The Rosary is a Bond to Heaven

The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which is celebrated each year, commemorates the great navy victory of the Christians over the Turks in 1571. At that battle, the Battle of Lepanto, sixty-five thousand men prayed the Rosary for three hours and took part in the Sacraments and Traditional Devotions. And, the Christian army prevailed that day against the Turks, although they were outnumbered by a 3:1 ratio. Following the colossal victory of the Christians, the Turks never fully recovered and never again threatened the Mediterranean Sea.

Pope Pius V established the Feast of Our Lady of Victory on that day - October 7th. It was later renamed the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. There are many other Rosary miracles including one attributed to Hiroshima and Russians pull-out of Austria.

Pray the Rosary, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus! As St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort wrote: "The Rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Redeemer, who loves His Mother."

The Rosary is attributed to St. Dominic in the 1200's. St. Dominic was an Augustian priest and worked for clerical reform. By age 26, St. Dominic was fighting the Albigensian Heresy, which taught that there are two Gods, marriage is a sin, and denied the Trinity, incarnation and redemption. While many others had failed to stop the spread of the heresy, St. Dominic succeeded.

In 1208, St. Dominic knelt in the little chapel of Notre Dame de La Prouille and asked Mary, the Mother of God, to save the Church. She appeared to him with a Rosary and instructed him to pray the Rosary, teach it to all who would listen, and she said that the true faith would win out. It was during one of the famous battles in southern France against the Albigensians, when St. Dominic revived the courage of the Catholic armies to victory against overwhelming numbers; he had the Rosary in his hand the entire time.

We too must pray the Rosary!!! The Rosary is the key to union with the saints in Heaven. For through the Rosary all mankind can unite and universally worship Christ and invoke the intercession of the Mother of God. We need the Rosary in our world to foster peace. Without the Rosary, peace will not flourish in the world. Let us follow the request of Mary at Fatima and pray the Rosary each day. Let us add it to our daily prayers along with the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours).

St. Padre Pio said, "The Rosary IS THE WEAPON." How true! With the Rosary, we can fight the powers of Satan, which foster sin, hatred, and war. The Rosary is the weapon of the Church in proclaiming unity and peace. All mankind is called to be part of the One, Universal Faith, and we are called to pray together. The Rosary has been called the second greatest prayer, second only to the Holy Mass. "The Rosary is the scourge of the devil," wrote Pope Adrian V.

We are all called to be children of the One True God. And, the disappointing thing in our world is that few people attempt to follow the Lord now. The Faith has been watered-down so much in some places of the world that it is not even recognizable as Catholic. One of the greatest scandals in the world is when someone claims to be Catholic while still supporting the non-negotiables - abortion, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning, gay marriage, or euthanasia. It is a scandal! Still, sin is perverting the world under the disguise of "reproduction freedoms" and other veils; the truth remains the same - the world is suffering from some of the greatest sins since the dawn of mankind!

We must unite against such sins with the Rosary as our weapon! Pray each day not only for unborn children but for the souls in purgatory, the dying, the Holy Father, and all poor sinners. The Rosary is a powerful bond to the Heart of Jesus through the intercession of Mary.

On May 13, 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima and continued to appear on the 13th of each month until October of 1917. On the first day the children saw "a lady, clothed in white, brighter than the sun, radiating a light more clear and intense than a crystal cup filled with sparkling water, lit by burning sunlight." Mary's request was clear, "I have come to ask you to come here for six months on the 13th day of the month, at this same hour. Later I shall say who I am and what I desire. And I shall return here yet a seventh time."

Her final request that day was thus: "Say the Rosary every day, to bring peace to the world and the end of the war." On June 13, 1917, Mary revealed to them the Fatima Prayer and implored them to continue praying the Rosary. The children then saw a vision of a heart in the palm of Mary's right hand, with thorns piercing it. The three children understood it to be the Immaculate Heart of Mary - so offended by the sins of mankind - desiring reparation.

On October 13, 1917, Mary appeared again to the three children and said, "I want to tell you that a chapel is to be built here in my honour. I am the Lady of the Rosary. Continue always to pray the Rosary every day. The war is going to end, and the soldiers will soon return to their homes." By then there were thousands of witnesses.

Mary also said, "Do not offend the Lord our God any more, because He is already so much offended." At that, the Miracle of the Sun was witnessed by 70,000 people as it danced in the sky, changed colors, and was hurled towards earth as if to destroy it.

Thus, I implore all of you to pray the Rosary as Our Lady, Mother Mary, asked of us. Please make it part of your daily prayers. Remember and truly contemplate the 15 promises of Mary to those that pray the Rosary:

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the rosary, shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the rosary.
3. The rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things.
5. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
6. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the rosary, shall not perish.
7. Whoever shall recite the rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune.
8. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
9. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
10. Those who are faithful to recite the rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
11. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the rosary.
12. The faithful children of the rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven.
13. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary.
14. All those who propagate the holy rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death. All who recite the rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only son Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion of my rosary is a great sign of predestination.

(Given to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan)

By praying to Mary, we call on her intercession. There is nothing wrong with asking Mary or any other saint alive in Heaven to pray for us. "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful." -- James 5:16.

Don't think the Hail Mary is biblical? Then look to Luke, chapter 1, where the Archangel Gabriel proclaims "Hail Mary" and "blessed among women". Please, again I ask you to pray the Rosary for peace on earth and for all sinners and especially for the unborn. October is the Month of the Rosary, but please pray the Rosary each day of the year as Our Blessed Mother asked. And if you do this, your prayer life shall certainly blossom!

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Incorporating Mental Prayer Into the Parochial Group Rosary

“When the Rosary is said properly, my power is behind it. Say it with my Divine Son and me in mind…then each bead can conquer a host of men" (Words of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Blessed Mary of Agreda)

Far too often when the Rosary is recited as a group before Mass – or even on our own – it can be a series of prayers offered in haste without a focus on the words. If we focus too much on “saying our daily Rosary” to cross it off the to do list instead of praying each word, we can not expect these prayers to be pleasing to Our Lady or our Lord. While this is easier said than done, it is something we can intentionally try to counter. Today, pray the Rosary using the principles and advice lead out by St. Louis de Montfort in “The Secret of the Rosary” where he recalls the importance of saying the Rosary with attention, devotion, and meaning.

The Secret of the Rosary by St. Louis de Montfort

"The Secret of the Rosary" by St. Louis de Montfort is structured into 53 short chapters, each called a "Rose," which are divided into five sections. These sections explore different aspects of the Rosary, including its history, benefits, mysteries, and how to pray it devoutly. St. Louis de Montfort emphasizes that the Rosary is not just a mechanical repetition of prayers but a powerful weapon against sin, a source of grace, and a way to deepen one's relationship with God and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

What are the Benefits of a Rosary Said as a Group?

St. Louis de Montfort summarizes five benefits of saying the Rosary as a group:

1. Generally, our minds are more focused during communal prayer compared to when we pray alone.
2. When we pray together, each person’s prayer becomes part of a collective offering. If one person’s prayer lacks fervor, another’s devotion can compensate, creating a stronger, unified prayer. And in so doing, the fervent will encourage the lukewarm.
3. Praying the Rosary alone brings the merit of that one Rosary, but when prayed with others, the merit is multiplied by the number of participants. This is the power of communal prayer. The same can be said for the Mass too.
4. Public prayer holds greater power than private prayer to appease God’s anger and invoke His mercy. The Church, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, has always emphasized the importance of public prayer, especially during times of widespread suffering and crisis.
5. If the faithful pray five decades of the Rosary together, whether in a public setting or privately with others, they can gain an indulgence of ten years, once a day. A plenary indulgence may be obtained on the last Sunday of the month, provided they are free from venial sin, go to confession, receive Communion, visit a church, and pray for the Pope’s intentions—if they have prayed the Rosary together at least three times during the preceding weeks. 

How Can We Pray the Group Rosary with Greater Devotion and Attention?

The following insights from St. Louis de Montfort should be internalized and incorporated into all of our Rosaries, especially when we pray the Rosary as a group before Mass so we are not distracted and praying in vain repetitions. The Rosary when prayed well is not a series of vain repetitions.

1. Mindful Recitation: St. Louis de Montfort teaches that when praying the Rosary, it is essential to be fully present and attentive to the words being spoken and the mysteries being meditated upon. The Rosary is not just a vocal prayer but a meditative one, where each Hail Mary should be said with love and reverence, keeping in mind the mystery associated with each decade. Praying before religious images can help us from getting distracted.
2. Praying with the Heart: St. Louis stresses that the Rosary should not be prayed mechanically or out of habit but with deep devotion and sincerity. Each prayer should come from the heart, with a genuine desire to honor God and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The act of praying the Rosary should be seen as a loving dialogue with Our Blessed Mother and Our Lord. When we see the Rosary as a true dialogue with Heaven, we can better understand how important and precious it is.
3. Intention Matters: The intention behind the prayer is crucial. St. Louis encourages everyone to offer their Rosary with specific intentions, whether for personal needs, the conversion of sinners, or for the souls in Purgatory. By doing so, the prayer becomes more meaningful and spiritually fruitful. Recall the intention and fruit of each mystery while praying it.
4. Quality Over Quantity: St. Louis de Montfort is clear that it is better to pray fewer decades of the Rosary well, with devotion and reflection, than to rush through all the decades without proper focus. He cautions against hurrying through the Rosary as if it were a task to be completed quickly. The quality of the prayer is more important than the quantity. If we are not able to focus, it may be better to say the Rosary at a different time in the day.
5. Taking Time for Meditation: He also advises taking time to meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary, which are the key events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. This meditation is what gives the Rosary its power. We can say the mystery, read a few Scriptures verses regarding it, and even pause and visualize the scene before continuing on with the first “Our Father” of the decade.

Conclusion

"When people say the Rosary together it is far more formidable to the devil than one said privately, because in this public prayer it is an army that is attacking. It is very easy to break a single stick, but if you join it to others to make a bundle, it cannot be broken. In union, there is strength” (St. Louis de Montfort)

The next time we pray the Rosary as a group, may we call to mind the words of St. Louis de Montfort and truly see the Rosary for what it is – a weapon against the evil one. And to wield this weapon well, let’s try to offer each prayer of it with attention and deliberate focus. We are waging a battle against the devil by the Rosary. No battle is won by haphazard swings. Each bead takes dedication and attention.

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Devotion to the Most Holy Rosary

St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort wrote: "The rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Redeemer, who loves His Mother."

How to pray the Rosary:

The Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a prayer given to St. Dominic in 1214 by Mary, and today this is said by saying certain prayers typically kept track by using Rosary beads. Here is how to say the Rosary:

STEP 1: Make the sign of the Cross:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

STEP 2: Say the Apostles' Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day, He rose again. He ascended into heaven And is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

Amen.

STEP 3: Say 1 "Our Father":

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

STEP 4: Say 3 "Hail Mary's":

(For the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity)

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death.

Amen.

STEP 5: Say 1 "Glory Be":

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

[Note: This prayer may be omitted during Passiontide, which consists of the two weeks leading up to Easter]

STEP 6: Say 1 "Our Father":

And announce the first mystery that we are praying for today.

STEP 7: Say 10 "Aves":

Say 10 Hail Marys while reflecting on the mystery

STEP 8: Conclude the Decade:

Say a Glory Be and a Fatima Prayer.

Fatima Prayer: O My Jesus, forgive our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven especially those that most need your divine mercy.

STEP 9: Continue the Rosary:

To continue the Rosary, announce the next mystery and repeat steps 6-8 for all the mysteries of that given day. 

STEP 10: Conclude the Rosary:

Conclude the Rosary with the Hail Holy Queen and the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel (shorter form).

Why pray the Rosary? 

First, the Rosary is a devotion that allows us to contemplate on the life of Christ and Mary and join in a more mystical union with God through prayer. Why the Rosary? Because the Rosary is everything: It praises God through the Our Father, contemplates the life of Jesus and Mary, and seeks Mary's motherly intercession and guidance. Through the Rosary meditations, we grow closer to Jesus.

Above all, the Holy Trinity is the Lord alone; He is the One and Only God. We as Catholics don't worship Mary at all but ask her to pray for us as I would ask a friend to pray for me. We honor saints as holy people, but we never adore them as Christ alone is to be adored. Devotion to Mary and the saints is very important. See Why Pray to Mary and the Saints? for the answer to the fundamental issue in this question.

Also, it's important to understand that the Rosary is not a set of repetitive prayers said vainly at all. It is our tool for effective mental prayer. Learn how to pray the Rosary as a form of mental prayer.

Virtues Corresponding to Each Mystery:

When we pray the Rosary, we can keep in mind the various virtues that correspond to each mystery. As we pray and meditate on the Rosary mysteries, we also pray for the corresponding virtue.

Fatima Requests:

In a series of apparitions that have been proven as authentic, Mary appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima. These three shepherd children were given messages and a miracle was even performed there that was witnessed by thousands. In the miracle on Oct 13, 1917, the sun danced, changed colors, and was hurled toward earth as if to destroy it. The sun then rose again in its original position. This event was witnessed by 70,000 thousands of people! It's been called the Miracle of the Sun.

Before this, on May 13, 1917, Our Lady told the 3 children (Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco): "Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war." In an apparition on July 13, she requested devotion to her Immaculate Heart and Communions of Reparation on the first Saturday of each month. In a September 13th apparition, she stressed the importance of the daily Rosary, and in her final apparition, she said, "I am the Lady of the Rosary."

Rosary Miracles:

Pope St. Pius V issued the papal bull Consueverunt Romani Pontifices on September 17, 1569, which described the essence of the rosary's present configuration. The Pope made it clear that there are two essential elements of the Rosary: vocal prayer and mental prayer. He also made it clear that the Rosary is composed of 150 Hail Marys, in connection with the 150 Psalms. The papal bull referred to the Dominican roots of the Rosary and the fact that as a young friar, St. Pius V had been a member of the Dominican Order:

And so Dominic looked to that simple way of praying and beseeching God, accessible to all and wholly pious, which is called the Rosary, or Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in which the same most Blessed Virgin is venerated by the angelic greeting repeated one hundred and fifty times, that is, according to the number of the Davidic Psalter, and by the Lord's Prayer with each decade. Interposed with these prayers are certain meditations showing forth the entire life of Our Lord Jesus Christ, thus completing the method of prayer devised by the Fathers of the Holy Roman Church. 

 

The first major Rosary miracle and one of the most impressive is the one that occurred at the Battle of Lepanto shortly after his papal bull was issued. In 1571 the Christian army, after intense devotion with the Rosary, succeeded in one of the greatest naval victories in the Battle of Lepanto against the powerful Turks. The sixty-five thousand men prayed the Rosary for three hours. Finally, after these devotions, the men were given absolution (cf. forgiveness of their sins). The Turks had nearly three times more troops. The winds were against the Christians, and the conditions were poor, but after the devotions ended, the winds, at the very start of the battle, aided the Christians to a colossal victory against the Turks. This was one of the greatest naval upsets in history. From this, the Turks never fully recovered, and their threat in the Mediterranean Sea ended. Following this victory, Pope St. Pius V established the Feast of Our Lady of Victories on October 7th. The name was later changed to its present form - the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

There are many other miracles, including one attributed to Hiroshima. Read the inspiring story of how Jesuits were saved from the atomic bomb by the Rosary.

The reason why the Russians pulled out of Austria in 1948 is also attributed to the Rosary Campaign there, where 1/10 of the population prayed the Rosary daily for the withdrawal; it came on May 13, 1955, the anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady at Fatima, when the Russians signed the accord to leave Austria, and no one was injured at all. Read about this miracle on America Needs Fatima's website.

And there is, of course, the series of miracles in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. The last of these miracles was the Miracle of the Sun, which was witnessed by 70,000 people!

15 Promises of the Rosary:

Mary has promised 15 specific promises for those devoted to the Rosary that she told St. Dominic when she gave us the Rosary to lead us closer to God.

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of people from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its Sacred Mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the Saints in Paradise.
9. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
12. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the Rosary are my children, and brothers and sisters of my only Son, Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

Rosary Encyclicals:

Supremi Apostolatus Officio:

It has always been the habit of Catholics in danger and in troublous times to fly for refuge to Mary, and to seek for peace in her maternal goodness; showing that the Catholic Church has always, and with justice, put all her hope and trust in the Mother of God. And truly the Immaculate Virgin, chosen to be the Mother of God and thereby associated with Him in the work of man's salvation, has a favor and power with her Son greater than any human or angelic creature has ever obtained, or ever can gain. And, as it is her greatest pleasure to grant her help and comfort to those who seek her, it cannot be doubted that she would deign, and even be anxious, to receive the aspirations of the universal Church.

Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII promulgated on September 1, 1883

Octobri Mense:

At the coming of the month of October, dedicated and consecrated as it is to the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary, we recall with satisfaction the instant exhortations which in preceding years We addressed to you, venerable brethren, desiring, as We did, that the faithful, urged by your authority and by your zeal, should redouble their piety towards the august Mother of God, the mighty helper of Christians, and should pray to her throughout the month, invoking her by that most holy rite of the Rosary which the Church, especially in the passage of difficult times, has ever used for the accomplishment of all desires. This year once again do We publish Our wishes, once again do We encourage you by the same exhortations. We are persuaded to this in love for the Church, whose sufferings, far from mitigating, increase daily in number and in gravity. Universal and well-known are the evils we deplore: war made upon the sacred dogmas which the Church holds and transmits; derision cast upon the integrity of that Christian morality which she has in keeping; enmity declared, with the impudence of audacity and with criminal malice, against the very Christ, as though the Divine work of Redemption itself were to be destroyed from its foundation -- that work which, indeed, no adverse power shall ever utterly abolish or destroy.

Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII promulgated on September 22, 1891.

Laetitiae Sanctae:

For We are convinced that the Rosary, if devoutly used, is bound to benefit not only the individual but society at large.

Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII promulgated on September 8, 1893.

IUCUNDA SEMPER EXPECTATIONE:

It is always with joyful expectation and inspired hope that We look forward to the return of the month of October. At Our exhortation and by Our express order this month has been consecrated to the Blessed Virgin, during which for some years now the devotion of her Rosary has been practiced by Catholic nations throughout the world with sedulous earnestness. Our reasons for making this exhortation We have made known more than once. For as the disastrous condition of the Church and of Society proved to Us the extreme necessity for signal aid from God, it was manifest to Us that that aid should be sought through the intercession of His Mother, and by the express means of the Rosary, which Christians have ever found to be of marvelous avail. This indeed has been well proved since the very institution of the devotion, both in the vindication of Holy Faith against the furious attacks of heresy, and in restoring to honor the virtues, which by reason of the Age's corruption, required to be rekindled and sustained.

Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII promulgated on September 8, 1894.

Adiutricem:

The mightiest helper of the Christian people, and the most merciful, is the Virgin Mother of God. How fitting it is to accord her honors ever increasing in splendor, and call upon her aid with a confidence daily growing more ardent. The abundant blessings, infinitely varied and constantly multiplying, which flow from her all over the whole world for the common benefit of mankind, add fresh motives for invoking and honoring her.

Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII promulgated on September 5, 1895

FIDENTEM PIUMQUE ANIMUM:

We have already had the opportunity on several occasions during Our Pontificate of bearing public testimony to that confidence and devotion towards the Blessed Virgin which We imbibed in Our tenderest years, and have endeavoured to cherish and develop all our life long. 

Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII promulgated on September 20, 1896

The Rosary Story As Told in Video:

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800th Year Anniversary of the Holy Rosary

The Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a prayer given to St. Dominic in 1214 by the Holy Mother of God.  This year, 2014, marks the 800th anniversary of the Holy Rosary.

The first major Rosary miracle, and one of the most impressive, is the one that occurred at the Battle of Lepanto. In 1571 the Christian army, after intense devotion with the Rosary, succeeded in one of the greatest naval victories in the Battle of Lepanto against the powerful Turks. The sixty-five thousand men prayed the Rosary for three hours. Finally, after these devotions, the men were given absolution (forgiveness of their sins). The Turks had nearly three times more troops. The winds were against the Christians and the conditions were poor, but after the devotions ended, the winds, at the very start of battle, aided the Christians to a colossal victory against the Turks. This was one of the greatest naval upsets in history, from this, the Turks never fully recovered and their threat in the Mediterranean Sea ended. Following this victory, Pope St. Pius V established the Feast of Our Lady of Victories on October 7th. The name was later changed to its present form - the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort wrote: "The rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Redeemer, who loves His Mother." There are many other miracles included one attributed to Hiroshima. The reason why the Russians pulled out of Austria in 1948 is also attributed to the Rosary Campaign where 1/10 of the population prayed the Rosary daily for the withdrawl; it came on May 13, 1955, the anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady at Fatima, when the Russians signed the accord to leave Austria, and no one was injured at all.

St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort wrote: "The rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Redeemer, who loves His Mother."

Rosary Encyclicals:

Supremi Apostolatus Officio:

It has always been the habit of Catholics in danger and in troublous times to fly for refuge to Mary, and to seek for peace in her maternal goodness; showing that the Catholic Church has always, and with justice, put all her hope and trust in the Mother of God. And truly the Immaculate Virgin, chosen to be the Mother of God and thereby associated with Him in the work of man's salvation, has a favor and power with her Son greater than any human or angelic creature has ever obtained, or ever can gain. And, as it is her greatest pleasure to grant her help and comfort to those who seek her, it cannot be doubted that she would deign, and even be anxious, to receive the aspirations of the universal Church.

ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII SEPTEMBER 1, 1883

Octobri Mense:

At the coming of the month of October, dedicated and consecrated as it is to the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary, we recall with satisfaction the instant exhortations which in preceding years We addressed to you, venerable brethren, desiring, as We did, that the faithful, urged by your authority and by your zeal, should redouble their piety towards the august Mother of God, the mighty helper of Christians, and should pray to her throughout the month, invoking her by that most holy rite of the Rosary which the Church, especially in the passage of difficult times, has ever used for the accomplishment of all desires. This year once again do We publish Our wishes, once again do We encourage you by the same exhortations. We are persuaded to this in love for the Church, whose sufferings, far from mitigating, increase daily in number and in gravity. Universal and well-known are the evils we deplore: war made upon the sacred dogmas which the Church holds and transmits; derision cast upon the integrity of that Christian morality which she has in keeping; enmity declared, with the impudence of audacity and with criminal malice, against the very Christ, as though the Divine work of Redemption itself were to be destroyed from its foundation -- that work which, indeed, no adverse power shall ever utterly abolish or destroy.

Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII promulgated on September 22, 1891.

Laetitiae Sanctae:

For We are convinced that the Rosary, if devoutly used, is bound to benefit not only the individual but society at large.

Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII promulgated on September 8, 1893.

IUCUNDA SEMPER EXPECTATIONE:

It is always with joyful expectation and inspired hope that We look forward to the return of the month of October. At Our exhortation and by Our express order this month has been consecrated to the Blessed Virgin, during which for some years now the devotion of her Rosary has been practiced by Catholic nations throughout the world with sedulous earnestness. Our reasons for making this exhortation We have made known more than once. For as the disastrous condition of the Church and of Society proved to Us the extreme necessity for signal aid from God, it was manifest to Us that that aid should be sought through the intercession of His Mother, and by the express means of the Rosary, which Christians have ever found to be of marvelous avail. This indeed has been well proved since the very institution of the devotion, both in the vindication of Holy Faith against the furious attacks of heresy, and in restoring to honor the virtues, which by reason of the Age's corruption, required to be rekindled and sustained.

Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII promulgated on September 8, 1894.

Adiutricem:

The mightiest helper of the Christian people, and the most merciful, is the Virgin Mother of God. How fitting it is to accord her honors ever increasing in splendor, and call upon her aid with a confidence daily growing more ardent. The abundant blessings, infinitely varied and constantly multiplying, which flow from her all over the whole world for the common benefit of mankind, add fresh motives for invoking and honoring her. 

ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON THE ROSARY SEPTEMBER 5, 1895

FIDENTEM PIUMQUE ANIMUM:

We have already had the opportunity on several occasions during Our Pontificate of bearing public testimony to that confidence and devotion towards the Blessed Virgin which We imbibed in Our tenderest years, and have endeavoured to cherish and develop all our life long. 

ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON THE ROSARY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1896

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A Combat Rosary for Spiritual Warfare

A few years ago I met a man after Mass in San Antonio, TX who gave me a combat Rosary.  This Rosary is often given to soldiers.  It is truly a "manly" Rosary that does not break, does not get tied up, and has beads that fit well between a man's fingers (which are bigger than a womans).  In fact, I still use this combat rosary in the car as I drive.  Whereas my previous Rosaries were prone to knot up, the Combat Rosary has for two years never failed me.

Here is a short excerpt from the card that came with it:

The Ranger Rosary Story by Wayne Laugesen (National Catholic Reporter) excerpts:

Unfortunately, many of the standard rosaries distributed by chaplains don’t hold up so well in combat situations, because of weak strings or chains. They come in pastel pinks and blues, which clash against the tough exteriors of Navy SEALS, Army Rangers and trench-hardened Marines.

So Ristaino invented what a growing number of soldiers consider the mother of all rosaries—the Ranger Rosary, an ultra-tough model that comes in a variety of military colors. The beads are strung on what the military classifies as 550 cord: a tough, lightweight rope that connects soldiers to their parachutes.

The handmade rosaries are popular among soldiers, and military chaplains are requesting them faster than volunteers participating in the Ranger Rosary project can turn them out.

“While we have considerable numbers of other rosaries that have been very generously donated to us, I would like to assure a supply of the Ranger Rosaries here at Kirkuk, if possible, due to their advantages for the combat conditions in which our troops, especially our soldiers, find themselves,” wrote Father Pat Travers, a chaplain at Kirkuk Regional Air Base in northeastern Iraq, in a formal request for more Ranger Rosaries.

Ristaino, a father of 11, was inspired to invent the Ranger Rosary while attending the Marine Corps officer candidate school in 1985. He and other candidates were learning to “keep pace” as part of a land navigation course.

...

He sat on the idea until the late 1990s, when several of his children began learning to make mission rosaries under the instruction of volunteers from the Legion of Mary.

Ristaino got most of his children involved in making Ranger Rosaries, and many of their fellow students at St. Mary’s High School in Annapolis joined in. Catholic elementary-school students began making them, as did young adults who attended Theology on Tap. The Rosary Guild at St. Mary’s Parish in Annapolis began coordinating the rosary-making efforts of various groups, and soon several hundred rosaries were made and shipped to military chaplains for distribution in Bosnia.

Today, parish organizations, schoolchildren, rosary guilds and a variety of other Catholic organizations and individual volunteers throughout the United States are making hundreds of rosaries for distribution in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

To learn more and request a Combat Rosary for yourself or someone, please write to combatrosary@yahoo.com

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On the Power and Importance of the Holy Rosary

My Dear Brethren,

We are in the middle of the important month of the Holy Rosary, month of the great victories of Our Blessed Lady, through the Holy Rosary.  Sr. Lucy said that Our Blessed Lady has given more power to the Holy Rosary in view of the hard time that we were going to live, which are now, which is this terrible crisis in the Church. 

It is a great grace to be able to attend the Traditional Latin Mass once a week, or once or twice a month.  But on the other days, are you faithful to your daily rosary? It’s not enough to come to the Traditional mass in order to go to heaven.  You must do your personal part too to ask for God’s grace seven days a week, and that part is essentially prayer, specially the prayer of the Holy Rosary.  “He who prays will be saved, he who doesn’t pray will be condemned”, St Alphonsus says. 

To encourage you to be faithful to your daily rosary especially during this month of October, I would like to remind you, first, of the origin and history of the Holy Rosary, and then, in a second point, why the Holy Rosary is still so important for our present day history.  

First point: Origin of the Rosary

The year was 1214. St Dominic had already founded the Order of Preachers, later called, the Dominicans, and he was immediately faced with the heresy of the Albigenses which was spreading especially through the South of France, where St Dominic was. Our Lady appeared to him after he had been praying seriously and doing severe penance for many days in order to know how to fight the heretics.  She said to him: 

“Dear Dominic, do you know what weapon the Most Holy Trinity wants to use to reform the world?” St Dominic replied: “O my Lady, you know it much better than I do, because, next to your Son Jesus Christ, you have always been the instrument of our salvation.” Our Lady continued: “ I want you to know that in this kind of warfare the ‘battering ram’ has always been the Angelic Psalter which is the corner stone of the New Testament.  So, if you want to reach these hardened souls and win them to God, preach my Psalter!” 

We need to explain Our Lady’s words. Firstly, she calls the battle St Dominic was waging against heresy, ‘a kind of warfare’ . Indeed there has always been a deadly fight between truth and error, virtue and vice.  Among other things, the Albigenses were destroying marriage and making people live in sin, and in order to save the souls deceived by these heresies, there had to be a serious fight, a real warfare. 

Then, Our Lady speaks of a ‘battering ram’, which is very symbolic too.  A battering ram is a large beam, sometimes a whole tree, handled by many men, or by a kind of a structure, that is used to open a large gate, or to make an opening in a wall.  It only works with the repetition of blows on the gate or the wall.  She compares the Rosary to a battering ram: all these Hail Mary’s knock down the power of the devil to weaken it. We can also say that they knock on the Heart of God as well to obtain the opening of the flood of graces.  “Knock and it shall be open”, Jesus said. 

Thirdly, Our Lady calls the Rosary “the Angelic Psalter”.  You are familiar with the book of Psalms, mostly written by King David, in the Old Testament.  There were 150 Psalms which the monks recited every week and still do, in fact. So the word Psalter means 150. Some of the monks in the monasteries who could not read or write would replace the recitation of the 150 Psalms, by 150 Our Fathers or Hail Marys. The Ave Maria is called the Angelic Salutation. So, when Our blessed Lady uses the words “The Angelic Psalter “and “My Psalter” , she refers to the 150 Ave Maria of the full rosary. 

Our Lady finally says that the Angelic Psalter “is the corner stone of the New Testament”.  The whole mystery of the Redemptive Incarnation began with the Annunciation, which opened with the Ave Maria. Our Lady’s consent to the words of the Angel Gabriel – “Behold the Handmaid of the Lord” - was a consent to the Incarnation of the Word of God, to become the Mother of God and our Mother, and also to be the Woman that would be in enmity with the serpent and crush his head. 

Let us now repeat the words of Our Lady to St Dominic: “I want you to know that in this kind of warfare the ‘battering ram’ has always been the Angelic Psalter which is the corner stone of the New Testament.  So, if you want to reach these hardened souls and win them to God, preach my Psalter!” 

And St Dominic did it! And thousands of heretics were converted. A few hundred years later, Louis XIII, a French king, did it also in a war against the Protestants, and in thanksgiving for the victory, he built the famous church of Our Lady of Victories, in Paris.  The feast of Our Lady of Victories is on … October 7 th ! Later still, the first Dominican Pope, St Pius V used the rosary in the crusade against the Muslim Turks who were dangerously threatening to invade Europe. And the Rosary won again. It was October 7 th , 1571. And the list of the victories of the Rosary is long and continue until our own days. 

Is it surprising then that at Fatima, Our Blessed Lady urged the recitation of the rosary against the plague of communism? Whether it is against the Albigenses, the Protestants, the Muslim or the communists, “in this kind of warfare, our ‘battering ram’, the Rosary, must always be used. We have the promises of Our Lady and history on our side to prove it. 

Before I come to the second point, our own contemporary history, I want to remind you of a detail in the history of Fatima. The children of Fatima understood that the popes would have a very important role to play to obtain or to delay the triumph of the Immaculate Heart. They saw something truly tragic about this, so that they were constantly adding to their sacrifices:  “for the conversion of sinners and for the Holy Father”.   

Did they see that 7 popes would refuse to obey Our Lady’s request to consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart, and that as a consequence Russia would spread its errors, and would cause hundreds of millions of deaths?  Did they see, as Cardinal Ciappi said, he who read the Third Secret of Fatima, that “the apostasy would start from the highest summit of the Church”? That would explain certain of the words and attitudes of the children of Fatima, and also why Sr Lucy was like paralyzed when it came to write down this Third Secret, in January 1944. 

Second Point: the need of the Rosary for our present history. 

“And for the Holy Father!”   O, yes, My Dear Brethren, we need to say the rosary, many rosaries for the Holy Father!  The situation in the Church is getting worse, and the present Holy Father, who is not a Father of Vatican II, like pope Benedict was, but a son of the Council, is showing in an alarming way how far can the principles of the Council go. 

So many of his acts show that sadly, very sadly, he is imbued with modernism.  For example, in his first encyclical on faith, Lumen Fidei, he confuses faith and charity.  These are two different theological virtues: faith is in the intellect and has for object the truth revealed by God and proposed by the Church, while Charity is in the will and has for object God as the supreme good.  Now the Holy Father in an encyclical – but now encyclicals seem to be more for the world at large than for the bishops, like they used to be -  says this: “Faith knows in the measure that it is linked to love, in the measure where love itself carries a light”.   When you read the encyclical, you do get the message that faith is merely a religious feeling based on love.  Well, that is exactly how St Pius X described modernism.  

Then, he has announced that he will canonize two of the popes of the Council: Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II.  For the first one, they have even dispensed from the miracle which is the sign that the person has reached heaven. For John Paul II, I encourage you to read the book: Doubts on a Beatification which was published by Angelus Press.  Pope John Paul II has a different notion of the three virtues of Faith, hope and charity. Such canonizations – if God allows them – change the very notion of holiness, which is one of the four marks of the Church, and the goal of these canonizations is truly to canonize Vatican II and its errors which are destroying the Church. 

I cannot speak of everything which Pope Francis has already done, such as the terrible and scandalous World Youth Days in Brazil, last August, or his recent long interview with the Jesuits, where he says that Vatican II is irrevocable.  I simply want to mention another more recent interview given on October 2, to the Italian Newspaper “Reppublica”, which is run by an openly atheist editor. 

One of the first words of the pope to this editor Eugenio Scalfari was: “Proselytism is an pompous absurdity, it has no meaning”.  This means that we should not try to convert people.  This is not exactly what we read in the Gospel: “Go and preach the Gospel to every creature!” 

Mr. Scalfari, the editor of the newspaper, asked the pope if there was a unique vision of what is Good, and if so, who can decide this? The pope replied: “Every human being possesses his own vision of what is good, but also of what is evil.  Our task is to encourage him to follow the way shown by what he estimates is good.” And he insisted: “And I am ready to repeat this.

Everyone has his own conception of Good and Evil, and everyone must choose and follow good and fight evil according to the idea that he has.  That would be enough to live in a better world.” 

These worlds are terrible. They eliminate the Ten Commandments, and the whole role of the Church, guardian and sole interpreter of the Ten Commandments. 

We can understand why the children of Fatima prayed and suffered so much “for the Holy Father”. And Our Lady’s words as well: “Pray the Rosary daily!” 

Let me conclude with words of wisdom from the Imitation of Christ, a wisdom so important in dealing with present day history: If you see another man sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in a good state. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than yourself. (I, 2) 

My Dear Brethren, do say your rosary every day, as Our Heavenly Mother has urged us, pray for the Holy Father. As you can see, his mind is filled with the modern errors. Pray the rosary for him. This is the best way for us to help him. And keep yourself free from sin. Go to confession frequently. Be faithful in your duty of state.   

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us and “for the Holy Father”!

Fr. Daniel Couture Sermon for October 2013 

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10 Articles In Honor of October As The Month of the Rosary

“The Rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight and to keep oneself from sin. … If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors” (Pope Pius XI).

• Rosary is a Bond to Heaven
• Archbishop Sheen on the Rosary
• Rosary Miracle at Hiroshima
• Power of the Rosary and the Scapular
• St Louis de Montfort on the Rosary
• The Value of the Rosary
• Rosary for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
• Miracles of the Rosary
• How to Pray the Rosary
• Mass Propers: Feast of the Most Holy Rosary (October 7)

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Why Every Catholic Should Carry A Rosary

The Rosary is regarded as the greatest prayer we can offer next to only the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort remarked, "The rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Redeemer, who loves His Mother." 

Indulgence for Carrying the Rosary

There are many miracles associated with the Rosary and Heaven has asked us to offer Rosaries many times. But besides these reasons, the Church blesses the Rosary with various indulgences. A plenary indulgence is granted when the rosary (i.e., 5 decades) is recited in a church or oratory or when it is recited in a family, a religious community, or a pious association. A partial indulgence is granted for its recitation in all other circumstances.

In fact, beyond praying the Rosary, an indulgence may be gained for anyone who carries a properly blessed Rosary:

The faithful who devoutly carry about their person a Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary that has been properly blessed may gain an Indulgence of 500 days once a day, if they kiss the Rosary and at the same time devoutly recite these words of the Angelic Salutation: Hail, Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Taken from Pope Pius XII, Audience March 12, 1953

But it must be added that this requires the right intention as it is not magic. To be capable of gaining indulgences, a person must be baptized, not excommunicated, and in the state of grace at least at the end of the prescribed works. To gain indulgences, however, a capable subject must have at least the general intention of acquiring them and must fulfill the enjoined works in the established time and the proper method, according to the tenor of the grant. (1983 CIC 996 §1-2) 

An Example for Others

In addition to the indulgence, by carrying the Rosary on us, we will undoubtedly have times of taking it out of our pockets. This small act to show others our Catholic Faith can help bring about the respect and conversion of non-Catholics and can help subtly encourage fallen-away Catholics to return to practicing the Faith.

Start Today

If you do not carry the Rosary on you, make it a resolution to carry one in your pocket or bag at all times. And do not be afraid to take it out and pray it publicly.

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The Value of the Rosary by Fr. Gabriel Amorth

The Hail Mary - The Value of the Rosary. 

Father Gabriel Amorth, chief exorcist of the Vatican writes:

One day a colleague of mine heard the devil say during an exorcism: "Every Hail Mary is like a blow on my head. If Christians knew how powerful the Rosary was, it would be my end." The secret that makes this prayer so effective is that the Rosary is both prayer and meditation. It is addressed to the Father, to the Blessed Virgin, and to the Holy Trinity, and is a meditation centered on Christ.
I write in addition to the above: Please enunciate each word of the Rosary clearly and distinctly. Do not trample on the heels' of the words of anyone with your words. Do not speak over the leader, if you are following, or the responders if you are leading the Rosary. Remember that they also are having a conversation with Mary Our Mother and it is not polite to speak when someone else is speaking.

In the case of the public Rosary there are only two people speaking, the Leader and the Responders. Each are speaking to their Mother and listening carefully to her response within their hearts as they meditate on the scene before them in their consideration of the mystery being spoken of and interpreted and translated into their lives. Spread this powerful prayer of exorcism, The Rosary which contains the Our Father, the Perfect Prayer, prayed five times in the recitation of each set of the Rosary's Mysteries, backed up by the powerful prayers of Our Mother who prays with us as we pray 53 Hail Marys. The Eternal Father described to a group of us, through a Visionary Friend of mine, what happens when we pray the Rosary, saying, "When you pray Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now....., the Blessed Mother comes instantly to your side to pray with you. And she does not come alone. She brings angels with her. And not just one or two for she is the Queen of Angels, so choirs of angels come with her. And she and Jesus are joined at the heart and cannot be separated so shebrings Jesus with her. And Jesus cannot be separated from the Trinity so He brings the Father and the Holy Spirit with Him.

And where the Holy Trinity is all of creation is and you are surrounded by such beauty and light as you cannot imagine in this life. Your Mother comes as Our Lady of Grace with her hands out-stretched. Rays of light emit from her hands piercing your body, healing you and filling you with graces.

This is your inheritance which was poured out from the heart of Jesus on the Cross, when the centurion pierced His Heart with the spear, into the only pure vessel ready to receive such graces at that time,Your Mother.

Now as you pray the Rosary, or even just recite one Hail Mary, you receive your portion of these graces."He also said at this time, "Anyone who goes to Mary and prays the Rosary cannot be touched by Satan." Is it any wonder that anyone who prays the Rosary from the heart is so blessed and protected and powerful in their prayers for others?"

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October: Month of the Holy Rosary

Recommended Posts for this Month of the Rosary:

• Rosary is a Bond to Heaven
• Archbishop Sheen on the Rosary
• Rosary Miracle at Hiroshima
• Power of the Rosary and the Scapular
• St Louis de Montfort on the Rosary
• The Value of the Rosary
• Rosary for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
• Miracles of the Rosary
• How to Pray the Rosary
• Mass Propers: Feast of the Most Holy Rosary (October 7)

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Miracles of the Rosary

"Give me an army saying the Rosary and I will conquer the world." Pope Pius IX

The Rosary goes back to the very first centuries when the early Christians recited the 150 consecutive Hail Mary's to the Blessed Virgin, though it was done without the beads that we use today. This devotion was known in the early Church as the 150 psalms to Jesus and Mary, prefigured by the 150 Psalms of the Old Testament.

In 1214 the Blessed Virgin actually appeared to St. Dominic in his chapel and handed him the beads of the Rosary with the commission that he spread this age-old devotion throughout the world. Through the power of the Rosary he went about preaching and converting thousands everywhere, as he cast out devils, cured the sick, and even raised the dead to life on three occasions. And to think that we have these pearls of grace at our disposal today. With the Rosary we hold the power of God in our hands.

No Catholic should be ignorant of the Rosary. While not required under penalty of sin, all Catholics should nevertheless make it a part of their routine to offer at least five decades of the Holy Rosary every single day, as our Blessed Mother requested in 1917. This request was accompanied by miracles as further proof of their supernatural origin.

Some of the many Rosary miracles include:

1. The Miracle during the Battle of Lepanto
2. The Rosary Miracle at Hiroshima
3. The Miracle of the Sun
4. The Expelling of the Soviets from Austria

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