"I hope that She is smiling..."

The Pilgrim's Way rosary through the streets of Stockholm

A group of Catholics walked the streets of Stockholm and prayed the rosary on Sunday, October 12, under the patronage of Saint Bridget, whose feast day is October 7. The pilgrims carried a beautiful cross and a flag of Our Lady of Fatima brought especially from Fatima for the event. A representation of Our Lady of Stockholm was also carried in the cortege, for she was the one who made the event possible.

The rosary prayers were said while walking through the city center.  Participants crossed the central square of Stockholm's King’s Garden, went by the Royal Palace, through the quays and up to the Southern island, where they paused to pray in front of the Pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Sweden.

In the church, there was a children’s choir rehearsing. A bag of rosaries were given for the choir director to distribute to the children, who seemed very happy to receive them.

Saint Bridget, Patron of Sweden

After that, the pilgrims went to the Cathedral in honor of St. Bridget, the great patron of Sweden and one of Europe’s as well.

This year's Pilgrims Way may seem insignificant to foreigners … but to those who know Sweden, it was a great feat!

 

After all, for 20 years, the Pilgrim Way organizer had tried hard yet failed to get it done and had finally given up because of all the difficulties and obstacles.

Holy perseverance in overcoming obstacles

The difficulties were still there this year but Our Lady gave new strength and the brave organizers broke through. Praying the rosary in the streets of Stockholm made it a great day for Sweden. It was done in union with the 3,500 rosary rallies in the United States, and it was something really blessed by Our Lord and our Lady.

I hope that She is smiling. We all hope so…for the good of Sweden and the good of the world.

High goals for 2009

We share in the same desires and goals as the great Marian apostle, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, who aimed to “conquer for the Immaculate the entire world and every single soul that now lives or will live till the end of the world, and through her to win them for the Sacred Heart of Jesus! In addition, we are to be watchful lest anyone remove the Immaculate's standard from a soul; but rather to deepen constantly in souls their love for the Immaculate, to tighten the bond of love between them and her, so that they may become one with her, so that she herself may live and love and act in them and through them.”

Therefore, we rejoice in the 2008 Rosary Rallies, and we pledge right now, in the presence of God and Our Lady, to dedicate our most ardent prayers and most serious efforts to have even more Rosary Rallies in 2009, in America, and across the world.