The Gift of the Family Rosary

Emily Jaminet describes how her parents' tradition of a Sunday-night family Rosary inspired her to make the Rosary an integral part of her family prayer.

And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus. (Acts 5:42)  

I have a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Fatima in my family room. She watches over our family through every season and serves as a constant reminder of the maternal presence of Mary. A few years ago, I added a battery-operated candle with a timer. As the sun goes down, that gentle flicker draws our hearts to the Son of God and invites us to pray the Rosary.

Many nights, as I walk through the door or start to clean up the first floor after a long day, I immediately notice this lovely statue start to glow in the candlelight. It is as if Our Lady is calling out to our hearts and reminding us of the peace of Christ that she desires to offer us if we pause and pray. No matter how challenging our day was, Mary invites us to pray so we can be people of hope.  

I first learned the Holy Rosary on a family vacation when I was in middle school. I can still picture my mom teaching me, my dad, and my three siblings the Mysteries of the Rosary at a lake house in Michigan. Our family was weeks away from going on a Marian pilgrimage out of the country, so she knew we needed to learn to pray this timeless prayer. My mother grew up in a deeply Catholic family, and as my parents’ faith deepened in their marriage, our family began to prioritize faith.

That initial experience of family prayer soon transitioned into our Sunday-night family Rosary routine, a tradition that continued for years. One thing about our Sunday Night Rosary was that it was a time of prayer and an opportunity to gather as a family. We didn’t always pray it perfectly, or should I say, I never prayed it perfectly, but we are always invited — again and again — to pray with our hearts. I thank God for this foundation as I now try to pass on the gift of family prayer to my own children.  

Continuing the Tradition  

As a mother of seven, I’ve tried (and often struggled) to create what I imagined a Catholic home should be: a place where the Gospel is lived and experienced in the everyday. We attend Mass on Sundays, pray as a family (especially before meals), learn about our faith through podcasts and stories, and talk about the true meaning of life in light of the Gospel. But after 25 years of Catholic parenting and nearly 50 years of life, I’ve come to a profound realization: We should pray the Rosary every day because Our Lady is pouring out new graces on us and our family! We know that Father Peyton taught, “The family that prays together stays together.” 

I’ll be honest: There were years when praying the Rosary was just something on my daily to-do list, much more like a task than an experience. I would try to squeeze it in on a run, a walk, or during car rides to and from sports or school. While those moments were meaningful, they were often rushed, and we were all distracted. But I have come to realize that the Holy Rosary is meant to be more than that. It’s an amazing opportunity to gather as a family, share our prayer intentions, and simply be present together at the end of the day in a prayerful way.  

Letting Go of Perfection 

My rule for prayer time is simple: “Just show up and be respectful.” And if someone can’t make it, that’s okay, as we’ll do it again tomorrow night — and the night after that. The goal is that we stop and we pray. The Lord desires to fill us with hope and anchor us into His love. Over the years, I’ve let go of the unrealistic expectations related to family prayer that left me frustrated and overwhelmed. I have decided to place my trust in Jesus and do my best and leave the rest up to God. I’m simply grateful for the time we spend in prayer, reflecting on the Mysteries of the life of Jesus and growing in being people of faith, hope, and love.  

Yes, I must confess, sometimes someone falls asleep after a long day — and I am okay with that. Sometimes our prayer time is so peaceful that family members drift to sleep. I admit that, during the week, we also pray a pretty “peppy Rosary” — a steady pace that keeps us going. What matters most is that we try to pray with our hearts and love one another in the process by being virtuous and kind. The Lord wants to fill us with His peace, even during the storms of life. So, trust in the Lord and allow the daily Rosary to be part of your daily plan for life.

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Copyright 2025 Emily Jaminet
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