CAROLINE M. BOUWHUIS MARY GALMBACHER THE QUEEN'S WORK 3742 West Pine Blvd. St. Louis, Mo. Imprimi potest: Samuel Horine, S. J. Praep. Prov. Missourianae Nihil obstat: F. J. Holweck Censor Librorum Imprimatur: + Joanries J. Glennoft Archiepiscopus Sti. Ludovici Sti. Ludovici, die 20 Augusti, 1934 Any Financial. Profit made by the Central Office of the Sodality will be used for the advancement of the Sodality movement and the cause'bf Catholic Action. Copyright 1934 T H E QUEEN'S W O R K , Inc. D s a ^ d l e r f GENERAL AIMS FOR ROSARY LESSONS To teach the correct way to say the Rosary. To give students an intelligent understanding of the Rosary. To foster devotion to Mary through the Rosary, To strengthen the power of concentration in prayer. To acquaint children with the influence of the prayer of the Rosary in art. To strengthen fai th through intelligent and devout saying of the Rosary. To learn its potency in time of stress. To gain an appreciation of its favor with God. To become thoroughly acquainted with Catholic terminology. THE ROSARY I . I N T R O D U C T I O N It was through Mary that Christ, the Savior of mankind, came to this earth. She became the Mother of God and thus became the channel through which the grace of God comes for the help of man- kind. By this special prerogative Mary is our most powerful inter- cessor in heaven. Since she was-so intimately associated with H im in the work of man's salvation, devotion to her is the natural accom- paniment of devotion to her Son. I I . C O M P O S I T I O N O F T H E R O S A R Y A. As a prayer. The Rosary is a union of mental and vocal prayer offered in special honor of the Blessed Mother. The vocal prayers, that is, the Lord's Prayer ( the Our Father) , the Angelic Salutation (the Hail Mary) , the Doxology (the Glory be to the Father) , are, almost word for word, inspired by the Holy Ghost in the Sacred Scripture. The mental prayer is a heartfelt contemplation of some of the principal mysteries of the life of our Lord and the life of the Blessed Mother. These, too, for the most part , are given in the Sacred Scriptures. The Rosary is defined as a definite fo rm of prayer wherein we separate fifteen decades of the Angelic Salutation by interposing the Lord's Prayer between them and at each decade we recall in devout medita- tion a different mystery of our redemption. B. The beads. The complete Rosary consists of fifteen Our Fathers, and Glory be to the Father's, and one hundred and fifty Hail Marys, to be recited on indulgenced beads. I t is divided into three parts, each containing five decades. A decade of the Rosary as we ordinarily use the term means one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and the Glory be to the Father. To each decade is assigned one of the principal mysteries of the life of our Savior or of His Blessed Mother. The beads or the chaplet commonly used in the recitation of the Rosary consist of a short chain at whose free end is a crucifix, followed by one large bead, then three small ones, and another large bead. In addition is another chain whose ends meet the short chain. O n the large chain are s trung five groups of small beads, ten in a group, with a large bead interven- ing between groups. The Hail Mary is said on the small beads and the Our Father and the Glory be to the Father on the large beads. I I I . W H Y U S E BEADS? 1. The use of beads as counters is historical. 2. Passing beads through the fingers holds the attention, makes the body assist in worshipping God as well as the soul. 3. The beads are suggestive of devotion. The presence of the attached crucifix raises the mind to God and induces a prayerful spirit. The carrying of the- beads frequently reminds one of the Blessed Mother, fills the mind with the thought of her for at least an instant, helps us to elicit an act of faith. 4. The definite number and arrangement of beads have the sanc- tion of the Church. This particular form of prayer, the saying of the Rosary, does not depend on emotion, bu t proceeds f rom the act of the will wishing to worship God in this particular way. The Church grants special blessings and favors to stimulate such acts of worship. Another common bond of prayer throughout the universal Church is thus established; Catholics say the Rosary in every land. I V . W H Y T H E R E P E T I T I O N O F T H E S A M E VOCAL P R A Y E R ? 1. Ordinarily when two persons nobly love one another J they are not content to state the fac t once. W e love Christ and His Blessed Mother; we do not mind telling them about it in noble, inspired language. Repetition is the language of love. Of course, we should live up to what we say, and prove our love of Christ by our lives. 2. Even at a football game there is not just one cheer, a second's applause for a brilliant play. If a man or woman has achieved dis- tinction for an heroic deed, or scientific achievement, the person to be honored is not given just one short reception, but prolonged cere- monies are held in city af ter city. Repetition is the language of enthusi- asm and appreciation. W e are enthusiastic about Christ and His Blessed Mother, and we appreciate the great things they have done for us. 3. Poems committed to memory usually influence us the most. There are scarcely any sentences in any language that can approach in beauty, sublimity of thought , or devotion, the ideas given us in the Doxology, the Lord's Prayer, the Angelic Salutation. Devout repe- tition of these prayers keeps our minds filled during their recitation with noble thoughts; we stay in the company of Christ and His Blessed Mother. These prayers are not barren but rich, always prolific of new f ru i t for the mind. V . T H E M Y S T E R I E S The fifteen mysteries chosen for the contemplation to accom- pany the recital of the vocal prayers are divided into three groups, the Glorious, the Joyful and the Sorrowful. They refer to glorious, joyful or sorrowful incidents in the lives of our Lord and His Blessed Mother. Ordinarily, only five decades of the Rosary are said at any time. One may choose any group of mysteries to go with his vocal prayer. There is an appropriateness, however, in choosing: the glorious mysteries—on Sunday, Wednesday, and Saturday the joyful mysteries—on Monday and Thursday : the sorrowful mysteries—on Tuesday and Friday. Sunday, the Lord's Day, is naturally suited to the commemoration of Easter and Pentecost, the Glory of the Ascension, and the special glories of Mary, Christ's Mother; Friday, as the commemoration of Good Friday, naturally suggests itself as the day fitted to recall the sorrows of Christ. However, to do special honor to the mysteries that deal with the birth of our Lord, on the Sundays f rom the first Sunday of Advent to Septuagésima, the Joyful Mysteries are usually said; and to. honor the Sacred Passion, on the Sundays f rom Septuagésima to Palm Sunday, the Sorrowful Mysteries are usually said. The five glorious mysteries are: The Resurrection The Ascension The Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin into heaven The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin in heaven The five joyful mysteries are: The Annunciation The Visitation ncJ The Birth :/D thi^ts^ ù ii 'Mttds t awiv? .. ... • The. Ejntggg P&Î^ÇfejW'Jesua i^jtl^iJ^empla- -, ï a T h e ^fives sprrowfiri my^eri.es aee:? « S9wh ta«USiig&«i ss r* • ' • ^ ' it itoinbt-bm&i sth i -•• s ^ î w r a w p i J M î A î » « » • i j r f ^ o î v j . fendaà n « A « I S Rî jV^Vi ftp;"'•'•!:: j f t f j f e " t .V l t !" -iX-i) :•'•' " -.4 .? j%lÉ i&éditàtiG». I t is sublime ¿«sal;, prayer, united wiiii'îhèdkatiOft. Jsrfi fnàjf - ~u>. m f d X s. ^ «rf» - * • .-iih&ttiinO twmh nai!< If we c h o o s y w é A$î#ur.mindsi?aàd hearts on the early life of our Lord- If the sorrowful, rpysteyies are chosen, we think ' about the"^ffeHn^s"our" ï lp rd :e^u:ifé1îMn order to redeem lis. In sayihgfthe' glo^ods''mysteries We ïëjdr2è aï thé triumph of our Redéèmér^îifHis"victory : orér ; | i n and d e a , ^ ^ ; trmffipfi of our Blessed M^Hiêr5%|6nlier reçèptipnaHïto "heaven; ààS'fter C0):6h.atiôn às Queen.1 ' ¿ ^ •1"^'®"®» v-'- f IwM| ïgïM i ra i p We look on each mystères with tÉe?heitrt,soto s p e a k . W e dô not look merely to get the facts, to be a reporter or a historian. The heart wants a better appreciation, a deeper knowledge, a warmer love of Christ, of the Blessed Mother, which going through the mysteries gives. We want to realize prayerfu l^ , lovingly, what all this means to us, that the Christ whom .we lovk, is found in the Temple, or is whipped by Roman soldiers because we sinned. The Blessed Mother whom we love, who is our model and inspiration, is the one to whom the Angel appears. She goes to visit St. Elizabeth, she is anxious when the Child Jesus, her boy, is lost in the Temple. What we are thinking about and praying about, are not just accounts of somebody who died long ago, but actual experiences of our brother, Christ; actual things that happened to our Mother, Mary. We are concerned about them. We do care. They do matter to us. I t makes quite a difference to us that they did happen. This picture in our imagination, that we t ry to see with the eye, the words we t ry to hear with our ears, raise our hearts to God, prayerfully. W e t ry to realize more and more what a sweet thing it is to be with Christ and His Blessed Mother. A mystery should be mentioned before each decade is begun. Then while reciting the Hail Marys our hearts, through the senses and the imagination, dwell on the mystery, muse about i t , think about it a little. For example the first joyous mystery, "The Annunciation," pictures the Blessed Mother at prayer and the unexpected appearance of the Angel Gabriel, bringing her a message f r o m heaven, telling her that she is to be the Mother of God. Thus contemplation is woven in with the vocal prayer. V I I . T H E SAYING O F T H E R O S A R Y Choose the group of mysteries on which you wish to meditate, for example, the Joyful Mysteries. (Note : T o gain the indulgence attached to saying the Rosary, we may, if we wish, begin immediately with the first mystery, omitt ing the Creed, the O u r Father, the three Hail Mary's, and the Glory be to the Father, that are usually said on the crucifix and beads on the short chain. Ordinarily, however, begin the saying of the Rosary by blessing yourself with the crucifix of your Rosary.) Then holding the first bead, say an O u r Father, and using the first group of ten beads as counters say ten Hail Marys, meantime picturing the appearance of the Angel Gabriel to the Blessed Mother at prayer. Conclude the decade by saying one Glory be to the Father, on the large bead immediately following. This ends the first decade. Each decade is said the same way. The only change is in the subject of the meditation, the title and scene of the mystery. 9 A ROSARY PROJECT LESSON 1 I. AIMS: 1. To teach the composition of the chaplet. 2. T o acquaint the children with the two forms of prayer, vocal and mental. 3. To awaken in children a necessity for an intelligent under- standing of the Catholic practice. II. P R E P A R A T I O N : N o t long ago a man declared that Catholics are exceedingly ignorant about the practices of their church. They do not under- stand the meaning of their devotions, but follow them parrot-fashion. He mentioned the Rosary as an example. Now, if this man came into the room and asked you some questions about the Rosary, such as, " W h y do you carry one?", " H o w do you say i t?", " W h y do you say it?", how many of you could answer intelligently? Many non-Catholics think that we carry a Rosary as a kind of amulet or rabbit's foot, as if the object itself had power to avert danger or to insure protection against accident. Could we set these people right? I I I . P R E S E N T A T I O N : T E A C H E R Teacher holds up her large Rosary so all in class can see it. What names are given to this string of beads? Of what does the Rosary or chaplet consist? H o w are the beads arranged? What separates the decades? Wha t is found between the crucifix and the juncture of the long chain with the small one? P U P I L Rosary, the beads, chaplet. If the term chaplet is not given by the children, the teacher should supply it, since this term is often used in literature. E. g., Evan- geline. Crucifix, beads, chain. There are five groups of ten beads. Each group is called a decade. A larger bead. A group of three beads with a larger bead before and after. 10 A ROSARY PROJECT T E A C H E R What prayer is said on the crucifix? Wha t prayers are said on the large beads? Wha t prayer is said on the small beads? W h y do we use beads? (Teach- er supplies answer given in paren- thesis.) W h y can' t we use our fingers as counters? P U P I L T h e Creed. The Our Father and Glory be to the Father. The Hail Mary. The beads are used as counters. (From earliest times beads have been used as counters. This cus- tom still obtains in oriental coun| tries.) The beads- are indulgenced and our fingers are not. Using fingers would be too- distracting. I t would be too difficult to keep a record of the decades. The use .of beads is traditional, an old practice of the Church. So fa r we have mentioned certain set prayers, namely, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory be to the Father, which are said because these prayers are uniform throughout the world in every language they are called formal prayers. They are called vocal prayers because of the old established customs of saying them aloud. When prayers are said aloud, in which we use our own words and not a set form we call them informal prayers. - T E A C H E R But is vocal prayer the only form of prayer used in saying the beads? Wha t kind of prayer do we call thinking about the mysteries? What other names are given to prayer which is mental? P U P I L No. While we are saying the prayers we are thinking about the mysteries. Mental prayer. Meditation, reflection, contem- plation. 11 A ROSARY PROJECT Note to teacher: The following explanation may be given to the children. In the early days of Christianity it was customary to repeat the Psalms fifty times with genuflections. Simple folk loved to imitate those who they believed were of a higher rank. They could not in their daily tasks find time or occasion to recite the Psalms, so over and over they repeated the first part of the Hail Mary, which they did not think of as prayer in the way we do but as a greeting to our Lady. They spoke to her of ten in this manner, not in supplication but as an act of love. Later, during the fifth century, when the Church formally declared what she had always believed, that the Blessed Mother is the Mother of God, the second part of the Hail Mary was composed. Since the habit of repeating the fifty salutations had been formed, i t was natural to repeat the supplication, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death." W e of ten use the expression, "saying the beads", when we mean "saying the Rosary." In Anglo-Saxon the word "bede" meant prayer that is repeated often. In these repeated prayers the actual beads were used, and so it came about that the bedes and beads became prac- tically synonymous. LESSON 2 T H E JOYFUL MYSTERIES I. AIMS: 1. To give students a better understanding of the Joyful Mys- teries. 2. T o give children an introduction to mental prayer. 3. To strengthen the power of concentration in prayer. 4. To deepen appreciation of knowledge already possessed by the students. 5. To come to a greater love of the Blessed Mother through increased knowledge of the Joyful Mysteries. 12 A ROSARY PROJECT T E A C H E R W e said that part of the devo- tion of the rosary consists in mental prayer or contemplation or meditation on the mysteries. In to how many classes are the mysteries divided? Name the three classes. (Ask to have the mysteries in each class named.) W h y are the titles Joyful , Sor- rowful , and Glorious given? In our next lesson we shall take up the Joyful Mysteries. Mean- while think about them. If pos- sible find in your prayer book or in some book of devotion or in your church history some infor- mation on the mysteries. IV. SUMMARY: T E A C H E R W h y should we know all we can about Catholic practices? What was the subject discussed in class today? Name two types of prayer used in saying the Rosary. Wha t is vocal prayer? What is mental prayer? P U P I L In to three classes. Joyful , Sorrowful, and Glorious. Joyful because of the happy events in the life of our Lord. Sorrowful because of the suf- ferings of our Lord. Glorious for the t r iumph of our Lord. P U P I L In order to have a better under- standing and a greater apprecia- tion of our devotions. To be prepared to answer ques- tions put to us by others whether Catholic or non-Catholic. The devotion called the Rosary. 13 A ROSARY PROJECT II. P R E P A R A T I O N : T E A C H E R P U P I L What two types of prayer are used in saying the Rosary? Name some vocal prayers. Informal vocal prayer is that Wha t do we mean by informal in which we use our own words prayer? rather than set words like the Hail Mary, Our Father, etc. If the Blessed Mother were to enter the room where you were all alone, at first you would be startled by her radiance, her loveliness, her charm. You would think, " H o w beautiful she is!" Af t e r the first trembling of delight, and perhaps a little fear and a sense of unworthiness,' you might look again and think, " H o w holy she is! H o w good she is!" Then you might notice the gentleness and kindness in her face, and all your fears would vanish. You would approach her, invite her to stay awhile. As confidence increased and you felt sure that all that concerned you was of great interest to her, you would draw nearer, and her smile would invite you to speak. All your joy at seeing her, your troubles, sorrows, anxieties would pour out to her. She would listen lovingly to all you had to say, and somehow you would be certain of her help. This l i f t ing up of your heart and mind to the Blessed Mother would be mental prayer or contemplation. T E A C H E R P U P I L How is mental prayer used in Thinking or meditating on the the Rosary? mysteries. III. P R E S E N T A T I O N : T E A C H E R P U P I L Today we are going to think about the Joyful Mysteries, our first step in mental prayer. Name the Joyful Mysteries. (Let one pupil write them on the board in column form. Note the spelling and capitalization.) 14 A ROSARY PROJECT T E A C H E R Write the first Joyful Mystery, the Annunciation, on a separate panel. Wha t does the word "Annun- ciation" mean? When you hear the word " A n - nunciation," what picture comes to your mind? Exposition by the teacher: P U P I L A message. Ac t of delivering a message. Act of announcing or telling. (Teacher may accept any meaning which shows that the student has the correct idea.) The Blessed Mother is kneeling in prayer in her room. Suddenly a bright light appears and the Angel Gabriel speaks, telling the Blessed Virgin that she is to be the Mother of God. (This is a probable answer. However, if no clear statement is given, the teach- er should give one and should amplify.) For a long time the Jewish people had waited for a Redeemer to come. Each new baby was welcomed wi th the hope that it might be the promised child. Every Jewish maiden hoped that the In fan t Christ might be sent to her. The Blessed Virgin in her infancy had been dedicated to God in the Temple. She had become very holy, and so was especially prepared by God's grace to receive the Christ Child. Of course, she was too humble to think herself worthy of so high an honor. When she was just a very young woman, she was married to Saint Joseph, a poor but holy man of the house of David. They lived quietly in the little town of Nazareth in Galilee. Mary had been most fa i th fu l in her observance of all the laws of the Jewish religion, which was then the true religion. She spent a portion of each day in prayer, as she had learned to do when only a small child in the Temple. One day, while her heart and mind were lifted up to God in prayer, she was startled by the voice of an angel, who said, "Hail , ful l of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women"—the first words of the prayer which we call the Hail Mary. 15 A ROSARY PROJECT Imagine her surprise at this heavenly greeting and the momen- tary fear she experienced. But the angel continued, "Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God." Gabriel went oh to tell her that she was chosen to be the Mother of Christ, the Mother of God, that the Holy Ghost would come upon her and the power of the Most High overshadow her. As soon as the Blessed Virgin realized what the angel meant by his message, she knew that God had indeed selected her above all others for this most sacred mission. Humbly she bowed assent, saying, "Be- hold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done un to me according to thy word;" Immediately the conception of the In fan t Savior took place. In many books dealing with the life of our Lady, the sonorous, rich Latin words, "Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum," meaning "Be it done unto me according to thy word," are found. Imagine the great joy Mary must have felt as she thought, over and over, "The Christ-Child is coming to me! The Christ-Child is coming to me! H e will be my very own!" As we picture the scene for our first decade while we say the Hail Marys, we are really meditating or contemplating. Our hearts warm towards our Blessed Lady as we think of her great holiness, and we beg to be more holy too. N o w we are praying mentally. Just the wish to be a little more like her is a bit of mental prayer. (The teacher lists points under the title "The Annunciation" as the children give them.) 1. Preparation of the 'Blessed Virgin for the great blessing— previous holiness. 2. The Blessed Virgin at prayer. 3. The Angelic Salutation or Hail Mary. •4. Mary's answer—acceptance of God's Will. Read St. Luke, Chapter I, verses 26-3 8 and verses 39-57. Note—Teacher read to class all biblical references. List on board the chapter and verse. T E A C H E R What is the second mystery? P U P I L The Visitation. 16 A ROSARY PROJECT (Teacher lists points.) 1. Elizabeth, cousin of our Lady, had been promised the baby John. 2. Our Lady desires to congratulate Elizabeth and help with household tasks—charity. 3. The joyous welcome given by Elizabeth, who seemed to know without being told by Mary that she is the hostess of the Mother of God. 4. Elizabeth's greeting, "Blessed art thou among women . . ." Thus completing the Hail Mary that the angel had begun. 5. The delight of Elizabeth that Mary would come so far to help her. 6. Elizabeth's humil i ty—"Whence is it to me that the Mother of my God should come to me?" Note: Have pupils memorize the Magnificat as a poem and then learn to chant it. N o w let us picture the third Joyful Mystery. The Birth of our Lord. Note: St. Luke, Chapter II, verses 1-20. (Here the facts are so well known that the pupils can readily give the points.) 1. The Son of God had no place to lay His head. N o one to give H im shelter. 2. Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph are the first worshipers of the Holy Child. 3. Shepherds' great fa i th and obedience to the angel—"Let us go and find H im." 4. Mary's maternal pride in the Holy Babe. J. The Holy Child's love for His mother. A stable glorified by the presence of the Holy Family. 6. Voices of angels for lullaby. 17 A ROSARY PROJECT 7. Just as the Blessed Mother made a soft resting place of the clean straw in the manger, so we prepare our hearts for His coming by purity, charity, and kindness, etc. The students will discover that as they draw upon their latent knowledge new thoughts come and devotion gradually accompanies these thoughts. Catholics say, "Had I been in Bethlehem I would have offered the very best to our Lady and St. Joseph. The Holy Babe would have been most royally welcomed." This thought can be developed by the students. N o w we are ready for the four th Joyful Mystery. Read St. Luke, Chapter II, verses 21-40. Have pupils memorize, " N u n c Dimitt is ." Have someone name it, "The Presentation in the Temple." 1. The Babe is taken to the Temple in accordance with the law of Moses—humility and obedience, even though Joseph and Mary knew that the Holy Child was God. 2. The g i f t of turt le doves by the holy pair, the offering of the poor. 3. The joy of Simeon when he beheld the Holy Child. The joy of the Mother mixed with sadness. Simeon's prophecy, "And thine own soul a sword shall pierce." 4. Our Lady's love for the Babe increasing with each new day. The sorrow that she must have felt, knowing the suffering that her Blessed Child must face in manhood. "What is the fifth Joyful Mystery? Read St. Luke, Chapter II, verses 41-J2. 1. Obedience to the law of Moses—going to the Temple of Jerusalem for the Feast of the Pasch. 2. The agony of Mary and Joseph when they discovered the loss of the Child. 3. Their great joy when they found H im safe and in the Temple. 18 A ROSARY PROJECT 4. The Blessed Mother's remark, " W e have sought you sor- rowing," and her Son's reply, "Did you not know that I must be about m y Father's business?" Again we see joy mixed with sorrow. The Blessed Mother's realization that Her Son must, all too soon, be about His Father's business. 5. H e went back with them and was subject to them. The Divine Child is obedient to Mary and Joseph. When we are saying the Rosary, let us t ry to remember these points. I t is quite possible that many other thoughts about these mysteries will suggest themselves to us. The more we think the greater the variety will our thoughts possess. IV. SUMMARY: In order that the teacher may be sure that the students have acquired added information about the lesson, these questions will be given to the class. Answers are to be wri t ten by each student, either as a homework lesson or during a study period. These answers are to be discussed in the next lesson. 1. Wha t virtues were practiced by the Blessed Mother as shown in the first mystery? 2. In what way does the second mystery prove that the Blessed Mother practices charity? 3. H o w can we show that the Christ Child would find a wel- come were He to come now? 4. W h y was the Divine Child presented to God in the Temple? 5. What promise had been made to Simeon? Was it fulfilled? 6. How did it happen that the Boy Jesus was lost? SUGGESTIONS: Obtain f rom library: I. The Christ Child, as told by Matthew and Luke. Made by Maud and Miska Petersham. Published by Doubleday, Doran & Co., Garden City, New York (Price $2.50). 19 A ROSARY PROJECT II. Twelfth Night, by Sigrid Undset. (Price $1.00.) III. In Ben-Hur, by Wallace, there is a well-written account of the Nat ivi ty . The first book is recommended for beautiful illustrations. The second and third books recommended are fine for oral reading on the part of the teacher. Secure also for excellent picture interpretation: (a) The Gospel in Art, by A. E. Bailey. (b) The Art of the Berlin Galleries, by David C. Preyer. (c) The Work of Botticelli. Published by Frederick Warner & Co., 36 East 22nd St., New York City. LESSON 3 T H E SORROWFUL MYSTERIES L AIMS: 1. To help students gain a deeper knowledge of the Sorrowful Mysteries. 2. T o increase appreciation of our Savior's love for all of us. 3. T o teach students something of the joy of contemplation. 4. To quicken their love of our Savior through a knowledge of the price of redemption. J. To increase fervor during the recitation of the Rosary. II. P R E P A R A T I O N : In our last lesson on the Rosary we discussed the early life of our Lord, His birth, the Presentation in the Temple, and the chief inci- dents of His boyhood—namely, His presence in the Temple among the doctors. 20 A ROSARY PROJECT T E A C H E R P U P I L What name is given to these , mysteries? T h e J ° y f u l Mysteries. Because they are joyful events W h y are they called joyful? in the life of our Lord and of our Blessed Lady. The loss of the Divine Child; Mary's three days of sorrow be- fore finding H i m ; her realization What forecast of sadness do we that her Son must one day be find even in the Joyful Mysteries? about His Father's business. Sim- eon's prophecy is beginning to be fulfilled. (St. Luke, Chapter 2, verses 21-40, omitt ing verse 23.) I I I . P R E S E N T A T I O N : T E A C H E R What is the second group of mysteries? W h y are they called sorrowful? Name the Sorrowful Mysteries. What is the -first Sorrowful Mystery? When and where did this event take place? W h o accompanied H im there? Which of them did H e invite to stay near Him? P U P I L The Sorrowful Mysteries. Because they tell of the suffer- ings of our Lord. (Teacher or student may write them on the blackboard, using a separate panel for each title.) The Agony in the Garden. On Thursday, the night before our Savior's crucifixion and death; in the garden of Gethsemane near the Mount of Olives. His apostles. Peter, James and John. 21 A ROSARY PROJECT T E A C H E R On what other occasions were these disciples so signally favored? W h y did our Savior withdraw Himself f rom His companions? What command did our Lord give to. His apostles at this time? What words did our Savior use which indicated mental suifering? H o w did the favored disciples fail their Master during this time of anguish? . P U P I L During the Transfiguration. (St. Luke, Chapter 9, verses 28- 36. St. Matthew, Chapter 17, verses 1-10. St. Mark, Chapter 9, verses 1-10.) Just previous to the Transfig- uration Jesus questioned the apostles as to the belief of the people regarding Him. They answered, "Some think you are Elias; others think you are Moses." Then H e questioned Peter, "Who do you say I am?" "Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew, Chapter 16, verses 13-18.) I t was af ter this outburst of fai th that Peter was made head of the Church. (Continue St. Matthew, Chapter 16.) H e wished to go apart to pray for strength to face the coming ordeal. "Watch ye and pray lest ye enter into temptation." "My soul is sorrowful even unto death." They slept when His anguish was keenest. What sorrow did He endure in His agony? The burden of the sins of man- kind; the oppression of evil which was so repugnant to His holy nature. The knowledge that in spite of His sufferings and death many would be lost. 22 A ROSARY PROJECT T E A C H E R What pain did He suffer in anticipation? Wha t prayer of our Savior ex- pressed His wish to conform to the will of His heavenly Father? W h o comforted our Savior a f te r this prayer? Wha t physical suffering did Jesus endure during His agony? Wha t fur ther sorrow was caused by an unfa i th fu l apostle? Wha t was the real cause of the great anguish of our Lord at this time and of all the sufferings to follow? P U P I L Being God, H e anticipated all the tortures of the crucifixion. "Father, if thou wilt, remove this chalice f rom me; but yet not my will, but thine be done." (St. Luke, Chapter 22, verse 42.) An angel f rom heaven. His sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground. The betrayal of Judas. The sins of mankind. EXPOSITION: The disobedience of our first parents was so serious an offense that it merited for them and for the whole human race the loss of heaven forever. Tha t original sin and every subsequent sin had to be expiated and atoned for . And what mountains of evil had piled up throughout the centuries! But Jesus, our elder Brother, loved us too much to let us suffer the consequences of original sin and offered H im- self to His Heavenly Father as a Redeemer for every single member of the human race. A t last H e came down f rom heaven and dwelt among us. The Second Person of the Blessed Trini ty became man, suffered and died, not content until H e had given all that He had to give, fu l l measure pressed down and running over. So great was His delight to be with the children of men that on the last night before He died He instituted the Blessed Sacrament by which His presence might be perpetuated among us. And after this most solemn act of love had been accomplished H e took with H im His apostles and went a short distance in a garden to pray. U p to this time the sufferings of our Savior were not of a public nature, bu t in the second mystery humiliation was added. 23 A ROSARY PROJECT T E A C H E R What is the second Sorrowful Mystery? Wha t does the word scourge mean? What is meant by pillar? W h y did Pilate command that our Lord be scourged? What offer did he make to the Jews? Wha t choice was made? W h o urged the people to make the choice? P U P I L The scourging at the pillar. To punish severely by lashing or whipping. It is a column or post to which a person was bound in order that the lash might not miss its mark. Pilate did not feel convinced that the divine prisoner was guilty of any crime; yet the bloodthirs- ty people would not be satisfied until our Savior was made to suf- fer. (Read St. Luke, Chapter 23, verses 1-24; St. John, Chapter 18, verses 28-40; Chapter 19, verses 1-13.) Pilate did not want to take the responsibility of condemning our Lord and hoped that some punish- ment less severe than death would serve to satisfy the angry mob. H e commanded that Jesus be scourged. The piteous spectacle of the Sacred Body torn and bleeding did not move the stony hearts of the people. Pilate made one more at tempt to save our Lord f rom a shameful death. He presented for their choice Jesus and Barabbas and asked which one they wished released. Barabbas. The high priests. (St. Mark, Chapter 15, verses 6-11.) As we read the gospels which relate the passion of our Lord, we 24 A ROSARY PROJECT T E A C H E R P U P I L learn that the high priests were the instigators of the unjust trial and condemnation. But who else was really re- sponsible for these dreadful suf- W e were, because of our sins, fering: EXPOSITION: History tells us that scourging practiced by the people of that ' time was a most terrible punishment. Heavy thongs with metal tips were used to lash the body of the condemned. The scriptural phrase, " H e was bruised for our offenses", has very deep significance. We must remember that an added indignity was suffered by our Lord when, before the scourging, He was stripped of His garments and His Sacred Body exposed to the vulgar gaze of the populace. Then His hands and feet were bound with heavy cords as if H e were a common criminal. Throughout all the dreadful torture not a sound of com- plaint did He utter . Each lash on His Sacred Body was endured for love of us. In the Sorrowful Mysteries we have just discussed, two distinct kinds of suffering compel our attention, keen mental anguish and severe bodily torture. While it is true that physical pain accompanied the mental agony, we note this, that in the first instance our Savior cried out to His heavenly Father for comfort , bu t that in the second, although the lash cut cruelly into the Sacred Flesh and lacerated it so that the thought of it makes us shudder, H e did not implore help f rom on high. T E A C H E R P U P I L . . , , , During the agony in the gar- Can you think of a reason why d e n Q u r S a v i o r t o o k H i m s e l f the prayer, Let this chalice pass ^ b u r d e n o f ^ sins of man; f rom m e . . . —a prayer so indica- t Q ^ s i n g u l a r p u r i o f t h e j . tive of agony, was uttered at this n a t u r e t h e s e s I n s m u s t h a y e b e e n time rather than at the scourging? r e v o k i n g i n t h e extreme. Note: If the teacher can draw f rom students the thought that to take the blame for the wrongdoing of another is one of the most difficult trials one can undergo, there will come some glimmering of comprehension of the way our Lord felt at this time. 25 A ROSARY PROJECT This question may elicit the thought: H o w many have ever been accused of something they didn't do? Tha t has been a common experience. H o w resentful we felt at the punishment. But the pain of the punishment was not so bitter as the pain of suffering a false accusation, especially if the evil charge against us were shameful, something our whole nature revolted against, something that urged us to prove our innocence. W e can picture to some extent how our Savior must have shuddered as H e took upon Himself the weight of our sins. T E A C H E R Now, was our R e d e e m e r obliged to undergo the passion" Do you recall any incident fol- lowing the agony that shows that our Lord could have prevented the continuance of His passion had He chosen to do so? Why, then, if our Lord had done enough to win our salvation, did H e undergo all that subse- quent torture? Wha t terrible suffering and humiliation followed the scourg- ing? P U P I L No. The Incarnation alone would have been adequate to re- deem us. Indeed any slightest act of Christ would have sufficed to gain salvation for us. St. Matthew, Chapter 26, verses 50-54. "Thinkest thou that I can- not . . ." When the rabble laid hands on Jesus, Peter rushed to defend Him, drew out his sword and cu t off the ear of a soldier. Then our Lord told Peter that His heavenly Father would give H i m more than twelve legions of angels did He but ask. It was a superabundance of love for us, a greater love than we can understand. Read Isaiah, Chapter 53, especially verse 7. Af t e r that most cruel scourging the sacred body had lost its un- earthly beauty, ugly gashes and welts disfigured it and the proph- ecy of Isaiah was fulfilled. The crowning with thorns. A ROSARY PROJECT 26 T E A C H E R W h y did the Jews crown our Savior with thorns? What added indignities did they inflict on H i m because H e called Himself king? P U P I L Because H e had declared H i m - self king of the Jews. This was done in mockery. Our Savior was clothed in a purple garment, purple being the color of royalty. A scepter, the symbol of authority, was placed in His hand, they knelt in deri- sion before H i m and cried, "Hail , King of the Jews." Read St. Matthew, Chapter 27, verses 22-30; St. Mark, Chapter 15, verses 12-20. O n three dif- ferent occasions we find Pilate re- luctant to pronounce sentence upon our Savior and even at- tempting to shift the responsi- bility to Herod. (St. Luke, Chap- ter 23, verses 1-15.) Pilate loved power, and the high priests played upon that weakness to win their point. Jesus was accused of hav- ing stirred up sedition among the people; bu t when Pilate examined the evidence, he declared, " I find no cause in this man." (St. Luke, Chapter 23, verses 1-24.) But the people found one point on which to focus Pilate's atten- tion. They said that Jesus forbade the people to give tr ibute to Cae- sar and that H e called Himself king of the Jews. I t was evident to the people that Pilate wavered in pronouncing judgment and that he would have been glad to see the hearts of the rabble sof t - ened toward the divine prisoner. Fearing that the sentence of death 27 A ROSARY PROJECT T E A C H E R What other reason besides that of believing that our Savior was a just man and the victim of the envy of the high priests caused Pilate to exonerate himself of all blame in the matter? W h a t did Pilate do to show the people that the sentence of death was not his will? P U P I L would not be passed upon Jesus, the mob led Pilate to believe that in releasing our Savior he would be disloyal to Caesar and there- fore in danger of losing his gov- ernorship. (St. John, Chapter 19, verses 1-15, emphasis on verse 12.) Pilate's wife sent a message say- ing that in her dreams she had suffered because of our Lord and begged that he have nothing to do with " tha t just man." (St. Matthew, Chapter 27, verses 17- 2>--) H e washed his hands and said, " I am innocent of the blood of this just man. Look you to i t . " (Matthew, Chapter 27, verse 24.) Note: Just a few years ago the Holy Father instituted a new feast, that of Christ the King, to be celebrated on one Sunday each October. I t must please our Savior that we pay homage to H i m as our king and that we t ry to make some reparation for the cruel mockery suffered by our Lord during His passion. I t would seem that all the agony endured by our Lord so fa r in His passion must have moved the hearts of the mult i tude to compas- sion. The gentle hands so of ten raised to heal and bless are bound by cords that cut the tender flesh. Eyes that looked with mercy and love are blinded by the blood that trickles f rom the thorn-crowned brow. But sin coarsens the mind and soul and makes us cruel. Once when a Frankish king had heard the story of the passion he cried out, " H a d I and my Franks been there, this would not have happened." We like to think that we would have said that too, bu t every fall into serious sin adds our voice to the many who cried out, "Cruc i fy Him! Cruci fy H i m ! " When Pilate asked, " W h a t shall I do with Jesus that is called Christ?" they say, "Let H im be crucified," and so we answer today 28 A ROSARY PROJECT when temptation assails us and we give in to it . By our sins we imi- tate Pilate, who delivered our Savior to be crucified. In each of the gospels we notice the part played by the high priests in instigating the people to cry out against Jesus and to chose Barabbas. T E A C H E R Is there any way in which we may sometimes sin as the high priests did? The sentence has been passed. We have come to the four th mys- tery—The Carrying of the Cross. Where was the place of execu- tion? W h y was this location chosen? Wha t added indignity was forced upon our Lord? In, spite of the cruel suffering of our Lord, what incident shows His thoughtfulness and compas- sion for others? (St. Luke, Chap- ter 23, verses 27-28.) Wha t effect did the loss of blood have upon our Savior? Wha t was offered to our Lord to assuage His thirst? P U P I L Yes, by bad example. If we help others to sin, we are guilty of great evil too. A t a place called Golgatha, where Calvary is also. I t was the customary place for the execution of criminals. He was compelled to carry the cross and so bear the weight of shame publicly. H e was treated as a criminal and was fur ther humiliated by having two thieves for company. A mult i tude of people followed our Savior. Many of the women lamented and bewailed His suf- ferings. O u r Savior, appreciative of this human sympathy, spoke gently, saying, "Weep not fo r me but fo r yourselves and for your children." He was so weakened that He fell three times under the weight of the cross. A burning thirst added to His sufferings. Wine mingled with myrrh. (St. Mark, Chapter 15, verse 23; Psalm 68, verses 21-22.) 29 A ROSARY PROJECT T E A C H E R When it was evident that our Savior had become too weak to continue carrying the cross, what did the executioners do? At last the place of execution was reached, and now let us con- sider the f i f th Sorrowful Mystery —The Crucifixion. Again our Savior is stripped of garments. He is nailed to the cross. On what day did this happen? W h y do we call that day Good Friday? P U P I L They called upon Simon the Cyrenean, to help carry the cross the remaining distance. On Friday—which we call Good Friday. I t was the day on which our Lord bought our salvation—a day of great good for us. Note: Our Savior had raised the dead to life, given sight to the blind, healed the leper, fed the multitudes of hungry, and yet there is no record that any of these who had received benefactions came forward in His hour of anguish to assist H im or to comfort Him. T E A C H E R What apostle remained near the cross? Wha t precious g i f t was made to St. John, and so to us? P U P I L St. John. The Blessed Mother. (St. John, Chapter 19, verses 26-27.) Again, although in the very throes of death, our Savior takes thought of those H e loves. Mary His mother is confided to St. John and we are confided to her. ( I t would be effective at this time, perhaps during the music period, to give the poem called " A n Old Legend," by Florence Hoare, which is set to music by Tschaikowsky. I t has devotional appeal with- out being too sentimental. The music is in a minor key and conducive to a spirit of contrition. A copy of the words and music may be found in the Laurel Music Reader, Special Edition, Birchard and Com- pany, Boston, Massachusetts.) 30 A ROSARY PROJECT Suggested music: "Before the Crucifix," by La Forge; "Improper- ium," by Wi t t . For chorus work: "Seven Last Words," by Dubois. The "Stabat Mater" and " O Faithful Cross," by Rev. J, G. Hacker, S. J . IV: SUMMARY: T E A C H E R P U P I L What mysteries did we contem- ^ S o r r Q w f u l M t e r i e s . plate today? Which of them do you think reveals the keenest of our Lord's suffering? (Answer will vary ac- cording to temperament of indi- viduals.) LESSON 4 T H E GLORIOUS MYSTERIES I. AIMS: I'. T o give a broader knowledge of the Glorious Mysteries. 2. To teach how to meditate on these Mysteries while saying the Rosary. 3. To deepen an appreciation of the value of these mysteries in that they increase our hope of fu tu re glory. 4. To inculcate devotion to the Holy Ghost, the Comforter and Inspirer. 5. To give a better understanding of the intercessory power of the Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven. 31 A ROSARY PROJECT II. A P P R O A C H : T E A C H E R Today we shall learn how to meditate on another group of the mysteries of the Rosary. Wha t two groups have we con- sidered? Which group deals with the early part of Our Lord's life? Wha t group deals with the Pas- sion of our Savior? Name another group of mys- teries. What are the Glorious Mys- teries? (Teacher may write these on the blackboard or have a pupil do so.) W h o took charge of the burial? (Teacher should supplement pu- pil's answer.) P U P I L The Joyful and the Sorrowful Mysteries. The Joyful Mysteries. The Sorrowful Mysteries. The Glorious Mysteries. Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph of Arimathea had been secretly a follower of our Lord. H e was a very rich and influential man; so it was easy for him to get permission to take charge of our Savior's body. As it was customary in those days among the Jews to embalm the body with spices and to wrap it in clean linens, Joseph prepared the body of our Lord accord- ingly. H e gave his own new monument as a burial place for our Savior. P U P I L Our Savior and Mother were poor. the Blessed T E A C H E R H o w did it happen that our Lord didn't have a sepulcher of His own? (Teacher should sup- plement answer.) I t was in t ru th said, "The Son of Man had not a place to lay His head." This was so in death as well as in life. If Joseph of Ari- mathea had not offered the use of his monument, our Lord's body 32 A ROSARY PROJECT would have been buried in a potter's field—a place provided for the poor. This was one ignominy which the Son of Man was spared. His final resting place had been hewn f rom living rock. N o other body had ever occupied it. T E A C H E R What precaution was taken to make sure that our Lord was really dead? Wha t was done with the bodies of the two thieves? P U P I L One of the soldiers pierced the sacred side with a lance and f rom the wound flowed blood and water. This indicated a rupture of the heart. I t can be t ruly said that the Son of God died of a broken heart. The bones of the legs were broken to hasten death; for the Jews did not want the bodies of the crucified to remain on the crosses over the Sabbath day. Teacher's note: Nicodemus was also secretly a follower of Our Lord. You remember that he brought one hundredweight of spices with which to embalm the sacred body. A f t e r this the tomb was sealed in such a way as to exclude all air. If our Lord had not really died on the cross, He would have died f rom suffocation in the sepulcher. T E A C H E R P U P I L I t is the basic thought under- lying the Resurrection. The mir- acle upon which our fai th rests is the Resurrection of Christ. Jesus had declared, "Destroy this tem- W h y is it necessary for us to pie and in three days I shall build prove that Christ really died? it up ." The Resurrection proved that He was t ruly God and that His promises would be fulfilled. Upon this great t ru th lies our belief in the resurrection of our own bodies. 33 A ROSARY PROJECT P U P I L Mary Magdalene and her com- panion wished to anoint the body of our Lord as a final act of love. Mary was perturbed, wondering how it would be possible to roll away the ponderous stone which helped keep the sepulcher closed. As she approached, she saw that the stone had already been re- moved and the seal placed upon the sepulcher had been broken. The tomb was empty and she cried, "They have taken m y Mas- ter away and I know not where they have laid H im. " Thereupon a figure of a young man clothed in white and shining like the sun appeared and spoke to her. (Read f rom the Sacred Scripture the account of the Resurrection in St. John, Chapter XX, verses 1-28, and St. Luke, Chapter XXIV, verses 1-12.) T E A C H E R P U P I L How long did our Savior re- main on earth af ter He arose f rom the dead? What do you think He did dur- ing that time? Yes, He visited the Apostles and taught them many things he wished them to know. (Read aloud St. John, Chapter 21, to 25th verse.) A f t e r the Resurrection what was the next great mystery? T E A C H E R H o w was the fac t of Our Sav- ior's Resurrection discovered? Forty days. He probably spent much of the time with the Blessed Mother and His disciples. The Ascension. 34 A ROSARY PROJECT T E A C H E R P U P I L How long after the Resurrec- tion did this take place? Forty days. Do you know where this event j n g e t j l a n y took place? Do you remember any promises our Savior made to the Apostles "If you ask anything in my during the days preceding His name, that will I do." passion? Let us read Chapter 14, St. John. W e learn that our Savior told the disciples H e was going away to prepare a place for them. He spoke of His death, of His resurrection, arid then there is a foretelling of His ascension. W h o were present when Jesus The Blessed Mother and the ascended into heaven? Apostles. As onlookers during the dreadful scenes of the passion, our hearts were lifted up to our Divine Redeemer. W e were moved to over- whelming sorrow at His agony and death. Now the Resurrection has been accomplished and we share the blessed companionship of Jesus, His holy Mother and the beloved disciples. We listen entranced to the heavenly words which flow f rom His lips and say over and over, "Stay with us, Lord." Our Savior smiles tenderly upon us. W e re- member that once H e said, " I go to prepare a place for you." The for ty days have passed and He must leave us. As we gaze upon Him, fearing to tu rn our heads lest we miss one gentle glance, one inflec- tioii of that sweet voice, our vision seems to blur, a mist enfolds the beloved fo rm—It ascends; like a cloud I t rises, higher and higher. We are transported by the beautiful sight; a feeling of exaltation lifts up our spirits. We continue to gaze even though all sign of our Savior has disappeared. Then two shining angels speak: " W h y stand you looking up to heaven?" (Acts of Apostles, Chapter I, verses 1-10- 11.) Remembering that last command to remain in Jerusalem, the disciples return to their abode and await the coming of the Paraclete, the Comforter , the Holy Ghost. H o w they miss the presence of our Blessed Lord! Mary is with them too and-she yearns to be united with her divine Son in heaven, bu t since it is the will of God that she remain here a while longer, it is her will too. 35 A ROSARY PROJECT T E A C H E R How long had the Blessed Mother and the Apostles to wait for the Holy Ghost? How was that time spent? (Teacher may explain that the Blessed Mother and the Apostles made the first no-vena at that time; also that a novena is a devotion consisting of a prayer or prayers said on nine successive days, asking for some special blessing.) What other event of great im- portance took place during these nine days? We have come to the third Glorious Mystery. Name it. Where were the Apostles on this day? How long after the Ascension did this happen? What name is given to this day? What does the word Pentecost signify? How did the Holy Ghost ap- pear? P U P I L Nine days. The holy women and the Apos- tles spent the hours in prayer, to be ready to receive the Holy Spirit. The eleven apostles chose Mat- thias to take the place left vacant by Judas. (Read Chapter I, Acts of the Apostles, 12-26.) The descent of the Holy Ghost. They were gathered in one place in Jerusalem. Ten days after the Ascension. Pentecost. It means the fiftieth day after the Resurrection. There was a sound as of a mighty wind, and then there ap- peared what seemed like tongues of fire which sat upon every one of them. All were filled with the Holy Ghost. 36 A ROSARY PROJECT T E A C H E R What effect did this have upon the Apostles? What other result followed? P U P I L Previous to the coming of the Holy Ghost they were fearful , timid men. Even Peter, who did t ruly love our Savior, had denied Him. N o w his fear was cast out. All spoke openly and bravely and with the voice of authority. The Apostles, speaking in their native tongue, could be under- stood by the Jews of other na- tions and of other tongues. (Read Chapter II, Acts of Apostles.) Just before the Last Supper, our Savior promised the Apostles that He would send them help, a comforter, one who would bring all things to their minds whatsoever H e had commanded. (Read Chap- ters XIV-XV, St. John.) The most bounteous gif ts of our Savior to the Apostles were made also to us. We share in all His promises to them. T E A C H E R What words tell us that the Holy Ghost is an inspirer? What does the word Paraclete mean? Then, if we do share in the gif ts of the Holy Ghost, what may we hope to receive f rom Him? To what Person of the Blessed Trini ty may we confidently tu rn when we must make an important decision? P U P I L Our Savior calls H i m the Spirit of T r u t h ; and again, " H e will teach you all things." (Chapter 14, verse 26, St. John.) Comforter. Inspiration, comfort , peace. To the Holy Ghost. 37 A ROSARY PROJECT T E A C H E R You remember the timidity of the Apostles previous to the com- ing of the Holy Ghost. Wi th what quality do you think they were imbued on Pentecost? To whom may we pray, then, in our own need of courage? P U P I L With courage. To the Holy Ghost. A t this time the words of the Vent Creator Spiritus both in Eng- lish and Latin, ought to form part of the morning exercises. The hymn might be sung. . The music should be that approved by the Church, preferably Gregorian chant. Allow pupils who have artistic ability to draw scenes on the blackboard. Hymns referring to the Resurrection found in the Roman Hymnal might well be taught here, preferably in Latin. The Terra tremuit is especially fine. We have been conscious all during the study of the previous mysteries of the very close union existing between the Blessed Mother and our Savior. This leads us to the Fourth Glorious Mystery. T E A C H E R What is the Fourth Glorious Mystery? Wha t does the word "assump- tion" mean? Wha t is the teaching of the Church on the fac t of the As- sumption? P U P I L The Assumption of our Lady. I t is the act of being taken up bodily into heaven. From Apostolic times it has been believed that the Blessed Mother died in fulfil lment of the edict passed upon all the human race, namely, death, bu t her body was not subject to corruption, since it had been the tabernacle of the Son of God. Actual separation of body and soul took place, but the stain of original sin had never violated the purity of her soul, and as a con- 38 A ROSARY PROJECT T E A C H E R Where do we secure foundation for the beliefs of our religion? W h a t is meant by tradition? In what way can we test the accuracy of tradition? P U P I L sequence her flesh was not subject to dissolution or decomposition. Furthermore the body of our Lady had t ruly furnished the physical elements necessary for the Incar- nation and so possessed a sacred- ness second only to the body of Christ. I t would be unseemly that Mary's body should be sub- ject to corruption. From the sacred Scriptures and f rom tradition. The deposit of fai th which was handed down f rom the Apostles to succeeding generations. I t con- tains many truths which were not recorded. Dur ing the time our Lord spent on earth af ter His resurrection He taught so many things to the Apostles (St. John says, Chapter XXI, verse 25) that innumerable books would be needed in which to inscribe all the t ruths which Christ had re- vealed to them. Our Savior promised that the Holy Ghost would teach the Apostles, and of course their suc- cessors, all truths. He declared that H e Himself would be with the Church and that the gates of hell should not prevail against it. Then, f rom earliest times, church- es of other rites than the Roman, for example the Greek, have cele- brated feasts which are not men- tioned in the Scripture, and among them is that of the As- sumption. 39 A ROSARY PROJECT In the ages when fai th was strongest, pictorial representations of t ruths were very common. Few people could read; yet they knew and understood the doctrines of the Church. Pictures of the Assump- tion appear in old missals, on walls of chapels, and on canvasses. (Read f rom the Daily Missal, Don Gasper Lefebure, O. S. B., Page 1585.) Pope Leo IV, in 847, instituted the Octave. The feast of the Assumption was solemnized in the East at the end of the sixth cen- tury, and in the seventh century it was solemnized in Rome. Reflection: W e can well imagine that earth held little for our Lady af ter the ascension of her Son and that her one desire was to be reunited with Him. Once our Savior said, " I will not leave you orphans," and promised the Holy Ghost. But He also left His Blessed Mother with St. J&hn and the other disciples, and her sweet presence must have been a holy comfort to them. In moments of discourage- ment her gentje words must indeed have spurred them on in their apostolic labors. Our Lady loved them dearly. She saw all their needs and pleaded for them, especially when she came into her kingdom as Queen of Heaven. What a royal welcome was hers when, af ter her death, her whole being, body and soul, became transfigured and was assumed into heaven! How her Son greeted her! The Holy Ghost, her true spouse, received her and the Heavenly Father glorified her. Angel choruses sang hymns of praise, and the glory of heaven was increased. She is no longer a Sorrowful Mother but our Lady of Victory. N o w we rejoice in her t r iumph in the F i f th Glorious Mystery. T E A C H E R What is the F i f th Mystery? Glorious What is the meaning of cor- onation? P U P I L The Coronation of the Blessed Mother. I t is the act of crowning. In earthly courts, when a king or queen assumes the dignity of kingship or queenship and becomes sovereign ruler, an elaborate cere- mony takes place during which the royal crowns are placed on the heads of the rulers. By this act all know that the crowned persons have authority to rule and are entitled t o respect and obedi- ence. 40 A ROSARY PROJECT If "eye hath not seen nor ear heard the things that God hath prepared for those that love H im," we can have only a hazy picture of the t r iumph of Our Lady and of Her unutterable joy. T E A C H E R P U P I L Because the mother of our Savior is our mother, too, and whatever touches her closely is of great importance to us. W e rejoice with her in her gladness as we commiserate with her in her sorrows on earth. Jesus Himself honors her and loves her above all other creatures. I t pleases Him when we pay homage to her, the W h y do we contemplate this Q u e e n o f H e ™ e n - A n d s i n , c e t f | particular mystery? l o v e s u s a n d h o l d s , s o f x a l t e d a position, we remember her great intercessory power. W e have in- deed a friend at court who will plead for us. Our Lady wants us to be saved and awaits us smil- ingly. I t is our blessed privilege to be presented to her one day before the throne of God. We shall join the host of angels sing- ing, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of Hosts." SUMMARY: Upon which of the Glorious Mysteries rests the foundation of our faith? W h y did the Holy Ghost descend upon the Apostles? By what authority do we declare our belief in the Assumption of our Blessed Mother? Note: The questions in the summary may be given as assign- ments for research work. APPENDIX 1 A Little More About Meditation To make the saying of the Rosary more f ru i t fu l , and to make contemplation easier, it is suggested that occasionally, outside the actual saying of the Rosary, we deliberately think over the various mysteries in a more or less formal way. W e cannot do this so well while actually saying the Rosary. Then it is that we wish to use the f ru i t of the meditation already made. The mind has gone over the matter well, easily recalls i t ; the heart has more of an opportunity to appreciate the scene we are contemplating. Suppose that we were to consider the Annunciation, the first of the Joyful Mysteries. Our procedure might be about as follows: 1. Read the Scriptural account of the Annunciation in the first chapter of St. Luke's gospel. 2. T r y to form a definite mental picture of the little cottage, the very room, the Blessed Virgin at prayer, the Angel Gabriel appearing to her. 3. Ask God for an increase of knowledge and love of our Lord and His Blessed Mother, so that we may be a bit closer to them in all our actions. 4. Then we t ry to make our own contemplation, seeing the PERSONS concerned; the Blessed Virgin and the angel, par- ticularly appreciating who they are, what they have done before this, what there was about the Blessed Virgin Mary that pleased God. J. Then, listening to the WORDS, just as if we were right there ourselves, hear the conversation, the way they speak, their wonder, or joy, or excitement, trying always to realize prayer- ful ly what it is all about. 6. Then observe the A C T I O N S of those concerned, the posture of prayer, the modesty, the humility, reverence, the look of wonder at the appearance of the angel, any gestures, or what- ever else we may know or may reasonably picture to have gone on. W e could spend considerable time on each mystery. W e see how to recall the scene and make it vivid and clear. The understanding grasps partially the full significance of the scene; the salutation; the humility of the Blessed Virgin; her ready acceptance of the divine plan, once she is assured that she can keep her virginal puri ty; the operation of the ~Holy Ghost; the awesomeness of i t all; our Savior made man; and such kindred thoughts. Above all we should strive for a prayerful realization of what this means to us. I t is, so to speak, the heart using all these faculties that the whole man may love God more. APPENDIX 2 The Use of Art The proposed lessons on the mysteries of the Rosary can bè made much morè profitable by the use of pictures representing^ the scenes of the mysteries as painted by famous artists. Titian, Delia Robbia, Murillo, Corregip, .Rubens,, Velasquez, Luini, Fra Angelico are just a few of the great' masters who have done remarkably fine work in depicting religious subjects. .1. Students will begin research work in an easy and delightful , manner. 2. They will become accustomed to helping themselves in their . own mental development. 3. Another?avenue to the mind will be opened up by means of visualization. 4. A study of the great masters will help form the judgment for artistic appreciation and cultivate thé taste for what is noble in conception and beautiful in representation. 5. There will be an increase in the spirit of reyerënçe for the t ruths of our priceless faith. J .«. •» 6. A greater love for our Lord and His Blessed Mother will rpsult. 7. The mind, being filled with what is beautiful, will have little ' " : * room for that "which is ugly. Excellent colored prints can be obtained f rom the .following sources: The Queen's Work, 3742 West Pine Blvd.. St. Louis, Mo. Art Extension Society, 65 East 56th St., New York City Elson A r t Publishing Co., Belmont, Mass. The Medici Prints, Foster Brothers, 4 Park Square, Boston, Mass.' F. W . Owen Publishing Co., Dansville, New York Perry Picture Co., Maiden, Mass. Students will enjoy having small prints or even colored post cards, which can be obtained f rom the Metropolitan Museum of Art , New York City. A note book can be made of manila paper. Let each student mount a picture on the upper half of the page and underneath it paste two neatly writ ten paragraphs, one giving the name of the artist, the location of the original, what the artist is trying to tell and how he achieves his purpose; the second giving the points learned about the particular mystery represented. I t would be well to encourage students t o ' s t u d y plain block lettering to use for this work. Alphabet books can be secured at the public library. Colored ink would add to the attractiveness df the page- Since at least nine different artists have depicted the story of the first Holy Night , or, as it is sometimes called, The Nativi ty, no two students need have picture books alike. Learning the prayers in Latin is to be highly commended. I t is t ruly awe-inspiring to hear a whole congregation chanting the Credo in a European cathedral or in the solemn procession at Lourdes. Since Latin is the language of the Church and the medium by which the Holy Father speaks to the whole world, it is all the more desirable that Catholics should have familiarity with it. Memorization through singing is the easiest possible way to learn the formal vocal prayers of the Rosary in Latin. Furthermore, the pure and sonorous tone of the vowel sounds will assist the singer in acquiring a fine voice production and a clear, distinct enunciation, not only in singing but' in speaking. An old French priest once declared, " H e who sings, prays twice." The Roman hymnal and the St. Gregory hymnal contain excellent examples of church music. The Pius X School of Liturgical Music, College of The Sacred Heart , 133rd Street and Convent Avenue, New York City, can give information about the correct type of music to be used for religious purposes. Excellent records of Gregorian chant as sung by the Benedictine Monks of Solemnes can now be obtained for victrolas. Frequent play- ing of these records will train the ear to an appreciation of rich, beautiful, flowing sound and convince the student of the rightness of this kind of setting for the prayers of the Church. Since most people like the music which they learn in childhood, the taste for fine music should be cultivated at an early age. The human voice is one of God's greatest gif ts and should be used to His honor and glory. T o make it raucous by singing wretched music and by the improper placing of tone is to defeat its purpose and to abuse a noble gif t . Ar t should be the handmaid of religion. I t was through art in painting, sculpture, mosaics, stained glass, architecture, poetry, drama and l i turgy that the Church taught her children so effectively before the advent of the printing press. I t fulfilled a noble purpose. I t should continue to do so. Throughout the lessons, references to Holy Scripture have f re- quently been made. If possible, every student should own a copy of the N e w Testament. Cheap copies are obtainable, bu t we do not recommend them. Since the book is expected to give long, hard service, the best one can afford should be secured. The wri t ten word of God deserves a place of beauty as well as of permanency. Graduates asso- ciate tender memories with the books they have used during their school days. This, in addition to the reverence we should have for the word of God, will induce students t o purchase a Bible that is beautiful in s tructure and with print that is easy to read. If every student can have a Bible it would be most advantageous to give the references mentioned in the lessons and let the class read them. This would be fa r more beneficial than for the teacher alone I to do the reading. Of course, for the teacher to read aloud while the class is reading silently will have the advantage of using two avenues of approach to the mind, hearing and sight. Every medium through which the soul can be brought closer to God and His holy mother should be used. The Church has be- queathed to us a rich heritage of culture. Let us take advantage of it. Let noble sculpture, fine pictures and inspiring music draw us nearer to heaven. APPENDIX 3 Outline for Project on the Rosary Lesson I. Introduction. Explanation of the beads. Difference between formal and informal vocal prayer. II. Joyful Mysteries. III. Sorrowful Mysteries. IV. Glorious Mysteries. V. Proper Way to Say the Rosary. VI. Question Box. Children bring in questions. Teacher answers those which class cannot explain. VII. Oral reading of stories and poems about the Blessed Mother. The teacher will supply these stories and poems. Their purpose is to enkindle devotion to the Blessed Mother. VIII. Let students bring in poems and stories found in maga- zines or anthologies in which references to the Blessed Mother are reverently made. Encourage students to get all possible information f rom the public library. In all large cities the public libraries maintain a readers' bureau which will secure books on any subject. This service is given graciously and without cost. Catholic students should be encouraged to take advantage of this service. Incidentally, they will be participating in one form of "Catholic Action." Official Sodality Supplies Sodal i ty Manua l s a n d Booklets Each Per 100 M a n u a l (Father Garesche's) (#4.50 a dozen) . #0.50 #33.00 Sodality Rules. 07 5.50 A. B. C. of Sodality Organiza t ion 10 7.00 Sequel to the A. B. 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