‘Blue Army’ leader: Praying the rosary ‘points us to Christ’

In 1917, the Blessed Mother appeared six times to three shepherd children near the village of Fatima, Portugal. During each apparition, she asked them to pray a daily rosary, said Barb Ernster, communications manager, editor and speaker for the World Apostolate of Fatima.

Before the apparitions, the children’s families had only prayed the rosary during the months of May and October, Ernster said. Being asked to pray a daily rosary was new and different for them, she said.

Mary asked the children to pray the rosary primarily for peace in the world, Ernster said, “but of course that transitions to peace in our families and peace in our hearts.” And she wanted to invite them into her own heart, to grow closer to her as a mother, Ernster said. Mary also wants the faithful to have a weapon that can help them stay centered on the Gospel message of Jesus, she said.

Ernster recently joined “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley to help Catholics grow in their rosary devotion.

She dispelled some myths around the rosary, including the Protestant accusation that with the rosary, Catholics are praying to Mary instead of to God.

“We’re not praying to Mary. We’re praying with her,” Ernster said. “We’re meditating on the mysteries of the Gospel and her son, and it’s a prayer that helps lead us into meditation and contemplation. … It’s really drawing you to the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.”

The Hail Mary is right from the Bible, Ernster added. “We’re saying the prayers St. Elizabeth gave us when she met with Mary during the Visitation.”

Ernster encouraged parents to pray the rosary with their children, suggesting parents show their children pictures of whatever mystery is being meditated on.

“It gives them (children) something to do and look at,” she said. “You can read the little Scripture reading from the Bible to help center them on the scene that you’re about to pray for, and it helps them remember the mysteries later. So, don’t give up.”

The World Apostolate is a spiritual movement dedicated to promoting and living the messages of Fatima. Ernster is president of its St. Paul-Minneapolis Diocesan Division. The organization was first formed in 1947 as the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima. To learn more about the apostolate, including messages and events, visit BlueArmy.com.

During the interview, Ernster referred to the 15 promises Mary gave to St. Dominic, including some about special graces received by reciting the rosary. To learn more about the graces, and to hear the full interview, listen to this episode of the “Practicing Catholic” radio show. It airs at 9 p.m. Oct. 8, 1 p.m. Oct. 9 and 2 p.m. Oct. 10 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.

Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with Tim Murray of Trinity Sober Homes, who describes the ministry’s new rural retreat center for men in recovery, and Archdiocesan Synod readers Alejandra Chavez Rivas and Melina Arguello Sotro, who discuss young adults’ involvement in the Church.