# A Thank‑You Rosary for South Florida
*2016-10-06*

> Bill Young celebrates the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary by offering a special rosary of thanks for God’s protection from Hurricane Matthew and praying for the people of Florida’s east coast.

## Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

Today is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, so I wanted to do something special—a “thank‑you” rosary. A listener, Patricia, reminded me of Matthew 6:7‑9, which teaches us to pray the Our Father as the model of prayer. In honor of Mary, Mother of Jesus, I will pray ten Our Fathers, a series of Hail Marys, and a Glory Be.

## Thanksgiving for Hurricane Matthew

We live in South Florida, and just yesterday we were under a hurricane warning for Matthew. I prayed that the storm would change course, recalling Jesus’ words about moving a mountain with faith the size of a mustard seed. God answered: the storm shifted about 30 miles east, sparing us from hurricane‑force winds and power loss. We are grateful for the safety of our home and for the power that remained on.

We continue to pray for those still in the storm’s path—people in St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and the Carolinas—asking that the system weaken to a tropical depression and bring only light rain.

## The Thank‑You Rosary

We begin with the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again, ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Then the Our Father, followed by a series of Hail Marys and a Glory Be, repeated for each decade of the rosary. (The full text of the prayers is omitted here for brevity.)

We conclude each decade with the traditional mystery prayer, focusing today on the Sorrowful Mysteries because it is a Friday.

## The Sorrowful Mysteries

1. **The Agony in the Garden** – Jesus prays in Gethsemane, his sweat like drops of blood. Fruit of the mystery: sorrow for sin.
2. **The Scourging at the Pillar** – Pilate orders the scourging of Jesus. Fruit of the mystery: purity.
3. **The Crowning with Thorns** – Soldiers place a crown of thorns on Jesus’ head. Fruit of the mystery: courage.
4. **Carrying the Cross** – Jesus bears the cross to the place of the skull (Calvary). Fruit of the mystery: patience.
5. **The Crucifixion** – Jesus cries, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,” and yields his life. Fruit of the mystery: perseverance.

Each mystery is accompanied by an Our Father, three Hail Marys, and a Glory Be.

## Closing Prayer and Intentions

We finish with a prayer of thanksgiving:

O Jesus, forgive our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead us to heaven, especially those most in need of your mercy. Thank you for sparing South Florida from Hurricane Matthew. May we extend our gratitude by helping those in Haiti, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Cuba, and elsewhere who suffered from the storm.

We also pray for the people of St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and the Carolinas, that they may be protected as we have been.

Finally, we recite the Hail Holy Queen:

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving Virgin Mary, pray for us, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

*When we thank God for His protection, we are called to share that gratitude with those still in need.*