Last Sunday was an auspicious day for me. It marked my first participation in the 2000 Hail Mary's. It was sponsored by our chapter and as such, my husband and I arrived early at the venue, the ground floor of Bahay Rekoleto at Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Quezon City.
From home, I brought food to be shared with everyone, crucifix, table cloth, candles, projector, laptop and of course, a rosary. The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, flowers, prayer guides and a tall vase to be used as a receptacle for the personal petitions were brought by Sis. Rose Banzon and Sis. Estela Baytan.
It was on March 25, 1933 when a teenage Salesian seminarian, Juan Riu Farran, heard from a co-seminarian that he will obtain at least three graces if he prays 2000 Hail Mary's on the feast of the Incarnation of the Son of God. When the day arrived, Riu prayed the 2000 Hail Mary's and asked that he become a Salesian, to become a priest and to become a missionary. In a span of 19 years, Riu obtained all three graces. The devotion of the 2000 Holy Mary's has spread to many countries with the Marian devotion and fervor of the Filipino people.
How do you go about with the 2000 Hail Mary's? From the 2000 Hail Mary's, a sample schedule is attached though the time could be adjusted. The sequence of the prayers are included plus the Divine Mercy chaplet and other prayers. There are 20 petitions and the prayer leaders for each petition have to lead in praying 100 Hail Mary's. After completing the 100 Hail Mary's, personal petitions that are written in small pieces of paper could be dropped in a vase, box or any container. To mark each petition that just ended, a rose is put in a vase. To check on how many petitions had been prayed for, one has to count the roses in the vase. Dropping of petitions while in the midst of praying the 100 Hail Mary's is allowed though it would be better if it will be done in between praying of the petitions so as not to distract the body.
After singing praises to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the petitions in the vase should be burned. Usually it takes nine hours for the entire proceeding to be completed.
While I was writing down my petitions, I sensed a liberating experience in entrusting my cares and woes to the Lord through the intercession of Mama Mary. Now I have somebody else praying with me and for me.for all my troubles and aspirations. Days after Sunday, my husband and I received several blessings, most of which were included in the petitions we wrote.
