An Honor Mary Table

My fifth and sixth grade daughters were fascinated by the story of Bernadette and Lourdes. They loved to hear me tell the story of how the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette in the small town of Lourdes. Unfortunately, a trip to Lourdes was not financially possible for my husband and me and our two daughters and baby son.

We were able, however, to set up a table in our dining room and place a statue of Mary on it. My daughters decorated the table with flowers. Then, Becky came home from religion class with a project to help the children understand each decade of the Rosary. Becky gave us each a copy of the paper. The different decades of the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary were written on the paper.

During the month of May we would gather as a family after dinner. Each night we would think about one decade of the Rosary. Each family member was allowed to explain their decade of the Rosary in whatever way they wished.

It was such a wonderful experience. Becky played the Angel Gabriel who announced "Hail Full of Grace" to Mary (her younger sister Marie).

My husband's description of the death of Jesus on the cross brought tears to my eyes.

After the presentation of the day's decade of the Rosary, we prayed that decade. It was a beautiful prayer and I feel that my children learned the true meaning of the Rosary.

The Five Joyful Mysteries
1.The Annunciation
2.The Visitation
3.The Birth of Jesus
4.The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
5.The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries
1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus

The Glorious Mysteries
1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Holy Spirit Comes Upon the Apostles
4. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
5. The Coronation of Mary in Heaven