Hail MaryFull of Grace

Autumn 2010

Group Reflections on Mary, Mother of God

• Opening prayers• Small communities, small groups• Tea break• The six weeks of Hail Mary, Full of

Grace• Read, follow and join• Prayer for the season

Running Order

Short video of the MagnificatAngelus (p.55 of Hail Mary, Full of

Grace)

Opening Prayers

What are we doing right to support you?

What more can we do?What works in your parish?Where do you want your group to go?

small groups

Hail, Mary• With the gospel passage from Luke1:26-

38 this session could easily be used on the feast of the Assumption.

• Focuses on how we relate to Mary.• Does she play a role in our personal

faith?• Vital role in the life of the Church and her

son!

Session one

Full of grace• Scripture passage is taken from the

second story of Genesis.• Focuses on Mary’s use of her free will.• Asks us to examine our own lives in

terms of impediments to God’s light and in terms of the joys we have experienced once God is let in.

Session two

The Lord is with thee• Scripture is the crucifixion narrative from

John.• Looks at the difficulties Mary must have

faced despite the Lord’s clear concern.• The life of a disciple of Christ is not free

from suffering and pain.• What difficulties have we suffered for our

faith?

Session three

Blessed art thou amongst women• Scripture Luke 1:39-56 Magnificat,

ideal for the feast of the Visitation.• Mary’s blessings owing to her trust.

Trust and love as antidote to world-weary cynicism.

• Reminds of Christ her son, who repeatedly saw the best in humanity.

Session four

Blessed is the fruit of thy womb• Reading from the Book of Revelation• Mary as the new Ark of the Covenant,

bringing the Word into the word• Reflect on our own role as Christ-

bearers in terms of the message (good news/gospel) we hear and know and in terms of our reception of the eucharist

Session five

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us• Scripture is from John – wedding at Cana• A simple message of Mary’s role as

intercessor, looking out for the couple, looking out for us.

• Examine as a group what Christ is ‘telling us to do’ – how can we live Christian lives individually, as a group and as a Catholic community in Britain today.

Session six

As well as the six sessions for groups this booklet also contains:

• Outlines to Papal documents on Mary• Prayers and quotes (which can be used to

illustrate the group sessions) - supplement

• Information on shrines and the Church’s year

• A section on the Rosary and a bibliography

Additional materials

• Our diocesan shrine• Oldest place of dedicated

honour to Our Lady in England

• Group pilgrimages?

• NB Walsingham celebrating 950 years in 2010

Our Lady of Willesden

The current plan for Lent 2011 is a booklet on the Mass and the Eucharist more generally (similar in theme to Sharing In His Life yet different in terms of content). This is part of our plans to support the ‘Year of the Mass’

Two further resources are in early draft form and are awaiting approval

Future booklets

For additional reflections visit our blog:dowsmallgroups.wordpress.comFor short questions on the Sunday

gospel:twitter.com/dowsmallgroupsFor the latest newsletters and news:facebook.com/dowsmallgroups

Read, follow and join

Father, source of light in every age,The Virgin conceived and bore your SonWho is called Wonderful God, Prince of

Peace.May her prayer, the gift of a mother’s love,Be your people’s joy through the ages.May her response, born of a humble heart,Draw your spirit to rest on your people.Grant this through Christ our Lord.Amen.

Prayer for the season