Market Friday: The Prayer Ring

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My Market was at an unusual place, the St. Francis of Assisi Shrine at Skiff Lake, New Brunswick, Canada. This holy ground is near and dear to the people who have attended over the decades.

I was in the area at my sister’s cottage and the shrine is a pilgrimage we try to attend every year.

The statue of St. Francis of Assisi greets visitors as they enter the Shrine grounds.





It started raining as the 11 o’clock service was being held. Most people came prepared with umbrellas and hats to ward off the raindrops. Others just felt they were getting an extra blessing with holy water from above.

‘Morning Has Broken’ was a fitting song to start off the Mass in the rain.

The second verse:

”Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise of the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass.”

This is the 96th annual pilgrimage of the Skiff Lake St. Francis of Assisi Shrine. The little white shingled church was build by Irish settlers to the area and used since 1865.

A photo I took of the little church in 2007





Inside the tiny church is a wood frame chapel with crutches and boots left from a child who was healed there.

Nothing much as changed since the last time I was there.

All religions are welcome and many come, not only from Canada but from the U.S.A, with pets for the blessing of the animals later that afternoon. St. Francis is Patron Saint of animals and the environment.

Everyone is looking towards the Knights of Columbus procession being lead by one of the Maliseet Native people with the drum.





Photo of the little church and people from the shrine in 1913.

There were statues around the grounds and awnings erected for the speakers.

Normally we would stay for hours and visit inside the little church and talk to many people my sister and I knew from growing up in the region but because of the rain we didn’t stay long.





Hubs took this photo of me by the statue of Jesus and the lamb.





You many be wondering what all this has to do with a market but there were ladies from the St. Thomas Catholic Church selling medals, rosary beads and other religious articles.

The salesladies were set up outside and didn’t seem to mind the rain.





I bought a ticket on a crocheted blanket, a prayer ring and this medal of the Lady of Guadalupe. I like these medals and always buy some there but never can find them later. :)





On the reverse side of the card.

The Prayer ring

I really didn’t know why I bought the little prayer ring. It was only a few bucks and had about 5-6 little bumps on it where you could use to say prayers for another or to calm yourself when worried or agitated. Later that day my sister’s friend, who had been with us at the shrine, had been upset by an quarrel with her father. She was crying off and on all day.

I was twirling the ring around my finger and thought this is something that may be useful for my sister’s friend.. I approached her and said I had something that may help. She was quite pleased with the little ring and slipped it on her middle finger.

We discussed how she could say a little mantra, using the bumps on the ring as a focal point to concentrate, to fill the heart with love, gather strength, not to sweat the small things, etc.

She cheered up with a sweet smile. Sometimes it just helps to know someone cares.


Later that evening a wonderful rainbow appeared over Skiff Lake. A grand ending to the day!

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