My Husband Made us a Beautiful Rosary Box
A few weeks ago I had an appointment at my dentist’s office for a regular cleaning. Before I set out to go, I dropped by my parish office to have a Rosary box blessed by one of the priests.
My husband’s hobby is wood-working. I asked him to make me a box so I could hold my Rosaries for the Mothers Group. It was either keep them in a box or schlep them around in a bag. I wanted them to be held in an appropriate container, so the Rosary box was born.
The hygienist at the office is a lovely woman. While cleaning, we chat and catch up about our families and what our kids are up to and so forth. Marilyn in a bubbly person so I actually look forward to my visits.
On this particular Thursday morning she was telling about her dad and his recent battle with cancer. She told me that her mother carried a prayer card image and would take it with her everywhere. While accompanying her husband on his treatments, she would take that card out and pray. Marilyn told me that her father is doing much better now and her parents both believe that it was their prayers that really helped him through this rough patch with his illness. He is in remission.
After telling me this story, I told her that I had something to show her. I pulled the Rosary box out of my bag. I opened it and she was shocked—not just by the beauty of the box, and the fact that my husband made it, but because it held all the Rosaries in the box so neatly. I told her about the Mothers Group, the ministry, and the impact it has had on the lives of so many women.
There were three Rosaries in this box that were donated to the Mother’s Group. When she saw them, she was in awe of how beautiful they were. I pulled one out and gave it to her telling her to pray with it. It was pink and silver. She offered me money for it but I told her, “No, no. Just pray with them. That is all we are asked to do.” I also mentioned that the Rosary was blessed so she didn’t have to worry about having it blessed.
While at the front desk, I was signing my paperwork when another hygienist ran out to the front. She asked to see the Rosary box, so I took it out and showed it to her. I pulled out another one of these beautiful Rosaries and gave it to her. It was turquoise and silver. She tried to offer me money for it, and once again I told her, “No, no. Just pray with them. That is all we are asked to do. This has been blessed so there is no need to have it blessed.”
Now the receptionist was watching this whole exchange and she too was asking me to see the box. So I showed it to her. I pulled out the last one of these pretty Rosaries and gave it to her. This one was black and silver. Once again I was offered money for the Rosary. I laughed and told her. “I am in this for prayer, not profit. Please take it and use it to pray with. It has been blessed so you don’t have to worry about having it blessed.” I then gave her five more Rosaries from the box. I told her to keep them in different rooms in her house so there was always one available nearby when she wanted to pray.
So how did I go from becoming an average, regular person to evangelizing at the dental office? I believe it has to do with my work in the Mothers Group. I tell people about the ministry. I share stories about what I have experienced in this ministry and doing this work. And do you know what? I have been told that my face lights up every time I talk about it.
We are called to be a happy, joyful, people. A people of faith. We are called to share our faith with others and to go forth and spread the Word. Evangelization can happen anywhere. Why not the dentist’s office?
God Bless
Rema Celio
Rema Celio an award-winning professional editor. She has worked in educational publishing for over 20 years, for both Pearson Education Canada, and recently at the Insurance Institute of Canada. Rema is active in her parish of St. Benedict where she sings in the choir and leads the Catholic Moms Group. She is happily married and the mother of two teen-aged boys. Rema loves to read, cook and bake with her husband, and knit. With her family, she enjoys playing cards, watching movies, and going for walks. Rema recently graduated with her certificate in Theological Studies from St. Augustine's Seminary/UofT.