Praying With Mary

Who is Mary?

The Rosary and other prayers

Daily Rosary Reflections

Our School Community Intentions

Mary in Art

The Chosen

A film about the Wedding at Cana

Who is Mary?

There are many titles for Mary and some of them, such as Our Lady, are very familiar to us.

However, there are three main ideas to understand about who Mary is.

Firstly, she is holy. That might sound obvious but it is important to understand and to try to copy; to be like her.

Secondly, she is a mother. She understands the worries and joys of a mother and she invites us to pray and ask for her intercession.

She is queen. So we honour her by loving and serving her son that she always points to.

This month, we are invited to pray the Rosary every day at 8pm with Bishop John. Don't worry if you can't do it exactly then but do try to say a Rosary this month. If you use the link to the right, you will be able to join in live on Sunday night from the cathedral.

In school we will also begin and end each day with a decade of the Rosary. Please join us.

There is a daily reflection posted here and there is a place to ask for prayer intentions.

The Rosary and other prayers

One of the ways we honour Mary is by asking for her intercession. The Rosary is a sequence of prayers we follow and while we do, we reflect on part of the Gospel.

Daily Rosary Reflections

Week 4: The Mysteries of Light

Day 4: The Transfiguration

Today we remember the fourth Mystery of Light: the Transfiguration. We pray for the grace to always recognise how the knowledge our faith brings should be put at the service of others.

Day 5: The Institution of The Eucharist

Today we recall the fifth Luminous Mystery of the Institution of the Eucharist. We pray for a greater understanding that we are what we eat: we are Body of Christ with all the parts with a role to play in giving glory to God through lives of faithful love.

Our Father…

Hail Mary… (x10)

Glory be…

Day 1: The Baptism of the Lord

Today we consider Jesus' baptism in the River Jordan.

Jesus didn't need to be forgiven like the other people who came to see John the Baptist. Instead, in an act of great humility, the King of Kings is baptised on earth to be like us. God's voice is heard and he is "pleased with his Beloved Son." Because of Jesus we are all beloved sons and daughters of God the Father.

Day 2: The Wedding at Cana

Today we consider how Jesus' first miracle was in response to his mother asking. She saw people's need and immediately turned to her son. He answered with more wine of a higher quality than they could have ever dreamed of. May we have faith like Mary as we turn to Jesus with all our needs knowing how much he wants to pour out his love.

Day 3: The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

Today we recall the third Mystery of Light, Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom of God. We pray that through our daily work we might help build up this kingdom of justice, peace and joy.

Week 3: The Glorious Mysteries

Day 4: The Assumption of Mary into Heaven

Today we remember how Mary is assumed into Heaven. We pray for the grace to live lives of holiness and goodness in imitation of the mother of Jesus.

Day 5: The Coronation of Mary

Today we recall the Coronation of Mary in Heaven. We pray that God will crown our efforts to live lives of love, faith and understanding.

Day 1: The Resurrection

Today we reflect on Jesus’ Resurrection. We pray that the grace of Christ’s Resurrection may touch our lives and be a source of comfort, hope and joy to others.

Day 2: The Ascension

Today we recall Christ’s Ascension into Heaven. We pray, that like the disciples who are reminded of their mission whilst looking up into the sky, that we too might work tirelessly for God’s kingdom here in Earth.

Day 3: The Descent of the Holy Spirit

Today we recall the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Faithful. We pray that we might always be open to the wisdom that comes from God.

Week 2: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Day 4: The Carrying of the Cross

Today we remember how Jesus carried the very instrument of his own execution. We pray for all those sentenced to death and their families that their human rights will be respected.

Day 5: The Crucifixion and Death of The Lord

Today we recall the death of Jesus by crucifixion. We pray for all those who are facing death that they may feel the loving and peaceful presence of God in their last moments.

Day 1: The Agony in the Garden

Today we reflect on Jesus’ suffering at Gethsemane. We pray for all who suffer from anguish and a sense of abandonment; that they may be comforted by the embrace of the One who has known these things.

Day 2: The Scourging at the Pillar

Today we recall the cruel tortures Jesus was subjected to before his execution. We pray for all those who have been stripped of their human dignity and rights that the Holy Spirit might be a source of lasting comfort to them.

Day 3: The Crowning With Thorns

Today we recall Jesus being mocked and crowned with thorns. We pray for all victims of bullying and persecution that they may live in freedom and safety.

Week 1: The Joyful Mysteries

Day 4: The Presentation in the Temple

Today we reflect on when Jesus is officially welcomed into the Jewish religion.

We thank God for the gift of Faith. We pray that we overcome cynicism and doubt and strengthen our capacity for belief and faith-filled action.

Day 5: The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

Today we reflect on the Gospel event when Jesus is missing only to be found by his distraught parents teaching in the Temple.

We thank God for patience and self-control. We pray that in in these days of restriction, social distance and separateness, we can be sustained by God’s love to patiently and peacefully persevere.

Day 1

The Annunciation: the Angel Gabriel announces that Mary is to be the mother of Jesus.

Today we reflect on the true enormity of one human being’s decision to co-operate with God’s plan. God offers salvation; in response Mary offers her humility and grace.

We pause to think of the needs of the whole world today. We pray that, undaunted by the uncertainty of the times we live in, we may nevertheless strive to cooperate with God’s loving plan for us.

Day 2

The Visitation: Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth mother of John the Baptist.

Today we reflect on Mary’s visit to her pregnant cousin Elizabeth.

We thank God for the gift of neighbourly love. Today we pray that by reaching out to others in fellowship, solidarity and love, we may, like John the Baptist in the womb of his mother, rejoice in God’s love.

Day 3

The Nativity: Jesus is born in a stable in Bethlehem.

Today we reflect on the birth of Jesus in the humble setting of a stable.

We thank God for the material things of life. Today we pray that in recalling Jesus’ birth in poverty, we learn that it is not material things which make us rich but rather our capacity for faith, hope and love.

Our School Community Intentions

For Coronavirus to end and our lives to return to normal.

I would like to pray for Ann Marie.

For Vincent who has cancer.

For peace in Ukraine

Praying the Rosary

Most Catholics are familiar with the general idea of the Rosary. It is a sequence of prayer we follow and while we do, we reflect on part of the Gospel.

You can read and follow the complete collection of prayers here https://www.rosarycenter.org/homepage-2/rosary/how-to-pray-the-rosary/

Other prayers of intercession

Hail, Holy Queen

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy. Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope.

To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears

Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this, our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb,

Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

Mary in Art

Mary's life inspires many people and over the years artists have poured hours of effort and emotion into paintings and sculptures depicting her life. Some of them are seen below. They are supposed to look beautiful but also teach us about our faith.

Once you have read about them, try to find out about the Icon of Our Lady of Paisley depicted here. Who made it? When? What does it symbolise and what does it teach us?

The Annunciation

Artist: Fra Angelico 1440

Mary holds her womb as the angel announces to her God's plan. She is young and afraid but the pillars around her represent strength and courage.

Madonna of the Book

Artist: Sandro Botticelli 1480

Mary holds her son as she reads the Bible. Maybe she is teaching him about the stories of God's faithfulness to his people.

Pietà

Artist: Sieger Köder 2005(?)

Mary holds her son after he has been crucified. Here the artist has made it look like Jesus fits inside Mary to remind us that he is her child.

Art Challenge

Find a painting or a picture of Mary that you find particularly beautiful.
Find out who painted it and what it is called.
What does the picture teach you or make you think about Mary and Jesus if he is in it.
What is it about the picture that you really liked.

Post all of your answers for this Mary in Art section to your RE Google Classroom . Send the picture you have found and your information and we will create a gallery on our page. Remember to also post your information about the Our Lady of Paisley icon.

The Pietà by Michelangelo

This sculpture makes you think of the sadness Mary must feel about her son's death. I really like the detail of her robes and how she seems to wrap them round with her right hand like she did when he was a baby.

The Chosen

A film about the Wedding at Cana

The Chosen is a TV series that tells some of the stories from the life of Jesus. In the episode here you can see the story of Jesus at the wedding feast in Cana. Where Jesus' mother encourages her son to work his first sign when he turned water into wine. Pay careful attention to the relationship between Jesus and his mother.

Why do you think Christians use this story as a reason for asking Mary to pray for us?

There are a lot of other things going on at the same time. Watch it then ask a question about it in the form below.

Page updated

Report abuse