What the Rosary means to me ... 9

When I was growing up in the south of Ireland the rosary, as a form of private and communal prayer, was a part of everyday life. It was still common to see elderly people on buses or trains praying the rosary. In churches it was also common to see people praying the rosary on their own, or in groups. As a child I would have learned this prayer from my grandmother, for whom it was her main devotion. This was the way I first learned about the main events in Jesus' earthly life, from his birth to his resurrection. I was taught to pray over these events with Mary, his mother and mine.

During funerals in Ireland the rosary is a prominent prayer. It is prayed at the wake, when the dead person is brought to the church, and finally at the graveside. At these moments of sadness and heartbreak we remembered that Jesus went through the pain of death, and Mary wept over him, just as the mourners are weeping at that moment. Before my grandmother died, two years ago, I was with her in her final hours, and I got the chance to pray the rosary with her for the last time. Fighting back the tears, we prayed the five sorrowful mysteries. I am very grateful that I had the chance to pray for the last time with the woman who had taught me how to pray, and in the following months it was a very consoling memory.

Whenever I pray this beautiful prayer I recall the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and also my loved one who has died, and who I hope to see again. In this prayer we learn that in our lives we will have sorrowful moments as well as joyful ones. We hope that by following Christ as faithfully as we can we will come to the glory he has promised us.