The rosary is a very old way of praying. People used the beads to remind them of the stories of Jesus' life long before they could read the bible for themselves. Rosary beads come from a time when people remembered and repeated stories because books were only found in monasteries and the houses of very important people.

The Holy Rosary is the story of the life of Jesus and Mary- a mother looking back on the events in her son's life. When we say the prayers over and over again we move into a state of contemplation or reflection- the prayers are so familiar to us and the rhythm of the words become a chant which keeps us focused on the events in the life of Mary and Jesus which contain the foundations of our faith.

People say parts of the rosary day to day or on special occasions - often the night before a funeral when we gather together to support each other through our grief.

Many families have lost the practice of saying the rosary together - it's hard to convince children to put down their devices and to sit and meditate. Prayer and meditation are very good antidotes to anxiety.

As part of this month's focus on prayer the teachers are encouraging children to learn about the rosary and to start practicing in their classrooms. 

When Father Stuart left our school at the end of Term 2 he carried a lovely set of rosary beads with him, a gift from us all.

This month each child will receive a set of rosary beads to help them concentrate as they pray. Many people use beads to help them keep count of their prayers - Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims. By learning about the way people pray our children are connecting the physical with the spiritual.