The Patriotic Rosary: A Call To Pray For Our Country

The members of our Little Falls Catholic Community — and, indeed, all of Little Falls and the surrounding area itself — were invited to take part in the recitation of the Patriotic Rosary at 7 p.m. on Oct. 7 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

Gerri Klimek once again coordinated this special evening that coincided this year with the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, as October is also the Month of the Rosary.

“It is just a call to pray for our country,” Gerri says.

The Patriotic Rosary event follows the Living Rosary that in years past the Christian Women’s group of Our Lady of Lourdes Church traditionally held in October. However, last year's COVID restrictions canceled plans for that event. In its place, Gerri, with the support of Deacon Jeff Winkelman, organized the first Tri-Parish Patriotic Rosary for life, so this year’s event continued his efforts.

The Patriotic Rosary originated in 1995 through the Caritas Community near Birmingham, Ala., from the inspiration of Marija Pavlovic, one of the six original visionaries of the Marian apparitions at Medjugorje, Yugoslavia. Although it was originally written for a Fourth of July celebration, it now is said on other occasions to ask for prayers for our country and leaders.

This powerful and moving way of praying for our country was introduced to our community over 20 years ago by past members of the “Healing Light Prayer Group” who themselves were introduced to it on two occasions of July 4th visits to the Caritas Community.

Other times this growing devotion has been used in our neighboring Haven of Mercy Catholic Communities prior to the 2020 elections; and patriotic holidays such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. The devotion helps to remind people that we need to pray for our country and that our country is based on Christian values.

Patriotic songs and readings from writings by Founding Fathers for each Mystery are also part of the Rosary. Any of the Mysteries may be said during the Patriotic Rosary. The prayer begins asking for the consecration of our nation.

At the start of the Rosary, the Apostle’s Creed is prayed for the conversion of our nation’s capital; the Our Father is said for our pope; the three Hail Marys are said for our priests and bishops; before the Glory Be, intentions are asked for the conversion of the country.

As the Rosary proceeds, each Mystery is offered for a special intention, such as the Presidency. For each Hail Mary, the prayer, “we plead the Blood of Jesus over” is offered for 10 states, named and listed alphabetically. Each decade is completed by the singing of patriotic songs, including the “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

“We had booklets to follow,” Gerri says. “I invited people to participate in the music or the readings — we did have some who signed up. It was nice to have people do the different readings. People were so moved. I know non-Catholics came to pray for our country and to pray personally.

“It’s a way to serve God,” Gerri adds. “It gets people outside themselves. As far as growing in faith, they are praying for our country and the world. We are reaching beyond ourselves to people we don’t know. You can always give prayer to people.”