Medjugorje: the Holy Rosary, Our Lady, devotions, save young people from drugs
The alternating rhythm of the Ave Maria marks the days in the Cenacolo Community, now known to all for the use of prayer as a cure for drug addiction. "We pray the rosary three times a day, like meals," says sr. Elvira, the founder of the community. “As the body is nourished to work, prayer sustains joy, hope, peace. It is important to have models, and ours is the Madonna ”.
In fifteen years of life, the community has welcomed 15 thousand drug addicts who have found their way out of the drug by making use of prayer, especially the rosary: “Our Lady in Lourdes, in Fatima in Medjugorje recommended the rosary. Evidently there is a mysterious potential in this prayer "continues the Piedmontese nun," the crown heals the psyche, it is a force that passes through the veins. It is a presence, not just a sign. " The method used in the 27 houses scattered all over the world is the Christian one, applied radically: if man is the image of God, only he can rebuild it. This is why they call their centers "schools of life" and not "therapeutic communities" and instead of "cure" we speak of "the path of resurrection". Explain sr. Elvira “We have strict and demanding rules because children must become familiar with the cross and learn to carry it. We do not impose anything, we respect their freedom, because true freedom is knowing who created them. It is a truth that we offer in a gradual and differentiated way, but healing is not enough for us, we want salvation. If we take them away from drugs and then come back without an ideal, they are desperate. " It is estimated that at least 80% of the guests of this community recover permanently.
The "Field of Life", the house born in Medjugorje 9 years ago, has about 80 children from 18 different countries. Their presence is an important reality for Medjugorje because it testifies "live" how Our Lady really came to save her children, and among these young people who fell victim to drugs, a serious plague of this century. "When they leave, we have a party where I give them the cross and the rosary: the cross because they will meet it immediately and the rosary because they will never have to separate from prayer". But not everyone goes away, indeed there are numerous "volunteers for love", young people already destroyed by drugs who become missionaries for others (even some manage a house in Brazil on their own).
They do not fear responsibilities because they have learned about the fatherhood of God who takes care of providing food daily. In fact, no one pays the fees to the Community nor are public contributions accepted because young people understand that society must not pay for them, but themselves with the sacrifices and work supported by trust in God. Recognized at the diocesan level, the Cenacolo Community has many collaborators who offer themselves as tools in this great work of love: lay people, couples, consecrated men and women, as well as 800 families who have understood that only love saves