The Standard Way of the Rose Meeting Script
[NOTE: Different groups may choose to reorganize the order of these components, but we ask that none of them be omitted.]
Hello! My name is _____________ and I will be your host for today/tonight’s meeting of the Way of the Rose.
Would someone be willing to read our Group Description?
The Way of the Rose is an open-hearted, inclusive community of beings dedicated to the forgotten Earth wisdom of the rosary…and to the Lady, by any name you like to call Her. We are not affiliated with the Catholic Church or any other religious institution. Nor do we seek to build a new one. We have no dues or fees, no buildings to maintain or capital campaigns. We pass the hat from time to time for our modest needs. There are no priests or levels of mastery. Instead of lineages of power, we value circles of friendship. We support one another in praying for our heart’s desire.
Every rosary circle honors the Five Petals of the Wild Rose. Would anyone be willing to read them?
- FIRST PETAL—WOTR circles are free. We may pass the hat to cover special expenses, but no contribution will ever be required. WOTR has no dues or fees for membership.
- SECOND PETAL—WOTR circles are inclusive. Everyone is welcome at every meeting. We have affinity meetings but these circles are open. Anyone may attend.
- THIRD PETAL—WOTR circles pray the rosary or a chaplet. We may adapt these or modify them for the purpose of a meeting, but the focus of our fellowship remains on Our Lady and Her beads.
- FOURTH PETAL—WOTR circles are places to pray for our heart’s desire. We do not support outside causes—religious, political, humanitarian, or otherwise—that might divert us from our own petitions.
- FIFTH PETAL—WOTR circles are leaderless. A member may sponsor a meeting, but there are no teachers, experts, or authorities. Once a meeting format has been established, any member may lead it.
Does anyone have a Message from Our Lady of Woodstock they would like to share? Early messages are included in the book The Way of the Rose. All other messages can be found on the website at wayoftherose.org
We will need five volunteers for today’s rosary. Today we are praying the [Joyful/Sorrowful/Glorious] Mysteries. Participants are welcome to make the prayers their own, and you will hear different versions of the Hail Mary and the Our Father, but we do remind you that the rosary consists of some recognizable form of these two prayers.
[Ask for volunteers.]
After we finish saying the rosary, we will invite participants to share their novena petition or their heart’s desire. Then we will acknowledge the presence of the Dead among us. Who would volunteer to lead us in the Prayers for the Dead?
[The rosary is said.]
Before we begin our petitions, I would like to remind everyone that:
- Everything shared here is confidential.
- We do not offer each other advice or commentary on our petitions but simply bear witness to each other’s hearts.
- While we may have many personal petitions in our daily rosary, at our meetings we ask that each participant focus on their current novena petition or heart’s desire.
[Petitions are offered.]
We now acknowledge the presence of the Dead—our ancestors, our saints and anyone on the other side we love.
[Calling in the Dead]
It is now time for Prayers for the Dead.
[One Our Father and ten Hail Marys, ending with the Memorare.]
Thank you everyone. This concludes our meeting. Does anyone have any news or miracles to share?