1. The Hail Mary -- The Blessed Mother is my "go-to girl". She knows better than I the details of any situation and what is needed, so I call on her. We say a Hail Mary in the car when we pass an emergency vehicle with its lights/siren on; when someone comes to my mind and mysteriously remains there, I offer a Hail Mary or two for them. I've also recited Ave's by the dozens when the nice man in the surgical mask was preparing to jab a big needle into my spine prior to each of my 6 c-sections. Lots of Hail Mary's have been prayed in the OR.
2. The Rosary -- Piggy-backing on the Hail Mary, is, of course, the Rosary. I just figure that if the Mother of God, in just about every apparition she has made to mortal man, continually requests that we pray the Rosary, well, then I am willing to bet that she means it! Plus, when you have finished a rosary, you know you have prayed!
3. Adoration -- Although I get there much too infrequently these days, there is nothing like the peace that can be found in the adoration chapel. It's like radiation for the soul. Jesus Christ is there, and you can feel Him. Period. By the way, this is my favorite adoration story. It's by Jen at Converstion Diary. You'll love it.
4. The Divine Mercy chaplet -- especially this version. If I can focus and let the words wash over me, I am changed. The sung chaplet only enhances this effect. Jesus, I trust in you!
5. The Novena of Our Lady of Good Remedy -- especially effective in economic distress, which seems to be our frequent companion! Here's the story of this devotion:
800 years ago Christians were being captured and sold into slavery by the thousands, and nobody knew what to do about it. Then, in the year 1198, a man had an idea. St. John of Matha founded the Trinitarians to go to the slave markets, buy the Christian slaves and set them free. To carry out this plan, the Trinitarians needed large amounts of money. So, they placed their fund-raising efforts under the patronage of Mary. They were so successful at that, over the centuries, the Trinitarians were able to free thousands and thousands of people and to return them safely home. In gratitude for her miraculous assistance, St. John of Matha honored Mary with the title of "Our Lady of Good Remedy."
6. I am going to add a 6th because I just thought of it and it's an effective devotion. St. Anthony, finder of lost articles. Does he ever fail??? It really is miraculous the way he leads me to whatever it is I have misplaced...even if I have already looked in that spot. Once, my hubby and I went to a Franciscan monastery in Kennebunkport, ME for a weekend. When we returned home, I realized that I had lost my special rosary. I was upset by this and turned all the luggage and our car inside out looking for my rosary to no avail. The next morning, I got up early and went for a walk. Forty-five minutes later, when I returned home, I saw a sparkle. There was my rosary, carefully draped on the railing of my front porch, glistening in the sun!! I was so happy. I asked the hubster if he had found it and put it there. No, it wasn't him. I called my neighbors and asked them. Nope, not them. Family? Nope. I had to chalk it up to divine intervention. Oh, did I mention the name of that monastery? St. Anthony's!
So, there you have it. My
