Dear Reader,
Since becoming engaged in 2013 I have been on an ever deepening spiritual journey back into the Catholic faith of my childhood. Through sacramental grace and intense personal study I fueled the fire in my heart for knowledge, learning and re-learning everything I could about Catholicism. Inevitably, I grew close to the Blessed Virgin Mary and closer to Jesus than I knew was possible. The more I learned about the Rosary the more I prayed it and as a busy mom with a full life, it didn’t take long to notice a marked difference in my days.
When I grounded myself with the meditation I found I had more patience, the house felt lighter, I was more focused on God and the peace was palpable! When I didn’t, my fuse was shorter, my emotions held more reign and I was quick to turn to distraction- things other than God- to get me though.
It quickly became clear to me that the strength and refuge I found in the rosary was a daily need. So I challenged myself to pray 5 decades a day of the prescribed mysteries for a week. At first the prayer felt long and repetitive but once I got the hang of it, my time in meditation didn’t seem long enough. So I prayed for a month, then 54 days, then a year.
I prayed it everywhere. At the airport, in the car, during nap time, in adoration, on audio while I did chores, at the grocery store, on vacation, on walks with my dog and in bed before falling asleep.
It wasn’t always silent or uninterrupted but each day I meditated on the holy life of Jesus and the divine motherhood of Mary. As I walked through joyful and sorrowful mysteries in my own life, I began to realize just how relatable & universal these mystical events truly were. The human experiences of Jesus and Mary connected us through time and united us in Spirit.
As time went on I grew deeper in trust, bolder in faith, stronger in virtue and more mature in motherhood as the fruits of the spirit continued to grow in my soul. I felt different emotionally too. Calmer. The rosary was a tether to the anchor of Christ, steadying me through all of the ups and downs.
I didn’t realize how significant the change in me was until others began to notice too. The improved state of my interior life was reflected in my interactions with my family, my daily habits, my surroundings; even how I carried myself had changed.
Now I am not claiming that the rosary worked like magic or took all of my problems away (only God can choose what to do with our prayers) it didn’t make everything in my life easy or perfect- – but it gave me the sweet grace and support I needed to keep moving in the right direction.
I still pray the rosary every day. Everywhere I go, at all hours, for everyone, for all intentions, in good and bad times. If you’re reading this (rest assured!) I’m praying it for you. I’ve added other prayers and taken up different devotions over time but the rosary remains a staple of my life.
This project was born of this devotion. At first I thought I’d write a work of fiction, creating characters to exemplify how motherhood nurtures these virtues. But Mary softened my heart. She reminded me that there are real women out there with wisdom to share, and here we are! My prayer is that this project will promote empathy, encourage community and speak to the hearts of women everywhere, drawing the closer to Jesus through Mary.
In His Love,
Caitlin Winters, Founder
To read more from Cait visit her personal blog prayersoverthekitchensink.com
Motherhood Through the Mysteries 