each Glorious Mystery and the accompanying Meditations may be found on the Marian Festival site, here: http://www.festivalmarial.com/fr/chapelet. Scroll down, past the French version, to find the English text.
There is great enthusiasm about the Marian Festival and the worldwide simultaneous Rosary, especially among young adults, but also among families and working Catholics as well. Timed to coincide with the Feast of the Assumption, it seems to be a powerful opportunity for an infusion of graces beyond our telling on our culture! We can rest assured our prayers will be answered, if indeed we make the time to pray!