Welcome to the Guiding Star, a monthly newsletter sharing tips and activities to help build and strengthen your Domestic Church. What is your Domestic Church? “The family, is so to speak, the domestic church.” (Lumen Gentium #11) Visit the USCCB website on the Domestic Church for more practical ways to demonstrate and encourage a rich life of faith at home.
The Holy Rosary is often called a "summary of the whole Gospel." Every decade invites us to meditate on key moments in the lives of Jesus and Mary. When we pray the Hail Mary, we speak the very words of the Angel Gabriel and St. Elizabeth recorded in Saint Luke’s Gospel, grounding our vocal prayer in sacred Scripture.
There are many ways to engage children in praying the Rosary. Consider an edible rosary with a chocolate chip for every prayer, a walkable rosary with a chalk-drawn decade for the children to follow as they pray, a rosary with sacred art depicting the mysteries on a YouTube video, a coloring page for reflection for every mystery as they pray, visiting the rosary garden here at the church, etc.
Now is a good time to memorize the Hail, Holy Queen prayer, also known as the Salve Regina, which is prayed at the conclusion of the rosary:
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, 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 towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.
For Family Discussion...
What is a story from our own life, an answered prayer, a moment of peace, or a hard time, where Our Lady's intercession helped us?
The Sharing Corner: How does your family observe this month's dedication?
We get together every month with a group of other Catholic families to pray the Rosary and enjoy a potluck dinner. Our group keeps to the same day every month, making it easy for everyone to remember it's time to pray together!