Join Archbishop John Wilson in praying for life this May
Rosary for Life
Pray the rosary. Encounter Christ. Defend life.
Archbishop John calls on us to join him this May (Month of Mary) in praying for an end to abortion, for peace, for people with disabilities, the elderly and the vulnerable.
All resources for the Rosary for Life are freely available in video, audio and written format. Pray individually, with your family and friends, or gather your parish community to pray together throughout May and beyond. Pray the rosary. Encounter Christ. Defend life.
Video
Watch Archbishop John lead each mystery and pray with him
Audio
Listen and pray with us wherever you are
Written
Download the reflections, Scripture readings & prayer intentions
Why should we pray the Rosary for Life?
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" (Jeremiah 1:5)
Every human life is sacred, wanted, and loved by God
The Month of May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic Church. This May, Archbishop John Wilson is calling on all in the Archdiocese of Southwark to join him in praying the Rosary for Life - offering our prayers for those facing the gravest threats to life in our society today.
The Rosary for Life is prayed through the Joyful, Sorrowful, Luminous and Glorious Mysteries, each one offered for the most vulnerable in our society: unborn children at risk of abortion, victims of war and persecution, people with disabilities, and the elderly and vulnerable.
This prayer campaign comes at a critical moment, as proposals in Parliament to permit abortion up to birth and to legalise assisted suicide pose a grave threat to human life. As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to be a voice for the voiceless and a beacon of his love and peace.
"Unborn children have been called by God and named by God. Their names, like yours and mine, are already carved on the Sacred Heart of Jesus."
Archbishop John
The Four Mysteries of the rosary
Each set of mysteries is accompanied by a reflection from Archbishop John, Scripture readings, and prayer intentions for every decade. The prayer intentions can be used within the Prayer of the Faithful at Mass.
Joyful Mysteries (1 May – 9 May)
Pray for unborn children and an end to abortion
"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus" (Luke 1:31)
"May all children who have died from abortion, and children who are lost, deemed unwanted or abandoned, be embraced by the Sacred Heart of Jesus and know his protection, love and peace."
Sorrowful Mysteries (10 May – 16 May)
Pray for peace and for the victims of war
"For to us a child born, to us a son is given; and his name shall be called Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6)
"For all living in the fear and shadow of war, may they be comforted by the Lord Jesus, who in his own agony placed all things trustingly in the Father's hands."
Luminous Mysteries (17 May – 23 May)
Pray for people with disabilities
"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17)
"For all people living with a disability, may they know they are beloved children of God, chosen and called by name."
Glorious Mysteries (24 May – 30 May)
Pray for the elderly and vulnerable
"Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen" (Mark 16:5)
"For all elderly people facing the end of their lives, may they be strengthened by the risen Lord Jesus, and take comfort that death is not the end but the start of a glorious and eternal life."
Quotes from Archbishop John on protecting life
On protecting unborn life and the duty of Catholics to call for an end to abortion
"Unborn children have been called by God and they have been named by God. Their names, like yours and mine, are already carved on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As followers of the Lord Jesus, we are called to walk in his ways and proclaim his truth, and that means opposing abortion and giving a voice to the voiceless child in their mother's womb."
On the need to advocate for peace
"In the face of war, we must be clear that God demands peace. I am not a politician, nor a statesman. I am a disciple and a shepherd. I don't pretend to have all the answers, but I know as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, each of us is called to be a beacon of his peace."
On protecting disabled people and ensuring they are included
"Our Church and our society must be a place of welcome and belonging for all — especially our disabled brothers and sisters. Let us be witnesses to the truth that every person is indispensable to God and deserving of dignity and respect."
On protecting the elderly and the vulnerable, especially from assisted suicide
"We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. Life is not ours to dispose of — our duty is to support and care for our brothers and sisters who are suffering."
Take action now
"In his hand is the life of every living thing" (Job 12:10)
In the UK, proposals in Parliament to permit abortion up to birth and to legalise assisted suicide pose a grave threat to human life, raising serious questions about their place in a civilised society.
That is why your prayer is needed more than ever. Alongside prayer, please oppose these deeply troubling threats to the most vulnerable in our society by visiting righttolife.org.uk and supporting their campaigns.
Don't delay, please pray for life
Begin praying for life today and pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:16). Let your prayers be a voice for those who have none, and through your prayer, draw closer to Christ and be united with the most vulnerable in our world.