A Way of the Rose Circle
All you need to start a circle is a friend or family member who wants to pray the rosary with you. It is best to keep it all simple and modest. Twelve-step meeting rooms are often available for other purposes and sometimes bookstores and churchs will have rooms that can be rented cheaply. You can meet in your own home but then that makes you very responsible for the group. You can meet outside if weather permits. The important thing is to find our what works for you and your community.
Below is the format we have developed over the past few years that allows for every voice to be heard.
- We sit in a circle, and the only requirement for membership is a willingness to pray the rosary for our heart’s desire and support others in doing the same.
- We begin each meeting by briefly sharing our stories—our experiences of prayer, of the mysteries, or of Our Lady—limiting each share to 3 minutes.
- We pray the rosary out loud together, reciting its words in unison. Individual members are invited to follow their conscience with regard to the precise wording of the prayers. This need not affect the overall harmonizing of the groups’ recitation.
- After the Hail Holy Queen, we take turns sharing our petitions for our hearts’ desires. As each person finishes praying, we recite a Hail Mary together.
- When the petitions are done, we invite the dead by name to join our circle—loved ones who have recently passed on, or those who have come to mind during the rosary. We then pray an additional “Decade for the Dead” of one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and a Glory Be.
- At the conclusion of the Decade for the Dead, we stand, join hands, and recite the Memorare.
- At the close of each meeting, we make announcements and pass the hat, if necessary, to cover rent for our meeting space. Key holders and treasurers are service positions that rotate regularly. Our groups have no leaders, only spiritual friends.