The Crucifix Against the Rye Bread: A Gift of the Rosary

A gift came to me while I prayed the Rosary

"I am the bread of life." John 6:48 NABRE

I typically carry only my single-decade Rosary while walking my dog, but this day I found myself carrying something else.

A neighbor approached me with one of those big boxes of expired or almost-expired baked goods that supermarkets pass on to churches.

He encouraged me to take something from the box. I took a loaf of rye bread.

The Rosary points us to Jesus

I was at only the beginning of my dog walk. For the rest of the walk, leash in one hand, Rosary in the other, I carried the loaf of rye bread in the same hand as the Rosary.

The bread was in a plastic bag and at one point when I glanced down, the crucifix of the Rosary was laying on the bread.

Oh, how fitting! Our Lady leads us to Jesus, the bread of life. Jesus, the living bread, can find us wherever we may go. Like the free bread, he’s a gift we don't deserve.

The bread of life, Jesus, is unforgettable

I wonder what any passersby thought if they saw me walking my dog while carrying a loaf of bread.

They may have noticed before that I typically carry the Rosary while I walk my dog. Some of them may know what the Rosary is and some of them may not.

But they had to see the rye bread! Carrying the bread reminded me of what takes place when we pray the Rosary.

Mary carried the Lord Jesus in her womb and in her arms. Our Lady can be discreet and even go unnoticed—especially for our Protestant brethren. The small Rosary beads in my hand may go unnoticed in their smallness when I walk in the neighborhood—reminding us of Our Lady in her humility.

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.” Luke 1:46-48 NABRE

But Jesus, the Bread of Life, cannot go unnoticed. 

To be Christian is to carry

I must have looked awkward carrying the bread while walking the dog. Isn't that the Christian life—not fitting in and standing out? Going against the grain! 

I was carrying only a loaf of bread that afternoon, but as Christians we can find ourselves carrying many things. The parent carries their hopes and fears for their children. The pastor carries the burdens of his parish. The prodigal carries her shame.

In praying the Rosary, may we carry each other.