‘The Lord has truly risen, alleluia.’ (Invitatory antiphon)
From the time of Pope Francis’ appointment as Pope, he shows a remarkable devotion to Our Lady. He wrote prayers in Mary’s honour, he intercedes through Mary and he regularly visits Marian Shrines. One of the highlights of Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland in August 2018 was the visit to the Marian Shrine, Knock, Co Mayo.
Pope Francis wrote a letter to the people of the world on 25-4-2020. He encouraged them to pray the Rosary at home during the month of May. Furthermore, he gave pointers as to how people might to do this, always using an invitational tone. He suggests that this be done in a simple way and he encourages the use of ‘good models of prayers’ on the internet.
Additionally, the Pope gave two prayers to say each day with the Rosary to pray for an end to the pandemic. If and when we choose to pray the Rosary, the Pope promises, ‘I myself will pray in the month of May, in spiritual union with all of you.’ (Pope Francis, 25-4-2020). To conclude the letter, Pope Francis sent a blessing and asked us please, to pray for him.
THE ROSARY AND THE GROW IN LOVE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMME
There are many children and families who know how to pray the Rosary, but there are some who may not. The Grow in Love programme for First Classes/P3 and Second Classes/P4, introduces the Rosary to the children and their families. These lessons in the two class standards are taught as Seasonal Lessons in the month of October. This month in the Catholic Church is dedicated, as is the month of May to praying the Rosary. In addition, the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary annually on the 7 October. Besides these Seasonal lessons, the children are taught about Mary, Mother of God at other stages of the Liturgical Year i.e. Advent, Christmas, Easter and Feast days.
It is hoped that with the foundation built in Grow in Love Junior Infants/P1 and Senior Infants/P2 that, children and their families will come to see that the Church is a community of people; that Mary loves and cares for us; that Mary is a model for all Christians.
During these two years in First Class/P3 and Second Class/P4, the children will be taught the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Additional Mysteries of the Rosary will be introduced in middle and senior standards. In all the children are taught, they are accompanied by their families and by their parish. The school supports the home and the parish.
The Rosary is an ancient prayer in the Catholic Church. As people pray the Rosary, Mary accompanies them in the life events of Jesus. To pray the Joyful Mysteries, we recall five events in Jesus’ life; the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, the Nativity (the birth of Jesus), the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple.
These five stories are found in St Luke’s Gospel and families might do a Bible Search to find them.
To pray a decade of the Rosary, we say one Our Father, ten Hail Marys and one Glory be to the Father. When children use the Rosary beads to pray a decade of the Rosary their finger/thumb co-ordination develops. The Rosary is also a meditative prayer and with each mystery of the Joyful Mysteries, one can reflect on an event in the life of Jesus.
So, in learning the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, it is hoped that children will identify the joyful moments in Jesus’ life. Children can name the Joyful Mysteries and explain how to pray a decade of the Rosary and how to use Rosary beads. They can participate in saying a decade of the Rosary with family or friends. Through regular praying of the Rosary the children will grow in appreciation of prayer and the life of Jesus.
The e-books for all classes are available on the VERITAS Grow in Love website.
Logon: www.veritas.ie
Email: trial@growinlove.ie
Password: growinlove
The Grow in Love e-books for GIL First Classes/ P3 and Second Classes/P4 provide helpful child friendly resources for learning how to pray the Rosary. The prayers required i.e., The Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father may be accessed at the back of the Grow in Love e-book.
The Grow in Love dashboard on the VERITAS website provides the following resources for GIL First Class/P3 and Second Class/P4; vimeo of ‘The Presentation in the Temple’, slideshow of Jesus’ life, vimeo of children praying the ‘Hail Mary’ using gestures, vimeo of the Joyful Mysteries’, lyrics of ‘Grow in Love’, ‘Quiet and Still’ and ‘Mary Our Mother’, Colouring page of the ‘Rosary’ and ‘the Visitation’ and also an Art Activity and reflective music.
SONGS to sing from Grow in Love during the month of May: ‘Mary our Mother’, ‘Quiet and Still’, ‘Mary’, ‘A Mhuire Mháthair’, ‘Bring Flowers of the Rarest’, ‘The Magnificat’, ‘Regina Coeli’. All these are available on the VERITAS website.
PRAY from Grow in Love/I nGrá Dé
SIGN OF THE CROSS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
COMHARTHA NA CROISE
In ainm an Athar, agus an Mhic agus an Spioraid Naoimh. Áiméan.
OUR FATHER
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
AN PHAIDIR
Ár nAthair ata ar neamh,
go naofar d-ainm,
go dtaga do ríocht, go ndéantar do thoil ar an talamh
mar a dhéantar ar neamh.
Ár naran laethúil tabhair dúinn inniu,
agus maith dúinn ár bhfaicha,
mar a mhaithimindne dár bhféachúna
féin,
is ná lig sinn i gcathú,
ach saor sinn ó olc. Áiméan.
HAIL MARY
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
‘S É DO BHEATHA, A MHUIRE
‘S é do bheatha a Mhuire,
atá lán do ghrásta,
tá an Tiarna leat.
Is beannaithe thú idir mhná,
agus is beannaithe toradh do bhroinne,
Íosa.
A Naomh Mhuire,
a mháthair Dé,
guigh orainn, na peacaigh,
anois agus ar uair ár mbáis. Áiméan.
GLORY BE TO THE FATHER
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen
GLÓIR DON ATHAIR
Glóir do Athair,
agus don Mhac
agus don Spiorad Naomh,
mar abhí ó thús,
mar atá anois,
mar a bheas go brách,
le saol na saol.
Áiméan.
‘I, the Light, have come into the world, so that whoever believes in me will stay in the darkness no more, alleluia.’ (Benedictus antiphon)
‘God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him, alleluia.’ (Magnificat antiphon)
‘May the peoples praise you, O God, may all the peoples praise you.’ (Psalm 66:4).
Sr Anne Neylon