The Isle of Inisfree has always been one of my favourite songs. I especially love the beginning of the closing verse where the man recalls his home and “the folks I love” gathered around the fireplace where “on bended knee their Rosary is told”. Not prayed, said, recited but “told”. I think it is such an accurate verb to take us to the heart of the Rosary for, at best, it is telling us the story – the Sacred Story – of Christ from the moment of Annunciation to Resurrection and Ascension. The story of our Faith is contained within the fifteen and now twenty mysteries of the Rosary
Joyful Mystery of the Rosary
Monday & Saturday
- The Annunciation of the Lord to Mary
- The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
- The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ
- The Presentation of our Lord
- Finding Jesus in the Temple at age 12
Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary
Tuesday & Friday
- The Agony of Jesus in the Garden
- The Scourging at the Pillar
- Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
- Jesus Carried the Cross
- The Crucifixion of our Lord
Glorious Mystery of the Rosary
Wednesday & Sunday
- The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
- The Ascension of Jesus to Heaven
- The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles
- The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
- Mary is Crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Luminous Mystery of the Rosary
Thursday
- The Baptism in the Jordan
- The Wedding at Cana
- The Proclamation of the Kingdom
- The Transfiguration
- The Institution of the Eucharist
(Courtesy of www.catholic.org)
Last Sunday evening we had a lovely gathering in Kilmovee Church. It was a sort of last minute decision but one I’m glad was made. Placing chairs at the front of the Altar and creating something of “fireside” we invited some parishioners to take their place kneeling at the chair as would have been done in countless homes. Each took a turn in leading us through a “decade” of the Rosary.
It truly was special. Meeting one of our older parishioners afterwards, he said: “that brought me back years”. I’m fairly sure there was a tear in his eye as he said these words. I believe he was brought back to a good place.
As we come towards the end of October may we do all in our power to keep “telling the story” and gathering around the fireside in prayer, friendship and memory.
“Our Lady of The Rosary. Pray for us”.
Isle of Innisfree
Author: words & music by Dick Farrelly
Copyright: Peter Maurice Music/EMI Music
These are the correct words given to me by Dick Farrelly’s son Gerard
I’ve met some folks who say that I’m a dreamer
And I’ve no doubt there’s truth in what they say
But sure a body’s bound to be a dreamer
When all the things he loves are far away.
And precious things are dreams onto an exile
They take him o’er the land across the sea
Especially when it happens he’s an exile
From that dear lovely Isle of Innisfree.
And when the moonlight peeps across the rooftops
Of this great city wondrous tho’ it be
I scarcely feel its wonder or its laughter
I’m once again back home in Innisfree.
I wander o’er green hills thro’ dreamy valleys
And find a peace no other land could know
I hear the birds make music fit for angels
And watch the rivers laughing as they flow.
And then into a humble shack I wander
My dear old home, and tenderly behold
The folks I love around the turf fire gathered
On bended knees their rosary is told.
But dreams don’t last
Tho’ dreams are not forgotten
And soon I’m back to stern reality
But tho’ they paved the footways here with gold dust
I still would choose the Isle of Innisfree.
Theme of the film “The Quiet Man”
It is the melody and not the words that feature in the film.