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Hail Mary, Full of Grace!
by Steven Ellair

When I was in fourth grade, I accepted a challenge posed to us by our catechist to memorize all the books of the Old Testament. Not realizing that she didn’t really expect any of us to accomplish such a task, but rather wanted us to at least look and familiarize ourselves with the books, I immediately went home and began creating a song by which I could commit all the books to memory. Imagine her surprise when I showed up the next week ready to demonstrate my mastery of the list of the forty-six Old Testament books!

My prize, other than the satisfaction of having accomplished such a feat and having created a song by which I could entertain and impress dinner guests for years to come, was a glow-in-the-dark rosary. As funny as this might first appear, it would end up being the rosary with which I would develop a deep and lasting prayer life and a real understanding of Mary and her role in my own life and the life of the Church. It would be the prayer that comforted me when faced with a serious illness in later childhood; it would be the prayer of peace for me throughout junior high and high school when life seemed confused and tumultuous; it would anchor me in my faith during my college years; and it would even lead me to question the possibility of a vocation to religious life.

The rosary is not a prayer of the past or a prayer reserved for adults. It is a prayer for all the Church. It assists us in meditating on the mysteries of Christ and reminds us of Mary’s intercession and role as the Church’s model of faith and love.

During this month of May, let us renew our catechesis on Mary and Marian devotion (encouraged in the General Directory for Catechesis 196) and invigorate our classrooms with all forms of prayer. Children often relate well to Mary as mother, as one who cares and prays for all, so our focus during this month and throughout the year can continue to build on this important understanding. With Mary as our guide to following Jesus, her son, we can all be strengthened in faith and encouraged in our saying yes to the Father’s will.