By Anne Marie Amacher
RICHLAND — Wayne Kneeskern, inventor of the TravelRosary steering wheel cover, has created another item to encourage people to pray the rosary: an illustrated prayer book with rosary beads set into the pages.
He came up with the idea to help himself. “I can’t memorize all the prayers. My wife, Gert, is my inspiration. She prays the rosary every day,” explained the retired businessman and member of Ss. Joseph & Cabrini Parish in Richland.
The prayer book includes a “built-in” rosary, all the necessary prayers to recite the rosary and other prayers. The book contains the joyful, luminous, sorrowful and glorious mysteries, Scripture readings and prayers such as the Memorare, Prayer to the Holy Family, Act of Contrition and Prayer for Peace. The Apostles’ Creed has been updated to the version in the new Roman Missal.
Kneeskern and his son Scott worked on the prayer book for a year. Scott did the illustrations throughout the book when he could squeeze in time between his full-time job and family (wife and four children). Wayne Kneeskern sorted through prayers and other ideas.
“I’d throw out ideas and he’d shoot back other ideas and samples,” Kneeskern said of the collaborative effort with his son.
When opened, the prayer book reveals rosary beads set into the outer edges of the pages. The standard version of the prayer book includes a silver crucifix and clear crystal beads. Customized books offer various colors of crystal beads and a gold- or silver-colored crucifix. Cost for the book is $19.95.
Kneeskern picked up his first copy of the book last month at a Davenport printing company and said he is pleased with the final product, which is out in time to honor Mary during her special month of May.
In addition to the prayer book, a compact disc with the recited rosary and prayers has been updated. It comes with the rosary bead-studded steering wheel cover and is available for purchase.
For more information on the prayer book or other items made by Kneeskern, visit www.travelrosary.com, email info@travelrosary.com or call (641) 233-7848.
