Make the Rosary as participative as possible. Appoint various people in advance to do the reading with each decade. Choose someone to lead in the hymn. Various groups can lead each decade. Example, The family members for one; The relatives for another; or neighbours or SCC members etc.
Greeting
Dear friends, we have gathered here together to bid farewell to ______________________. We are here also to pray that our good Lord may give you, the near and dear ones of ___________________ the strength to bear this temporary separation.
Reflection
We remember that where two or three gather together in Jesus' name, he assures us that he is present with them. We believe that Jesus is here with us now as we pray for ____________________.
The rosary is like an immense chain of love and prayers with which we are able to encircle persons and situations, and even to influence the events of our day.
Every time we pray the Hail Mary, we ask Mother Mary to pray for us NOW and at the hour of our death. We believe that Mary hears our prayer with every ‘Hail Mary’ so that when our time comes to leave this world and go to the Father, her Son Jesus will greet us by saying to us:
“Come, you blessed of my Father, come and possess the Kingdom which has been prepared for you, ever since the foundation of the world” (Mt 5:34)Your content goes here...
Opening Hymn
(choose one from the booklet)
1. The Apostle’s Creed
2. Pray 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys and 1 Glory Be.
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, the things God has prepared for those who love him.” - 1 Cor. 2:9
1. The First Joyful Mystery
The Joy of the Virtuous Soul
Reflection
This first reading from the Book of Wisdom speaks of the joy and the destiny of the virtuous soul. It assures us that those who have lived their lives as faithful children of God will live with him forever in his love.
Scripture Reading
Read Wisdom 3:1-9
This is the Word of the Lord
ALL: Thanks be to God.
Pray: 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys and 1 Glory Be.
Leader: Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord.
ALL : And let perpetual light shine upon him/her
Leader: May he/she rest in peace
ALL : Amen.
(This is said after each decade)
2. The Second Joyful Mystery
The Joy of Life without End.
Reflection
This reading from the First letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians assures us that we are created and destined for eternal life, that is, life with God forever and ever.
Scripture Reading
Read from 1 Thes. 4:13 - 17
Pray: 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys and 1 Glory Be.
Leader: Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord.…..
3. The Third Joyful Mystery
The Joy of Knowing that through Believing in Jesus, We will live forever.
Reflection
In this reading from the Gospel of St. John, Jesus himself assures us that all those who believe in him will live forever.
Scripture Reading
Read from John 11:21 – 27
Pray: 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys and 1 Glory Be.
Leader: Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord.…..
4. The fourth Joyful Mystery
The Joy of Union with Jesus Forever
Reflection
In this reading from St. John’s Gospel, Jesus assures us that, when we receive holy communion, we really receive his body and blood. Through holy communion, the risen Christ becomes for us the food of eternal life. “Whoever eats this bread will live forever”.
Scripture Reading
Read from John 6:51 - 57
Pray: 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys and 1 Glory Be.
Leader: Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord.…..
5. The Fifth Joyful Mystery
The Joy of Hearing Jesus Calling the Virtuous Soul into Life Everlasting with Him.
Reflection
The reading which follows reminds us that those who believe in Jesus, who accept his Word and who act upon it will be saved and will live forever with God. A word of Jesus heard and relished with love, gives new life to the hearer, the very life of God himself.
Scripture Reading
Read from John 5: 24 - 29
Pray: 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys and 1 Glory Be.
Leader: Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord.…..
Litany
O God of love, you love both the living and the dead with an immense, compassionate love. We join with all the angels and saints in heaven in praising your glory now as we pray with them:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes In the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
After every invocation, let us pray: “PRAY FOR _________________________”
Holy Mother of God, refuge of sinners. R/-
Saint Joseph, patron of a happy death. R/-
All you holy apostles and martyrs, who gave your life for Christ. R/-
All you holy women and men known and unknown. R/-
All you holy labourers, who worked hard while on this earth. R/-
All you holy housewives, whose every day work on earth was a service of love and devotion. R/-
All you holy fathers and mothers, who sacrificed so much for your families while you were on earth. R/-
All you holy priest and holy religious, who served God faithfully on earth. R/-
All you holy people, who loved God greatly while on earth. R/-
All you holy Christians, who faithfully followed Jesus on earth. R/-
All you holy people from our parish, our neighbours and our friends who have gone before us into heaven. R/-
Prayer of Thanksgiving.
O loving Father in heaven, we thank you that you created us for eternal life. We know that our beloved ______________ is with you now, enjoying and delighting in your love forever.
We thank you for his/her life on earth and for all the good things he/she did throughout his/her life.
We willingly surrender __________________ into yours hands now and forever, O God, our loving Father. May he/she rest in your peace forever.
We ask your peace and strength for all those who mourn his/her departure from this life and who will miss hem/her greatly. Help them who mourn his/her departure to find encouragement in your Word and to deepen and renew their hope in their own resurrection some day.
We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus who has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us too with you forever. Amen.
Hymn
Choose an appropriate hymn for this booklet.
Blessing
Leader:
Do not be afraid, For the Father loves and cares for us.
Do not be afraid, for Jesus Christ walks by our side.
Do not be afraid, for the Holy Spirit gives us courage.
Do not be afraid, for we are in God’s hands.
Go now and face the future with hope
Trust in God’s love
Proclaim His goodness
Bear witness to Jesus His Son,
Be guided by the Holy Spirit.
May Almighty God bless us all,
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.