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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

THE ROSARY (Month of October)

Praying the Rosary in the Modern World

The tradition of meeting in small groups and contemplating the specific events in the lives of Jesus and Mary while saying simple prayers has been widely attributed to Saint Dominic. Over time the prayer sequence and focus on how God is at work within the lives of Jesus and Mary has further developed into the format we know today. There are now four parts to the Rosary that we focus on: these are referred to as ‘the Mysteries.’

• The Sorrowful Mysteries
• The Glorious Mysteries
• The Luminous Mysteries (the Mysteries of Light)
• The Joyful Mysteries

November begins with the celebration of ‘All Saints Day’ on Monday and ‘All Souls Day’ on Tuesday. Although ‘All Saints Day’ is no longer kept as a Holy Day of Obligation many still hold those days sacred as we remember the saints of every age who pray for us in heaven, and the following day as we remember all our loved ones who have died and for whom we pray.

Many families have their doubts about celebrating Halloween. For some, the practice of trick-or-treating is seen as yet another invasion by American culture. For others, the association with pagan ritual is viewed as inappropriate and even dangerous for children.

In fact, Halloween has deep Christian roots, dating back to the eighth century, when Pope Gregory III established All Hallows (known to Catholics as ‘All Saints Day’) on November 1st. This was to be a day to honour all the saints who died with or without Church recognition. ‘All Souls Day’ follows on November 2nd and is a time in which we pray for all the dead, including our own special friends and family.

At All Hallows, we celebrate…

Our heavenly family – Those men and women of virtue and faith who lead lives of holiness, courage and generosity and are now saints in heaven. Their heroic lives inspire us and provide excellent role models for our children. Some families like to pray the ‘Litany of the Saints’, calling on favourite saints to “pray for us”.

Our deceased family member – This is a good time to recall fond memories of our loved ones, go through old photo albums, visit their grave sites, and of course, pray for them. Children enjoy lighting candles and saying prayers for loved ones.

Our living family –

 We shy away from talking about death, but really, death is the surest reality of our lives. This feast reminds us to reflect on our priorities and make the most of every opportunity to express our love and affection for those close to us. Use this time to affirm a saintly quality or virtue that you see in each family member.

Jenny Keely REL