Rosary paths, rosary gardens abound

JEAN GONZALEZ | FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF

ORLANDO | It is a prayer for which organizations and individuals erect grottos, statuaries, works of art and paths. But it all begins with beads and a devotional prayer that offers strength and comfort to Catholics.

Across Florida, parishes and Catholic institutions honor the rosary in different ways so that prayerful pilgrims may experience the prayer on a greater spiritual level. In Delray Beach, the former pastor of Emmanuel Parish converted an ordinary retention pond into a rosary path accented by light.

Ed Shannon, a longtime parishioner who grew up in the parish and serves as its property manager, explained the path was a vision of Father Raymond Hubert, who retired in 1998.

Before one reaches the lake on the path, one sees a statue of Mary and the beginning of the physical start of the rosary - a cross holding the crucified Christ. White, globe lights of different sizes represent the beads of the rosary. Those globes stand about 4 feet apart, and encircle and outline the lake on a mulch path. Shannon said parish support for the construction of the rosary path was “overwhelming.”

“Every globe has a stone at the foot of the light (inscribed to honor a donor’s) family member,” said Shannon, who explained the globes marking the prayer of the “Our Father” are bigger than those representing the “Hail Mary” in the decades and mysteries of the rosary.

“Along with the globes, there is a spotlight that shines on the crucifix. So it’s very bright at night,” Shannon said. “I’m at peace when I’m out there. It is very peaceful out there and it is a getaway from all the distractions. I love the rosary, and it’s nice to see that people have strong faith and take the time to devote to prayer.”

The Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe made sure spiritual pilgrims would be able to honor the mother of God when it developed its Rosary Garden, which includes a bronze statue of a young Jesus greeting his mother.

Within individual parishes and other Catholic sites, grottos serve to honor Mary and inspire prayer. Carol Stanton of San Pedro Spiritual Retreat Center in Winter Park said taking time in front of the Blessed Mother, whether indoors or enjoying a grotto outdoors, offers a way for Catholics to become spiritually uplifted.

“I think people enjoy the serenity of a grotto,” she said.

At the St. Joseph Carmelite Monastery in Bunnell, just north of the Flagler County/Volusia County border off Interstate 95, the rosary is honored in four separate gardens. In 2000, the monastery developed an extensive outdoor Stations of the Cross. Brother Anthony Gemmato said development of the property into a spiritual pilgrimage includes reflections upon the beatitudes, the Ten Commandments and the rosary.

The grounds’ rosary garden, which is not far from the grounds’ entrance, includes a garden for each set of mysteries - glorious, sorrowful, luminous and joyful. Within each garden are five markers each representing a separate mystery of the rosary.

The marble pieces offer a three-dimensional expression of the image. Brother Gemmato, who finds himself walking the gardens regularly, said having a garden for each mystery is a blessing for visitors.

“Our rosary gardens are so beautiful and reflective, and it is something pilgrims can enjoy at any time of the year,” Brother Gemmato said.