Peace, Prayer, and Trusting Jesus

Rosemary Bogdan considers how prayer and the Presence of Jesus became the source of her hope.

For the Jubilee of Hope, our writers reflect on prayer as a source of hope in their lives.

What is the reason for my hope? In a word, it is Jesus.  

But if I had not been given the gift of Faith to believe, I’m quite sure I would believe because of the amazing effects of prayer and the Presence of Jesus in my life.  

Experiencing Jesus in Prayer 

 There are the hours of Adoration where peace is inexplicable. His Presence permeates the room as I realize He knows all my fears, all my pains, all my hopes. He knows. I don’t have to say anything. I need just to let Him love me. At Mass I can receive Him, Body Blood, Soul, and Divinity. The effect is amazingly transforming. 

My husband and I at one point were very concerned about the behavior of one of our children as he entered adolescence. I had read somewhere that Our Lady has said that when a family prays the Rosary, Satan is helpless. My husband and I thought well that’s where we want the evil one. So, we started praying a family Rosary. After eight or nine months, things had decidedly changed. Did either of us adjust our approach with this child? We had not. The concerning behavior had mysteriously disappeared — I would even say, miraculously disappeared, since there seemed no other explanation. 

The Peace of Saying the Rosary 

The Rosary always infuses me with peace every time I pray it. It’s not that the idea of saying 53 Hail Marys and six Our Fathers sounds like an appealing devotion. No, that is not it. It’s the truly undeniable grace and peace that comes from praying it.  

My own earthly mother suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for most of twenty years. During that time, she lost her ability to speak, to walk, to remember her family, and probably much more. She couldn’t make eye contact. We weren’t even sure if she could see. She was always slumped over in a wheelchair and unresponsive.  

Still, my two youngest daughters, who had never known her when she was well, enjoyed going to visit her. It was as though their souls connected with their grandma despite the lack of normal interaction. My mother had always loved the Rosary, so one day we decided to say it in her presence. 

She was facing the family as we started to pray. Soon a change came upon her. She pulled herself upright. I had not seen her do this in years. She opened her eyes and looked at each of us individually. Then her lips started moving and she was clearly trying to articulate the words to the prayers. My youngest daughter, about four or five, started to lean against her grandma’s shoulder. Mom turned toward her and started to stroke her hair! Then she pressed her head against Liz’s head and puckered her lips in an obvious attempt to kiss her. I told my daughter, “Liz, Grandma just tried to kiss you.” This little 4-year-old got choked up, and with eyes full or tears, said, “I always wanted Grandma to kiss me.” 

Still dumbfounded, we all finished the Rosary. The experience felt utterly miraculous. We had been given a small window into the person who was still there — the kind, loving grandma who prayed the Rosary and adored her grandchildren. All the horrible pain of seeing her unrelenting decline had briefly lifted. The hope of the Resurrection had been revealed. We would see her whole again. And, importantly, we could see the person who was still there. After that we prayed the Rosary with her every time we visited and with similar results. 

Praying the Rosary results in miracles. I just can’t describe it any other way.  

Jesus Hears His Mother’s Prayers 

Jesus is the reason for my hope. He is always with me and always guiding me. He loves His Mother, as all good sons do. And He gave that very same Mother to us. When she asks Him for something, He answers. As we meditate on the life of Jesus in the praying of the Rosary, the power of God is poured forth on Mary’s prayers and our hope is magnified. 

Let’s not forget that before he left this earth Jesus told us: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) 

Jesus, the God-man, the Great Healer and Son of God, is with us always. In the tabernacle, at Holy Mass, and in our hearts during prayer. Blessed be God. May we always trust Him. 

Therein lies our hope. 

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Copyright 2025 Rosemary Bogdan
Images: Holy Cross Family Ministries