Keeping a Cajun Prayer Tradition Alive

I thought you might appreciate a bit of background on how the CD of the French Rosary began.

It was the last thing I could do for my grandfather, Don Louis Theriot and I was unable to do it.  The rosary was being prayed during his wake in May, 1985 and I could not pray it.  It was being prayed in French.  I had heard these familiar prayers all my life, but had never learned them by heart.  The sadness that overcame me was profound; but then was replaced with a resolute heart that was determined to learn my prayers in French for him.

A few weeks later, I obtained a cassette tape of the Rosary prayed in French by an elderly gentleman praying it at the bedside of his dying wife.  I wore out this tape, rewinding it over and over, till I was able to pray my rosary in French with ease.  I quickly realized that praying these sacred prayers was more meaningful to me than praying in English.  God blessed my effort by enabling me to pray the Rosary in French for my Mother, Luda Bernis-Theriot, when she died the following year, in March 1986.

I have been praying the rosary in French for the last 25 years.  Several funeral homes call me to come and recite the Rosary for the deceased; a true blessing for me.  It seems there are not many people left who still pray their rosary in French; and as I pray it, in Cajun French.

In an effort to encourage others to learn this beautiful Cajun tradition, I have recorded the Rosary in French, and in English.  Included on the inside cover are the prayers in French to make it easy to learn for those wishing to keep this holy tradition alive.

The CDs of rosary, both in French and English are available at Crossroads Book Store in Lafayette, The Rosary House in New Iberia, Cades Grocery in St. Martinville and Farmer’s Drugs in Youngsville, or of course, you can get them directly from me, $20 for French and $15 for English (please add $5.00 for postage), mail to 107  Beacon  Drive, Youngsville, LA 70592,USA

What to do when you can’t pray.

I had an experience last evening of not being able to pray when I was called to pray.  A funeral home near me called to ask that I come and pray the rosary for a family.  They call regularly to ask for a Rosary in English and French too.  I had been running around all day with errands, chores, and trying to write.  I hurriedly got in the car to arrive just before the appointed 7:00 time for the recitation of the rosary.  I asked our Blessed Mother Mary and God on the way to help me “turn off” my frantic mind and “please, just let me pray”.  Well I did pray the rosary with this grieving family; but I had to fight all the distracting thoughts of things I still had left to finish up at home.  Mid-way through the rosary, I felt God’s presence and was able to “really pray” the rosary with this family.  What a blessing!!  Even in the midst of all my distractions.  Imagine that.

The message here is, I believe, even when we feel many distractions to prayer, we should be diligent and pray anyway; even when we don’t feel like it.  I believe God calls us to prayer even when the spiritual high feelings are not evident.  The key to deepening our relationship is to show up and be present so that God can bless us with grace and peace.  It would have been easy to decline the request from the funeral home, I did have alot to do, but I answered the call, and was able to feel God helping me to pray, even when I didn’t feel I was able to.  Stand Faithful!!!