SAINT ANNE (THE MOTHER OF OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARAY) AND HER PARISH OF SAINT ANNE IN RICHMOND HILL, GEORGIA, CELEBRATED THE FEAST OF THE HOLY ROSARY LAST NIGHT

When I was at St. Joseph Church in Macon, we had a yearly tradition of celebrating the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary as a Rosary sometime close to the actual date of October 7th. I always asked that the Second Graders preparing for First Penance and First Holy Communion to attend along with their parents as well as the 8th graders preparing for Confirmation. We usually had many others attending also.

This is what I wrote on my blog in a 2011 post about this event:

NO ONE WAS EMBARRASSED BY THE CELEBRATION OF OUR STRONG CATHOLIC IDENTITY THROUGH THE POPULAR DEVOTIONS OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY AND BENEDICTION

Last night we had our normal weekly Wonderful Wednesday parish supper with our social hall being filled to capacity (more came than we expected in other words) followed by our annual celebration of the Most Holy Rosary with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament:

Many comments afterwards sounded like this: "Father, you can't get anymore Catholic than this" and "thanks Father for giving us our Catholic identity back and sharing it with our children!"

Implicit in these very powerful statements is that many of us were made to feel uncomfortable and embarrassed about loving these sorts of popular devotions and making them integral to our Catholicism. That is so very sad!



Thus last night, we had St. Anne's first annual celebration of the Holy Rosary. We had a very good turn out as we have CCD for our middle and high school each Wednesday night and thus they came over too!

Sadly, unlike Macon where Dr. Buck Milton's hobby was to document events like this through photography which I could then use on my blog, I haven't found a willing volunteer here to do that. So Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, help me out!

Order of Solemn Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament

And

Solemn Recitation of the Holy Rosary

Feast of the Holy Rosary, October 11, 2017

Ave Maria (please kneel) Children preparing for First Holy Communion process with flower for our Blessed Mother.

Solemn Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament: O Salutaris (Hymnal #564, Latin)

The Holy Rosary:

(Priest): In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Apostle’s Creed:

(Priest):I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ,
 His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
 born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

(All): I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

The Our Father

(Priest): Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

(All): Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The Hail Mary

(Priest): Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

(All): Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death. Amen.

The Glory Be

(Priest):GLORY BE to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

(All): As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

All after each Glory be: O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy.

SIT for the announcing of the Mystery and the singing of the hymn, KNEEL for the decades of the Rosary.

First Joyful Mystery—Annunciation and reflection read by: Joseph Suhr

The First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation

The account of the Annunciation is one of the most awe inspiring and mysterious Biblical accounts.

Just imagine a young Jewish woman, pure and beautiful receives a most noble heavenly visitor, the Archangel Gabriel. Who is delivering a message that is even more amazing!

• Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High.

Marian Hymn: Gentle Woman, #481 (verse 1)

First decade

Second Joyful Mystery—Visitation and reflection read by:  Mattie Gros

The Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation of Mary

The Visitation of Mary, the most touching example of "love thy neighbor"

Mary disregards herself and immediately goes to the aid of her cousin who is in need. Mary knew Elizabeth needed her assistance. From this story, The Visitation of Mary, you can learn two things.

• First, that Mary will promptly assist you in your times of need.
• And secondly, that you should imitate Mary's example here by serving others.

 

Marian Hymn: Sing We of the Blessed Mother, #475, (verses 1 and 4)

Second decade

Third Joyful Mystery—Nativity and reflection read by: Lauren Peters

The Third Joyful Mystery: The Nativity - Jesus Birth

The Nativity - birth of Jesus, is the joy of the first Christmas and is the focus of the third Joyful mystery of the rosary.

The word Nativity brings to mind a Virgin wrapping her Child in swaddling clothes and laying Him in a manger, shepherds and angels, three kings coming from the east and the words "no room in the inn."
 

Marian Hymn: Song of Mary, #482, (verses 1 and 5)

Third decade

Fourth Joyful Mystery—Presentation and reflection read by: Sarah Hungerford

The Fourth Joyful Mystery: Presentation of Jesus

In this Joyful Scriptural mystery, the Presentation of Jesus in the temple, Simeon is filled with joy as he holds the baby Jesus.

The Joyful Mysteries are called such because they are filled with joyous events.

And yet this Joyful mystery of the rosary is also interlaced with a bit of sorrow as Simeon reveals to Mary a prophecy concerning her and the Child.

Marian Hymn: Mary’s Song, #480, (verses 1,2 and 3)

Fourth decade

Fifth Joyous Mystery—Finding in the temple and reflection, read by:  Rachel Rey

The Fifth Joyful Mystery: Finding Jesus In The Temple

Can you imagine the immense joy, after finding Jesus in the temple, Mary and Joseph had!

At twelve years old, the knowledge Jesus possessed greatly astounded the learned men and Pharisees.

They sat captivated by His answers and His vast wisdom.

Mary and Joseph were surprised and confounded when they finally found Him after three agonizing days just sitting there and conversing with the "doctors".

Marian Hymn: Sing of Mary, #472, (verses 1 and 2)

Fifth decade

(All): Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile show us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

(Priest): Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.  

(All): That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Brief Homily: Fr. Allan (Sit)

Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament (Kneel)

Tantum Ergo: Hymnal: #138 in Latin

Prayer

Blessing

Divine Praises (Repeat after priest)

Reposition

Recessional: Hymn: Holy God, We praise Thy Name, #566, verses 1 and 4 (Stand)