Reflections on life, faith, family and the times we live in ... by a mom at home raising kids.
An Alzheimer's Story-- A Rosary Miracle <http://joyfulmomathome.blogspot.com/search?q=alzheimers+rosary>http://joyfulmomathome.blogspot.com/search?q=alzheimers+rosary The rosary is such a powerful prayer. I have been amazed again and again by the incredible outpouring of grace it causes. In the last few years of my mother's Alzheimer's Disease we made an incredible discovery. Someone had mentioned to me that even those in advanced stages of dementia people can sometimes remember prayers that they have always known, that somehow that information is stored in a very deep part of the brain. We decided to say the rosary with my mom. Her condition was very advanced at this point. She was slumped over in a wheelchair all the time, staring blankly into space. It was not even clear if she could actually see, she was so unresponsive. She made no eye contact. There was no indication that Mom was actually in there, if you know what I mean. We took her into a little chapel and I turned her chair so that I could watch her. Several of my children were with us, including Elizabeth, my youngest, who had never known her grandmother when she was well. We started the rosary. My mother almost immediately started to respond. She opened her eyes more. She straightened her back and shoulders, even leaning forward a little. She looked around the room, moving her eyes as well as her head as if to say, "Who is saying the rosary with me?" I was so astonished I could hardly keep vocalizing the prayers. Then, the woman who had not spoken in many years started to move her lips!! She could not articulate anything but she was trying. As she did this Elizabeth, who was about 5 or 6 at the time, gave her grandma a hug over the side of the wheelchair. My mom... leaned over and puckered her lips in an obvious attempt to kiss Lizzie on the head. In tears, I told Lizzie what had just happened. Then Liz started crying, and said, "I always wanted Grandma to kiss me. You just can't tell what is going on inside a person with Alzheimer's Disease. For us, this was a clear indication that there was much more there than what one might guess. It was a miracle. And another example of the incredible power of the rosary. Catholic on Amazon <*}}}>< <http://astore.amazon.com/halthekin-20>Catholic on Amazon <*}}}>< <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Holy Postage <*}}}>< <*}}}><<http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Kingdom!<*}}}>< Lord, may everything we do begin with Your inspiration and continue with Your help, so that all our prayers and works may begin in You and by You be happily ended. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Catholic on Amazon <*}}}>< <http://astore.amazon.com/halthekin-20>Catholic on Amazon <*}}}>< <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Holy Postage <*}}}>< <*}}}><<http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Kingdom!<*}}}>< Lord, may everything we do begin with Your inspiration and continue with Your help, so that all our prayers and works may begin in You and by You be happily ended. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Please note that I do not send or open attachments sent to this list. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Catholics on Fire" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Catholics-on-Fire May the blessing of Jesus and our Blessed Mother be with you -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
