Hail Mary, full of Grace. Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy.

These are both the beginning of Marian prayers and call on Mary, God's mother and our mother to intercede for us.  

This Term, both Year 5 and Year 6 have been investigating the Fertile Question; Why do we Pray to Mary?  Each student has explored the role Mary plays in the Gospels and in our faith.  We have discovered that she was only very young when the angel visited her to announce that she would be the mother of Jesus, the mother of God.  She was a very holy woman and had in fact, spent much of her life living in a temple.  It is no surprise then that Mary was chosen to bear God in human form, sent to save all on earth.

Both teachers and students alike have loved studying this unit.  It has given us the opportunity to remember and even fall in love with traditional Catholic prayers like the Hail Mary and The Magnificat. We have learnt the gospel stories on which they are based. Classes have been learning the history of and praying the Rosary.  We have discovered that it is actually a form of meditation. The highlight has been having the opportunity to make our own set of Rosary beads in the form of a decade.  Much reflection took place as classes engaged in this practical conclusion to the unit.

Lets hope we can pass on our renewed love of Mary to others.