Objective: To pray the rosary and learn how prayer with the Virgin Mary will always point them to Christ.

Overview: As Jesus was dying on the cross, He presented His mother to His disciple and to all of us by saying, “Behold your mother” (John 19:27).  Today, we still view the Blessed Virgin Mary as mother to us all.  As with any mother, we can turn to her for guidance and prayers and we look to her to show us the way to her son.

Everything Mary did pointed to Jesus.  Her fiat is the perfect example to us all of what it means to trust in God and follow His plan for our lives.  We should give thanks to Mary for all she has done.  We trust that she hears us and offers our prayers and petitions to her son Jesus.

One of the most popular ways to connect with our mother in prayer is through the rosary.  Through the repetition of the Hail Mary and meditation on the different mysteries, we are able to enter into a form of contemplative prayer in which we can find ourselves praying both with and to Mary.  What a blessing the Catholic Church has in our mother, to lead us into deeper communion with our Father.

Scripture: John 19:27, Luke 1:26-49

Songs:

Questions:

• Have you ever prayed the rosary before?  What was your experience like?
• Do you have a relationship with Mary?  Why/why not?
• Why do you think Mary did what she did?  What do you think was the hardest part for her?
• Mary was young when God called her to give birth to Jesus.  What do you think is one thing God might be asking you to do with your life, so you can live for him?

Handouts: The Rosary.