How the Rosary Crushes the Fears That Every Aussie Catholic Mum Has

Being a mother is the most important role that you will ever have.

It’s one of the few responsibilities where someone’s life depends on you. And, that just happens to be the person that you love the most.

 The duty of a mother is so unimaginably important, that it not only affects their lives but salvation. 

When you put it like that, it’s no wonder that so many Aussie mums are stressed and worried. Every mum wants the best for their kids, but there is a constant fear that they don’t have what it takes.

That’s completely understandable.

But that doesn’t mean you have to stay that way.

When God gave you the blessing of motherhood, he didn’t want you to be crippled by fear. He wants you to walk confidently with him, and to work great things in your family that you would never think could be possible. After all, it was His idea for you to be a mother to begin with!

One of the most powerful (and beautiful) tools that God gives us to overcome these fears is the Rosary. You might not understand what the Rosary can help, so let me show you.

Here are three ways in which the Rosary crushes the fear that too many Aussie mums have;

 

1. “I don’t have enough time. I can’t possibly do everything!”

I feel like this is a universal experience within motherhood. 

The kids are running a muck, there are a million things on the to-do list, your two coffees down… and it’s only 8 am.

That doesn’t sound too fun.

As Catholic mothers, there is a lot that God will ask of you. But, at the same time, Jesus doesn’t ask everything of you. When you pray the Rosary, you learn to take on the mentality of a child.

I don’t mean that you should be watching Cocomelon on your iPad. But, the great saints talk about having a child-like trust in God. We do what he calls us to, and then we rest in our mothers’ arms. 

Finding the distinction between what I need to do, and what isn’t a priority can be difficult. But it is by meditating that we discover the right path to take.

However…

What about if you have tons of stuff creeping up on you, and it desperately needs to get done?

That can be stressful. Our lives are chaotic and there will always be problems. St Francis de Sales knew this, and so he gave this piece of advice;

 “Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” 

Talking to Mary and Jesus, just for 5 minutes can remind us that everything is in God’s hands. Even when the world around us is chaotic, God will not leave you - and neither should your peace.

Even in the hassle, Christ offers you his loving peace.

 

2.  “How will my children grow up? Will they be good Catholics?”

This worry doesn’t hit at the core of a mother’s heart- it tears it open.

A mother loves their little ones, even more than themselves. So, when something happens to their child, it hurts every fibre of their being.

Every mum will lay the foundations for how their child will grow up. But eventually, they will choose their own path. Whether right or wrong, they will choose something.

A big part of the fear isn’t just how important certain decisions in your child’s life can be. It’s also that you can’t really control it.

You should make every effort to raise your child well, and to guide them. But at the end of the day, you can’t force anything forever. 

There is a limit to how much a mother can do.

But Mary is a mother to your child, just as you are. And there is no way that she will abandon them.

Praying for your children does two things; 

- it allows us to give control to God (whilst doing what we can) 

- It effectively does the thing you prayed for. 

St Louis de Montfort believed that the Rosary was a spiritual super-weapon. According to the great St Louis, “No one who asks for her intercession is rejected, no matter how sinful he may be". 

And this doesn’t just sound nice on paper. Real saints have been fast-tracked on holiness because of people’s prayers.

St Augustine is now known as a great bishop and super-smart theologian. But, in his youth, he was… anything but a saint. He would steal, be addicted to lust, and even ditch his mum in a foreign country. And even better, he would refuse to listen to her advice.

When his mother, St Monica, complained to a local bishop he reassured her that “a child of that many tears will not be lost.” After 17 years of prayer, this rebellious youth was not lost but one of the greatest saints on the calendar.

Mary does not just deliver on your prayers. She wants to over-deliver.

Even today, the world-famous priest and host of the ‘Bible in a Year’ podcast, Fr Mike Schmitz, attributes his faith to the rosary which his mother would pray every night.

If we are worried, that’s perfectly understandable. But, like St Monica, those worries can turn into prayers.

 

3. “Am I even a good mother?”

This worry can come from a good place - wanting the best for your child. But the standard people judge themselves against can be unrealistically high. 

Let’s take Mary. She is the world’s best mother. But still, she had her Son born into poverty, had to flee to Egypt, and lost him in the Temple.

But despite all that, we can still see how good of a mother she is and how God worked through those moments.

However, Mary was sinless and there are times in our own lives when we can be a bit snappy, a bit too me-centered, and a bit unloving. These are the best times to pray the Rosary.

By praying the Rosary we ask God to make us holier. And I don’t think he’ll refuse that request. When we meditate on the life of Christ, we also develop the habit of thinking like God. In the end, we become little versions of Mary, complete with all her virtues.

And when you mess up, instead of beating yourself up (which is pretty common), take it as a learning opportunity to trust in God’s mercy. Each time we pray the Rosary, a subtle reminder that Mary is the “mother of mercy.”

There are very few things in life as powerful as the Rosary. What else can give you peace, but not just banish fears from the source?

The Rosary is so powerful in the home that St Pope Pius X stated “If there were one million families praying the Rosary every day, the entire world would be saved.”

Even one decade will do miracles. Trust in God. You have nothing to fear.

God Bless, 

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