1000 Hail Mary's a week for the four weeks of Advent

Sister had just put out the challenge, and my fifth grade classmates quickly try to figure out the best way to meet the challenge. Doing a little bit of math, we calculated three rosaries a day, for six days, and two rosaries on the Sunday would make up 1000 Hail Mary's!

Sister agreed, that was an excellent way to keep track of your thousand Hail Mary's. She then reminded us to meditate on each of the mysteries of the rosary.

The Joyful Mysteries: The Incarnation, Mary's Fiet "Behold the maid servant of the Lord! Let it be done to me according to your word." Remembering Jesus's early life.

The Sorrowful Mysteries: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Jesus's suffering and death so "that the world through Him might be saved."

The Glorious Mysteries: Jesus's Glorious Resurrection. The wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit to the church on Pentecost, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to me... to the end of the earth." The coronation of Mary beside Jesus and God the Father in heaven.

Oh Sister was very clever. She was really asking us to: Stop. Reflect. Ponder. In the hustle and bustle of pre-Christmas she was directing us to take time in Advent to realize the true gift, Jesus, the Christ Child. Looking at His entire life on earth, on a daily basis, we would realize His unconditional love; His gift of eternal life to us. Sister was teaching the discipline of daily prayer, answering Jesus's question, "Won't you spend one hour with me?" This holy Advent Season, slow down. Take time to ponder with Mary. "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoices in God my Savior.... For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name."

-Rose Masterson