Living Rosary for Catholic Education Week 2015

Planning for a Living Rosary It is a tradition in the Church to pray the rosary during the months of October and May. During Catholic Education Week schools may want to hold a Living Rosary celebration focused on the Joyful Mysteries. Many students may not know how to pray the rosary so this activity offers many lessons.

This is a guide and may be adapted for use in your school to fit your community’s need.

You may want to gather the students who will be participating in the living rosary by going to the classroom which is furthest from the place where the rosary will take place. Have a student (students may take turns leading the procession) hold a statue of Mary at the front of the line and invite students to follow in procession. Processions are a part of our tradition. It builds the excitement for the activity. Visit each classroom participating and the number of students will grow as you move toward the place where the rosary will take place.

Have a table covered with a blue cloth in the middle of the room or at the front of the room. The statue of Mary can be placed on the table.

You may want to invite students in the school to make flowers out of paper for the event and have the students place their flowers in vases around the statue or surrounding the table. [Every student who is participating could be asked to make a flower out of tissue paper.]

Music can be used to set the atmosphere for the event. Songs like: Hail Mary: Gentle Woman; Immaculate Mary; Ave Maria; Sing of Mary; Magnificat; Mary’s Song; can be used.

Candles can add some atmosphere. If each child praying a Hail Mary had a candle (non-flamed) they could flip the switch when it is their turn to pray the Hail Mary, so the light grows in the room and the students can see the rosary progress. You decide how the community will follow the progression – you can also have one student holding a sanctuary lamp move from person to person.

Put the students who are praying in an oval shape with a crucifix at one end and a statue of Mary in the centre of the oval on a table. This may be held outdoors if it is warm enough [however, the sound may not be contained and so the students leading would need to pray louder than usual so everyone could respond] or in the gym of your school. The pray-ers may want to lift their hand to indicate it is time for everyone to respond to their prayer.

Be sure that you plan your service keeping in mind how long the students will be required to sit and be attentive.

Select sixty-five students to be pray-ers. Some students will pray: the sign of the Cross; the Creed; Our Father; Hail Mary; Glory Be or will read the summary of the mystery.

Begin with words of welcome to the Living Rosary. It may be good to explain that the rosary is intended to be a prayer and response. The leaders will begin the prayer and the community responds to complete the prayer. The responses will be printed in bold. Given that this rosary is focussed on the joyful mysteries we will not add the O My Jesus prayer after each Glory Be.

The Living Rosary In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed in the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. [repeat three times]

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen

The First Joyful Mystery – The Annunciation The whole world was waiting for the Messiah. God promised to send His people a Saviour. He would be a King, said the prophecies. He would open the way to heaven, which was closed when Adam and Eve disobeyed God.

Still, Mary was surprised when the Angel Gabriel appeared to her, saying, “Hail, full of grace.” The angel told her she had been chosen as Mother of God. “How can this be?” she asked and then said, “Let it be done according to Your will.” In that instant, Jesus was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit and became a man. What joy, thanks to the trust and humility of Mary! Let this mystery teach us to be humble.

Pray one Our Father, Ten Hail Marys, One Glory Be. [one student ought to lead each prayer and the community respond – 12 student leaders in total for each decade + one to announce the mystery]

The Second Joyful Mystery – The Visitation The Angel Gabriel told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was going to have a baby son. This was joyful news. Elizabeth and her husband, Zechariah, were very old. They had no children. Mary went to help Elizabeth with her pregnancy.

When Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s house, Elizabeth called out, “Who am I that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!” Mary replied with a song of praise called a “Canticle”. Mary took care of Elizabeth until the baby, John, was born. What joy for us all, thanks to the love and charity of Mary! Let this mystery teach us to be charitable. Pray one Our Father, Ten Hail Marys, One Glory Be. [one student ought to lead each prayer and the community respond – 12 student leaders in total for each decade + one to announce the mystery]

The Third Joyful Mystery – The Nativity The Roman emperor ordered a census of all the land. Joseph and Mary left Nazareth and travelled to Bethlehem to answer the census. When they arrived, Bethlehem was very crowded. Mary and Joseph wondered what they should do. They were poor, and the inns were all full. The baby was coming soon, and they had nowhere to stay.

But they did not worry. They knew God was watching over them. So Mary’s son, Jesus, the Son of God and the Saviour of the world, was born in a stable with God’s creatures around Him. What joy for us all, that God watches over us the way He watched over the Holy Family that night! Let this mystery teach us to trust God in all things.

The Fourth Joyful Mystery – The Presentation Jewish law says that a first-born son must be presented to God in thanksgiving for His great works. Mary and Joseph obeyed this law. They took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem when He was forty days old. They offered a sacrifice and gave thanks to God.

An old man named Simeon waited his whole life to see the Messiah. He recognized the child as the promised Saviour and praised God. He also made a prophecy about Jesus’ ministry, telling Mary that she would have great joy and great sadness. An old woman named Anna also saw that Jesus was the Messiah and gave thanks to God for His answer to the Jewish people’s prayers. What joy for all of us in the marvelous works of God! Let this mystery teach us to give thanks to God for His great works.

The Fifth Joyful Mystery – The Finding in the Temple When Jesus was twelve, the Holy Family travelled to Jerusalem for the great Passover feast. They went with many other pilgrims from Nazareth. On the way home, Mary and Joseph did not see Jesus in the group. They thought He was walking with friends. But Jesus was left behind in Jerusalem.

Mary and Joseph searched for Jesus for three whole days. They were very worried. Finally, they found Him in the great Temple, talking to the priests. The priests were amazed at His understanding of God’s teachings. Mary and Joseph were just glad to find Him. They asked why He had left them. Jesus answered, “Do you not understand I must do My Father’s work?” He obeyed His parents and returned to Nazareth with them. What joy for all of us in obeying our parents, because it is obeying God too! Let this mystery teach us how to live in obedience.

To conclude the Living Rosary use this prayer or another suitable prayer.

The Memorare Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother! To you we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen+