Rosary Creed

I received an email asking to help out for the Loveliness of Rosaries Fair. In my infinite wisdom I forwarded on the email to other good, prayerful  Catholics (Jessica, Amy and Shelly) and considered my part done. Truth is, I am not much of a prayer person. I know, I know, gasp. I was born and raised Catholic but the importance it played in my life was...very little. Truth be told the only 'important' thing was to not become something else. Church attendance only mattered if a sacrament needed to be made and prayer life was non-existent (not trying to rag on you mom, just spittin' the truth). I am trying to end those bad habits but I admit it is a slow process. 

Tug, on the other hand, is a convert. He is 'on fire' and a few years ago his Godfather sent him what they dubbed the 'Brass Knuckles Rosary'. Dan had some rosaries made out of brass ball bearings to make them more manly. Tug wore it under his shirt daily—so much so that it fell apart but luckily Dan had the maker fix it. Continuing with the manly theme Tug (formerly in the USMC Reserves) felt compelled to alter the Marine Corps Riffle Creed to this Rosary Creed:

ROSARY CREED

This is my rosary. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

My rosary is my best friend. It is my life, I must master it as I must master my life. 

My rosary, without me, is useless. Without my rosary, I am useless. I must pray my rosary diligently. I must pray harder than my enemy, Satan, who is trying to destroy me. I must pray for his destruction before he destroys me. I WILL...

My rosary and myself know that what counts in this war with Satan is not the number of prayers, the profession of our lips, nor the external symbols we make. We know that it is the holy intention of the heart in prayer that counts. WE WILL PRAY...

My rosary is part of myself, because it is my prayer life. Thus, I will pray for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary continually. I will learn its crucifix, its beads, its promises, and its intentions. I will always keep it with me to pray in times of need, sorrow, and persecution.  I will ever guard my rosary so that it becomes part of me. We will become one. WE WILL... 

Before the Holy Trinity, we pray. My rosary and myself are the defenders of our Holy Catholic Faith. We are the masters of our demons. WE ARE THE SAVIORS OF MY LIFE. 

Amen, until victory is the Lord’s and there is no eternal enemy, but peace!

And here is the Brass Knuckles Rosary. After it broke, Tug started wearing a nylon rosary and this one is on a shelf near some other important books. 

Here is my rosary, given to me by Dan as well.  

And this is in our kitchen. Whenever the girls have trouble sleeping they come get a rosary and pray until they drift off.