THE ROSARY 
T H E 

CROWN OF MARY 

BY A DOMINICAN FATHER 

Philadelphia : 

H . L . K I L N E R & C O 

Publishers. 









T H E R O S A R Y 

T H E 

C R O W N O F M A R Y ' 

BY A DOMINICAN F A T H E R 

Philadelphia 

H . L . K I L N E R & C O . 

Publishers 



A P P R O B A T I O N . 

Nihil Obstat: 

F R . L . F . K E A R N E Y , Ord. Prced. 
Prior Provincialis Provincia S. Joseph. 

Datum in Conventu S. Vincentii Perrerii, 
Neo-Eboraci, 

die ioa Aprilis, ipoo. 1 

Imprimatur: 

•I« M I C H A E L A U G U S T I N U S , 

Achiepiscopus Neo-Eboracensis. 

Die ioa Aprilis, ipoo. 

D e s c r i t t e c i 

C o p y r i g h t , 1900, C H . M C K E N N A . 



THIS LITTLE BOOK IS HUMBLY AND LOVINGLY LAID 
AT THE FEET OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER, 

( l l o r a n a of f oi^ I j a s a r t j . 



Promises of Oar Lady to those who devoutly 
recite the Holy Rosary,* 

O a l r a o s e w h o recite m y psalter, I p r o m i s e m y special 
protection. 

T h e Rosary will b e a p o w e r f u l weapon against the 
p o w e r s of hell, it will r o o t o u t vices, destroy sin, and 

subjugate all heresies. 
He w h o calls o n m e t h r o u g h the Rosary shall n o t perish. 
Whoever recites devoutly the Rosary, meditating o n its holy 

mysteries, will n o t be cast d o w n b y troubles, n o r perish b y an 
unprovided d e a t h ; but, if he is a sinner, he shall be converted, 
if he is virtuous, he shall increase in grace, and become w o r t h y 
of eternal life. 

T h o s e w h o are truly devout i n reciting m y Rosary, shall n o t 
die w i t h o u t the Sacraments. 

1 will deliver f r o m P u r g a t o r y in t h e space of a day t h o s e 
souls devoted t o m y Rosary. 

T h e t r u e children of the Rosary, shall e n j o y a great glory in 
heaven. 

Whatever y o u ask t h r o u g h t h e Rosary, shall b e granted. 
Those w h o propagate my Rosary shall be helped b y m e in 

all their necessities. 
Devotion t o m y Rosary is a great sign of predestination. 

* Tzien from the •writings of Blessed Alanus, O, P., and copied by 
F R . GRANELLO, O. P. See 30th Edition 0f " T H E ROSARY M E D I T A T E D , " „' 

E work many times blessed by Leo XIII., and approved 0/ by F * . * 
H Y A C I N T H U S I G N E S I , O. P. S. T. M., and F R . A L B E R T U S L E F I D I , O. P. S. 

T. Af., and Master of the Sacred Palace. 

4 



C O N T E N T S . 

P R O M I S E S M A D E BY T H E B L E S S E D V I R G I N I N 

F A V O R O F T H O S E D E V O T E D T O H E R P A G B 

R O S A R Y 4 

P R E F A C E . . . . • 7 

F I R S T P A R T . 

I . — F I R S T E N C Y C L I C A L O F L E O X I I I . I N 

F A V O R O F T H E R O S A R Y 1 1 ' 

O T H E R E N C Y C L I C A L L E T T E R S O F L E O 

X I I I 2 1 

I I . — O R I G I N O F T H E R O S A R Y 2 6 

• I I I . — P R O P A G A T I O N O F T H E R O S A R Y . . . 3 2 

I V . — R E A S O N O F I T S S U C C E S S 3 3 

V . — S A I N T S A N D R E L I G I O U S O R D E R S H A V E 

P R A I S E D T H E R O S A R Y . . . . . 3 5 

V I . — W H A T T H E P R E D E C E S S O R S O F L E O 

X I I I . T H O U G H T O F T H E R O S A R Y . 3 7 

V I I . — T H E P E O P L E A L W A Y S D E V O T E D T O T H E 

R O S A R Y 3 9 

S E C O N D P A R T . 

V I I I . — T H E R O S A R Y I S T H E U N I O N O F V O C A L 

A N D M E N T A L P R A Y E R S 4 1 

I X . — V O C A L P R A Y E R S O F T H E R O S A R Y . . 4 3 

5 



6 
„ P A G B 

X . — T H E M Y S T E R I E S O F T H E R O S A R Y . 4 7 

I L L U S T R A T I O N S A N D M E D I T A T I O N S 4 8 

XI.—How T O S A Y T H E R O S A R Y . . . 81 
T H I R D P A R T . 

• X I I . — C O N F R A T E R N I T Y O F T H E R O S A R Y . 8 5 

X I I I . — H o w T O B E C O M E A M E M B E R O F 
T H E R O S A R Y C O N F R A T E R N I T Y A N D 

E N J O Y I T S B E N E F I T S . . . . 8 7 

X I V . — L I S T O F I N D U L G E N C E S . . . . 88 

X V . — R E C E N T R O M A N D E C I S I O N S . . . 1 1 4 

X V I . — I N S T R U C T I O N S F O R - I H E C A N O N I C A L 

E R E C T I O N O F T H E R O S A R Y C O N -

F R A T E R N I T Y J J G 

X V I I . — C E R E M O N Y O F E R E C T I O N . . . . N 8 

X V I I I . — B L E S S I N G O F R O S A R I E S . . . . 1 2 2 

X I X . — T H E B R I G I T T I N E I N D U L G E N C E . . 1 2 3 

X X . — T H E C R O Z I E R I N D U L G E N C E . . . 1 2 4 

X X I . — T H E A P O S T O L I C I N D U L G E N C E . . 1 2 5 

X X I I . — R O S A R I E S F R O M T H E H O L Y L A N D . 1 2 7 

X X I I I . — T H E L I V I N G R O S A R Y . . . . I 2 g 

X X I V . — T H E P E R P E T U A L R O S A R Y . . . . I 4 1 

X X V . — F O R M U L A O F B L E S S I N G S , E T C . . . I 4 4 

X X V I . — A P P E N D I X — P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N I 4 9 

X X V I I . — R O S A R Y P R O C E S S I O N S 

X X V I I I . — F O R M O F A P P L I C A T I O N F O R R O S -

A R Y F A C U L T I E S . . JS4 



PREFACE. 

IT is to the ever glorious and Immaculate Mother 
of God that we lift our hearts in thanksgiving for 
the wonderful increase of devotion to her most Sacred 
Rosary. Raised up like Judith of old to deliver her 
people from the hands of their enemy, Mary was 
given us by God to be the Mother of our Saviour, to 
bring Him forth, to watch over His infancy and child-
hood, finally to offer Him in sacrifice for our Redemp-
tion. But more, when through the malice of cor-
rupt men, the knowledge and love of Jesus were 
dying out, she hastened to the rescue by revealing 
to the Glorious Patriarch St. Dominic, that beauti-
ful and powerful form of prayer, her most Sacred 
Rosary, in order to rekindle the fire of divine love 
in the hearts of the faithful and, through the preach-
ing of her devoted servants, raise high the torch of 

m 



8 

faith to enlighten and convert the enemies of her 
Son. 

Again in our own infidel age she has come to our 
aid. Pius IX. was inspired to proclaim the dogma of 
her Immaculate Conception, establishing solidly her 
sublime and solitary prerogative and preparing the 
world for what was soon to follow. In less than 
four years .after, Mary again appears and proclaims 
to the world its greatest need, which is Prayer, and 
its greatest remedy, her most Sacred Rosary. Again 
were the nations losing sight of the true Light that 
enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world, 
and again did Mary come to raise our eyes and 
mind and heart to Calvary by meditating her won-
derful Rosary. 

Soon after commenced the issuing of the decrees 
of our great Pontiff Leo XIII. Year after year he 
seems urged by an invisible power to proclaim the 
glory, the power, the efficacy and the necessity of 
our Mother's beads, and, lastly he has given the seal 
of his sanction to the rich indulgences which have 
been granted from age to age by his illustrious pre-
decessors, at the same time adding special indul-
gences for the month of the Rosary, which has now 
been fixed forever. 



9 

We are only voicing the deep and lasting gratitude 
of every member of the Rosary throughout the world, 
and especially of every son and daughter of St. 
Dominic, for this increased life that has been given 
to our cherished Rosary; and we know that the 
children of St. Dominic will, with renewed vigor, pro-
pagate this form of prayer, since this is the command 
of Mary herself, as well as the ardent desire of our 
illustrious Pontiff. His words to the Vicar-General 
of our Order are as follows: 

" Let all the children of St. Dominic rouse them-
selves for the conflict, and let them prepare themselves 
as mighty warriors, to use those arms which have 
been provided, with such wonderful foresight, by 
their Blessed Father. Let them everywhere institute 
the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary which they 
are to propagate and cultivate with zeal, that, through 
their assiduous care, the people may be enrolled in 
these holy militias in which the ensigns of the Rosary 
Jhine forth. And that the people may learn to use 
this armor, and frequently to employ it, let them bt 
instructed as to the benefits, the graces, and the 
privileges of this devotion." * 

* Leo X I I I . to the Vicar-General of the Dominicans, in an 
audience granted Sept. 26, 1883. 



10 
We shall give some of the Encyclicals of the Holy 

Father on the Rosary; after which we shall consider 
its history, its composition and its riches. We 
humbly beg our Blessed Mother to bless all who read 
this little book and ever to watch over her unworthy 
servant, the compiler. 



F I R S T P A R T . 

THE following is the first Encyclical Letter of Pope 
Leo X I I I . on the devotion of the Rosary. 

T O O U R V E N E R A B L E B R E T H R E N , 

T H E P A T R I A R C H S , P R I M A T E S , A R C H -

B I S H O P S , A N D B I S H O P S 

OF T H E CATHOLIC WORLD, 

IN GRACE AND COMMUNION W I T H T H E APOSTOLIC SEE 

P O P E L E O X I I I . 

H E A L T H A N D A P O S T O L I C B E N E D I C T I O N . 

V E N E R A B L E B R E T H R E N , 

The Supreme Apostolic office which We bear, to-
gether with the troubled times, warn Us, and indeed 
oblige Us, to watch the more anxiously over the in-
terests of the Church, as her trials daily increase. 
Whilst We, in every way, maintain the rights of the 
Church and strive to repel all pressing or future 
dangers, We constantly seek help from heaven that 
Our labours and anxiety may obtain what We desire. 
This is the only source from which We hope to 
obtain it. 

We know that there cannot be a more certain or 
more efficacious means to that end than, by religion, 
and devotion, to obtain the favour of the Blessed 
Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. She is the Guardian 
of our peace, the Minister to us of heavenly grace. 
She is placed on the highest summit of power and 

(11) 



12 
glory in heaven, that she may give the aid of her 
protection to those who, in labours and in dangers, 
are striving to reach the Eternal City. 

The anniversaries of very great and manifold 
favours obtained by Christian Europe, through the 
devotion of the Rosary, are now at hand. It is Our 
desire that the whole Catholic world should, with the 
greatest earnestness, again offer the same devotion to 
the Blessed Virgin, that, by her intercession, her 
Divine Son may be appeased, and the evils which 
afflict us may be lessened. We have therefore re-
solved, Venerable Brethren, to send these letters to 
you, that, being informed of Our designs, your zeal 
and your authority may incite the devotion of your 
people to receive them 

The Catholic Church has always, and rightly, put 
her hope and trust in the Mother of God. It has 
always been the habit of Catholics, in dangers, and 
in times of trouble, to flee for refuge to Mary, and 
to seek for peace in her maternal goodness. ' The 
immaculate Virgin, chosen to be the Mother of God, 
and thereby associated with Him in the work of man's 
salvation, has a favour and power with her Divine 
Son greater than any creature, human or angelic, has 
ever obtained or can ever gain. As it is her happi-
ness to grant her help and succour to those who ask 
it, We cannot doubt that she would deign and even 
be eager to receive th .̂ aspirations of the Universal 
Church. 



13 

This great and hope-inspiring devotion to the 
August Queen of Heaven has never shone forth with 
greater brilliancy than when the Church militant of 
God has seemed to be endangered by the violence of 
widespread heresy, by intolerable moral corruption, 
or by the assaults of powerful enemies. Ancient and 
modern history; and the sacred annals of the Church, 
alike bear witness to public and private supplications 
addressed to the Mother of God, to the help which 
she has given in return, and to the peace and tran-
quility which she has obtained from God. Hence 
her illustrious titles of Help of Christians, Consoler 
of the Afflicted, Mighty in War, Victorious, and 
Peace-giver. 

Amongst these is specially to be enumerated that 
familiar title derived from the Rosary, through which 
the signal benefits she has gained for the whole of 
Christendom have been solemnly and perpetually 
commemorated. There is none among' you, Vener-
able Brethren, who will not remember how great was 
the trouble and grief which, in the twelfth century, 
God's Holy Church suffered from the Albigensian 
heretics. These sprang from the sect of the later 
Manicheans, and filled the South of prance, and 
other portions of the Latin world, with their perni-
cious errors. They carried; everywhere the terror of 
their arms, and, far and wide, strove to rule by 
massacre and ruin. 

Our merciful God, as you know, raised up against 



14 

Ihese fierce enemies a most holy man, the illustrious 
parent and founder of the Dominican Order. Great 
in the soundness of doctrine, in the example of his 
virtue, and in his apostolic labours, he undauntedly 
proceeded to attack the enemies of the Catholic 
Church; not by force of arms, but by that devotion 
which he was the first to institute, under the name 
of the Holy Rosary. In this he wholly trusted; and 
by his preaching, and that of his brethren, he spread 
it throughout the length and breadth of the earth. 

Guided by divine inspiration and grace, he foresaw 
that, like a most powerful warlike weapon, this devo-
tion would be the means of putting the enemy to flight 
and of confounding his mad impiety and audacity. 
In fact, such was its result. Thanks to this new form 
of prayer, —when adopted and carried out as instituted 
by the holy Father Dominic,—piety, faith, and unity 
began to return. The projects and devices of the 
heretics fell to pieces. Many wanderers returned to 
the way of salvation, and the wrath of the impious 
•was checked by the arms of those who, in defence, 
liad determined to resist them. 

In the sixteenth century, also, the efficacy and 
power of this devotion were wonderfully shown. The 
vast forces of the Turks at that time threatened to 
impose the yoke of superstition and barbarism on 
nearly the whole of Europe. The Sovereign Pontiff, 
St. Pius V., after arousing, among all the Christian 
Princes, the resolution for a common defence, above 



15 

all strove with the greatest zeal to obtain for Christ-
endom the favour of the most powerful Mother of 
God. This noble example, before heaven and earth, 
rallied around him, in those times, all the minds and 
hearts of the age. Christ's faithful people then pre-
pared to sacrifice their blood and lives for the safety. 
of their faith and country. They went forward fear-
lessly to meet their foe near the Gulf of Corinth. 
At the same time those who were unable to take this 
part formed a pious band of supplicants, who called 
on Mary, and unitedly hailed her, again and again, 
in the words of the Rosary, imploring her to give 
the victory to their companions who were engaged 
in battle. Our Sovereign Lady did grant her aid ; for, 
in the naval battle near the Echinades Islands, the 
Christian fleet gained a magnificent victory, in which, 
-with slight loss to itself, the enemy was routed with 
great slaughter. It was to preserve the memory of 
this great boon that the same most Holy Pontiff de-
sired that a feast in honour of Our Lady of Victoria 
should celebrate the anniversary of so memorable a 
struggle It is this feast which Gregory XIII. dedi-
cated under the title of " The Most Holy Rosary ". 

Important successes were, in like manner, gained 
in the last century over the Turks at Temeswar in 
Pannonia, and at Corfu. In both these cases, the 
engagements coincided with feasts of the Blessed 
Virgin, and the celebrations of the feasts were con-
cluded'with public recitation of the Rosary. 



16 
Our predecessor Clement XI. was also led, in his 

gratitude, to decree that the Blessed Mother of God 
should be especially honoured each year in her 
Rosary throughout the whole Church. 

Since, then, it is evident that this form of prayer is 
.so acceptable to the Blessed Virgin, so suited to the 
defence of the Church and of Christendom, and that, 
whether publicly or privately used, it brings down 
divine blessings, it is not surprising that others of 
Our Predecessors, by the most earnest commenda-
tions, have endeavoured to promote and to -spread; 
its adoption. Thus Urban IV. testififed that " the 
Rosary daily obtained fresh favours for 
Christendom "; Sixtus IV. declared that this method 
of prayer " redounded to the honour of God and 
of the Blessed Virgin, and was well fitted to 
avert impending dangers"; Leo X. said "it was 
instituted to counteract heresiarchs and growing 
heresies"; and Julius III. called it " the glory of 
the Church"; Pius V. also declared that " w i t h 
the spread of this devotion the faithful have be-
come more fervent by these meditations and more 
inflamed by these prayers, that on a sudden they 
have become different men, that the darkness of 
heresy has been dissipated\ and the light ofS 
Catholic faith has again beamed forth ". Lastly, 
Gregory XIII. says that " the Rosary was insti-
tuted by St. Dominic, to ?*pease the anger of 



17 

God and to implore the intercession of the 
Blessed Virgin Mary." 

Moved by these thoughts and by the example of 
Our Predecessors, We have deemed it most oppor-
tune for like reasons to institute solemn prayers, and 
to endeavour, by adopting those addressed to the 
Blessed Virgin, in the recital of the Rosary, to obtain 
from her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, similar aid 
against present dangers. 

Venerable Brethren, you have before your eyes the 
severe trials to which th$ Church is daily exposed. 
Christian piety, public morality, nay, even faith itself, 
our highest good and the foundation of all other 
virtues, are threatened with the greatest perils. You 
are not only aware of the difficulty of Our position, 
and of Our various griefs, but by sympathy and com-
munion your charity makes you feel with Us. It is 
indeed a most afflicting and painful sight to witness 
so many souls, who have been redeemed by the Blood 
of Christ, carried away, as it were, by the whirlwind of 
error, and hurled headlong into evil and eternal ruin. 
Our need of divine help is not less to-day than when 
the great Dominic preached the Rosary of Mary, as a 
remedy to heal the wounds of Christendom. Divinely 
enlightened, he saw that no remedy could be better 
adapted to the evils of his time, than that men should, 
by frequent meditation on the salvation obtained for 
us by Christ, return to Him who is " the way, the 
truth, and the life," and that they should seek' the 



18 

intercession with God of that Virgin to whom it is 
given " to destroy all heresies ". 

To effect this he so composed the Rosary as to 
recall to mind the mysteries of our salvation in order. 
He combined and, as it were, interlaced the subjects 
to be meditated with the Angelic Salutation and with 
the prayer " to God and the Father of our Lord 
Jesus Christ". 

We, who seek a remedy for like evils, do not doubt 
that the prayer introduced by that most holy man, 
with so much benefit to the Catholic world, will have 
the greatest power against the calamities of our times 
also. 

For this reason do We exhort all Christians to give 
themselves to the daily recital of this pious devotion, 
either in public or privately in the home or family of 
each, and We also desire that the WHOLE M O N T H O F 
O C T O B E R IN THE PRESENT YEAR be consecrated to 
the Queen of the Holy Rosary. 

We therefore decree and enjoin that, throughout 
the whole Catholic world, the Rosary of the Mother 
of God be celebrated by special and solemn services 
in the present year, and that, from the first day of 
October next to the second day of the following 
November, in every parish church, and, if the eccle-
siastical authorities think it desirable, in every chapel 
dedicated to the honour of the Mother of God, there 
be devoutly recited at least five decades of the 
Rosary, together with the Litany of Loreto. It is Our 



19 

wish, further, that when the people are assembled for 
these devotions, either Mass be said, or that the Most 
Holy Sacrament be exposed on the Altar .for adora-
tion, and Benediction be given to the suppliant con-
gregation. In places in which it can be done. We 
highly approve that confraternities of the Rosary 
should go in solemn procession through the towns, 
according to ancient custom, as a public demonstra-
tion of their devotion; but in those places where 
this is not practicable, let it be replaced by more 
frequent yisits to the churches, and let the fervour 
of devotion display itself by a still greater diligence 
in the exercise of Christian virtues. 

In favour of those who shall do as We have en-
joined above, We are pleased to open the heavenly 
treasure-house of the Church, that they may find 
therein the encouragement and reward of their devo-
tion. To all, therefore, who in the prescribed time 
shall have been present and taken part in the public 
recital of the Rosary and the Litanies, and who shall 
have prayed for Our intention, We grant seven 
years and seven times forty days of indulgence before 
God, to be obtained for each attendance. 

We grant the same favours to those also who are 
hindered, by a legitimate cause, from joining in the 
public prayers: but on this condition, that they shall 
have practised these devotions in private, and shall 
have prayed for Our intention. 

To all those who within the time prescribed shall 



20 

have, at least ten times, either in the church, or, when 
legitimately hindered, shall, at home, perform the same 
devotions, and, after due confession, receive the Holy 
Eucharist, We remit all punishment and penalties for 
sins committed, in form of a Pontifical Indulgence. 

Finally, to those who, either on the Feast of the 
Rosary of the Blessed Virgin, or within its octave, 
shall have purified their souls v by a salutary confes-
sion, shall have approached the table of our Lord, 
and shall have'prayed, in some church, to God and 
the Blessed Virgin for the wants of the Church, and 
for Our intention, We grant a Plenary Indulgence. 

Venerable Brethren, the more you have at heart 
the honour of Mary and the welfare of human soci-
ety, so much the more apply yourselves to nourish 
the devotion of the people towards the Holy Virgin, 
and to increase their confidence in her. We believe 
it to be in the designs of Providence that, in these 
times of trial for the Church, the ancient devotion to 
the August Virgin should live and flourish. 

May the Christian people, excited by Our exhor-
tations and inflamed by your appeals, now seek the 
protection of Mary, with an ardour growing greater 
day by day. Let them betake themselves more and 
more to the protection of Mary, and trust in her. 
Let them cling more and more to the practice of the 
Rosary; to which our ancestors had recourse as an 
ever-ready refuge in misfortune, and as a glorious 
pledge and proof of Christian faith and devotion. 



21 

The heavenly Patroness of the human race will 
receive with joy these prayers and supplications, and 
will easily obtain that the good grow in goodness, 
and that the erring repent and be brought back to 
salvation; that God, who is the avenger of crime, 
moved to compassion and mercy, shall deliver 
Christendom and civil society from their present 
dangers, and restore to them that peace which is so 
much desired. 

Encouraged by this hope, We beseech God Him-
self, with the earnest desire of O u r heart, 'to grant 
you', Venerable Brethren, every gift of heavenly 
blessing, through her in whom He has placed the 
fulness of all grace. As a pledge and augury of this 
We lovingly impart to you, to your clergy, and to 
the people committed to your care, the Apostolic 
Benediction. _ 

Given in Rome, at St. Peter's, on the first day of 
September, I883, in the sixth year of Our Pontificate. 

POPE LEO XIII. 

The Holy Father Pope Leo XIII. has issued other 
Encyclicals and Decrees in favour of the Rosary, 
t h e following list comprises the principal of these 
documents: 

On the 20th November of the same year, the Holy 
Father addressed Letters Apostolic to the Father 



22 

General of the Dominican Order, praising the effect 
of his Encyclical Letter on the Rosary devotions dur-
ing October, and declaring that the petition of the 
title, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for 
us, being inserted in the Litany, should be consid-
ered. 

On the 10th December, a Decree was issued, or-
dering the insertion of the above-named title in the 
Litany of Loreto. 

On the 24th December, a Brief was published 
carrying out the same order, and expressing the 
desire of His Holiness that the Rosary should be 
recited daily in cathedrl churches throughout the 
world, and in parish churches on all Sundays and 
Feast days. 

On the 30th August, 1884, the Holy Father issued 
an Encyclical Superiore anno, in which, after ex-
pressing his great joy at the celebration of the pre-
ceding Rosary Month, he commanded the same for 
the ensuing month of October. 

In the year 1885, the Holy Father established the 
Rosary Month, to be continued until the peace and 
liberty of the Church be restored. 

On the 11th September, 1887, the Festival of the 
Most Holy Rosary was raised to a double of the 
second class. 

On the 5th August, 1888, a proper office was 
assigned for Rosary Sunday. 

Among the numerous praises of the Rosary s a t -



23 

rered through these Pontifical documents, the follow-
ing may be quoted: 

We desire nothing more ardently than that 
the fervour of the faithful in performing the 
devotion of the Rosary should not languish, but 
should remain firm and perfect, the Holy Father 
desiring to increase the devotion towards the 
Mother of God, especially by this form of prayer 
most pleasing to her. 

Amongst the various forms of prayer used in 
the Church, piously and profitably, the Rosary 
has many titles of praise—especially this, that 
it was instituted to implore the help of the 
Mother of God against the enemies of the Faith : 
and, as all know, it has frequently helped the 
Church in trial. Not only, therefore, is it 
proper for private prayer, but also for public 
occasions, that this kind of prayer should be re-
stored to the honour it long held,, when every 
Christian family marked each day with its re-
cital. Hence we exhort and beseech all to say 
the Rosary every day with constancy. 

Care must be taken that in these sad times 
for the Church the holy custom of saying the 
Rosary be carefully observed, especially as this 
form of prayer is excellently suited to nourish 
the spirit of devotion. 

" For these reasons We exhort and beseech all 
to persist religiously and constantly in the daily 



24 

use of the Rosary ; and We declare it to be Our 
desire that in the principal church of each dio-
cese it should be recited daily, and that in all 
parish churches it should be said on all festivals. 
And in stimulating and maintaining this pious 
exercise, the Religious Orders, and specially (by 
a kind of right) the Dominicans, can be of great 
service ; and we feel sure that they will not be 
wanting in the fulfilment of so beneficial and 
honourable a duty. 

' ' To the honour, therefore, of Mary, the great 
Mother of God, for a perpetual remembrance of 
Her patronage implored by all nations, through-
out the month of October to her most Pure 
Heart ; as lasting witness of the unbounded 
hope which We repose in our most loving Mother, 
and to obtain day by day more and more Her 
favourable aid, We ordain and decree that in thè 
Litany of Loreto, after the invocation ' Regina 
sine labe originali concepta,' there should be 
added the title ' Regina Sacratissimi Rosarii, 
ora pro nobis'. 

1 ' We will, moreover, that these Our Letters 
Ishall remain of force in the future as at this 
present time ; and We declare null and void 
whatever may be attempted against their effect ; 
all things whatsoever to the contrary notwith-
standing. 

" Given in Rome, at St. Peter's, under the 



25 

Ring of the Fisherman, on the XXIVth day of 
December, MDCCCLXXXIII, jgj ¡¡¡|| j w of 
our Pontificate 

"POPE LEO XIII". 

F R O M T H E D E C R E E O F 1888. 

" Wherefore, in thanksgiving for benefits received, 
and in more earnest prayer for future favours, the* 
most Holy Father commands, and emphatically 
repeats, all that he has laid down in Encyclicals in 
former years, and in Decrees of the Sacred Congre-
gation of Rites (Aug. 20, 1885; Aug. 26, 1886; 
Sept. 11, 1887), with regard to the recitation of the 
Holy Rosary, particularly in the month of October. 
And having in times past made many efforts towards 
the increase of liturgical devotion to the Blessed Vir-
gin, under the invocation of the Rosary, wishing to 
make another addition to this object, he has instituted 
for the feast of the Solemnity of the Rosary, on the 
first Sunday of October, a Proper Office and Mass, • 
to be recited in future by the clergy, regular and se-
cular, according to the rules, which by his approval 
and design he has ordered to be issued on this day by 
the Sacred Congregation of Rites. 

August 5, Feast of Our Lady ad nives, 1888. 
A . C A R D I N A L B I A N C H I , S.R.C., Prefect. 
L A W R E N C E S A L V I A T I , S.R.C. Secretary. 

Encyclicals in favour of the Rosary were also 
issued by Leo XIII. in 1891, 1892, I893, 1895, 



26 

and 1896, all manifesting the ardent desire of the 
Holy Father to see the Rosary practised and elevated. 

II. 

O R I G I N O F T H E R O S A R Y . 

IT was the will of God that we should receive 
His Adorable Son through Mary. It is His will that 
through her we should receive the graces which He 
purchased by His sufferings and death. Jesus, as we 
are told by the Doctors of the Church, committed to 
His Mother the care of all His elect; and our Immac-
ulate Queen has too often manifested the power of 
her intercession and the tenderness of her care for 
us, to call her love into question The miracles of 
grace, the wondrous cures of body and of soul 
effected at her shrines, and, more especially in our 
day, at Lourdes, are ample proof of her motherly 
tenderness. 

And yet what are all these manifest miracles which 
she has wrought, in comparison with the hidden 
wonders which she is daily effecting by means of her 
Rosary ? For next to the gift she made us of her 
Adorable Son, is the wonderful gift of her Beads. 
Jesus is the author and source of grace; the Rosary 
is the key by which the treasury of grace is opened 
to us. The Sacraments, we know, are the channels 
of grace; but we also know that (with the exception 



27 

I of Baptism in children), they are only so many 
I sacrileges if the soul be unprepared to receive them. 

Prayer must precede, accompany, and follow the 
Sacraments that they may have their full efficacy; 
and man cannot offer to God a prayer more power-
ful than the prayers he offers in the Rosary. If it is 
)true life to know Jesus Christ, the Rosary is the key 
to that knowledge. If the elevation of the mind to 
God in the contemplation of His mysteries of mercy 
and love enlightens the soul and inflames the heart, 
the Rosary offers to our meditation the most sublime 
truths of religion. This is the testimony of every 
soul truly devoted to the Beads. It is the testimony 
of the saints of God. It is the declaration of illustrious 
Doctors of the Church. Therefore, we must not 
wonder that the Church employs language in speaking 
of the Rosary, which, with this solitary exception, 
is only applicable to the Most Blessed Sacrament and 
to God Himself, as " Sanctissimum," "Sacratissi-
mum,"—the most holy, the most sacred, Rosary. 
Oh, that man would sufficiently appreciate this won-
drous gift of the Queen of Heaven once given to St. 

i Dominic, and through him to all the children of the 
Church! 

The object of this little work is to show the great-
ness of the Rosary, the riches of its indulgences, and 
the means to be employed in order to gain them. 
But let us first briefly consider the history of the 
Rosary. 

* 



28 

The period which beheld the wondrous gift of the 
Mother of God was, perhaps, the darkest portion of 
the Middle Ages. The great Pontiff, Innocent III., 
who ascended the Chair of Peter in 1198, was deeply 
grieved at the sad spectacle which Christendom pre-
sented. He saw Sicily deluged in blood, the Ger-
mans contending for Lombardy, three rival claimants 
for the sceptre of Henry VI., Philip Augustus scand-
alizing the world by his shameful life, and Spain 
bleeding beneath the iron rule of Moorish dominion. 
The last traces of Christianity were nearly obliterated 
in the East, whilst a fearful heresy was ravaging the 
provinces of France in the West. Laxity shamefully 
prevailed, and for the first time in her history the 
Church had to compel her children, under pain of ex-
communication, to approach the Sacraments at least 
once a year. It was during this gloomy period that 
God, who regenerated the world through the medium 
of Mary, willed to save society by means of her 
Rosary. 

It is a singular fact that the saints whom Mary 
honored with special marks of her love, were men 
and women of spotless purity: witness, St. Joseph, 
St. John, St. Catherine the Martyr, St. Bernard,« 
and St. Catherine of Sienna; and among the saints M 
of the Middle Ages none shone with a brighter lustre 
than the noble young Spaniard, Dominic de Guzman. 
In early youth, like our Immaculate Mother, he made 
a vow of chastity which, he was able to declare on 



29 

his death-bed, he had never violated. He burned 
with zeal for the salvation of souls as well as for the 
glory of his Creator; and it was the sad state of 

I morality in France, when he passed through that 
country with his bishop, that determined him to in-
stitut i his Order of Preachers to labor for the salva-
tion of society. 

The horrors which St. Dominic witnessed in Lan-
guedoc have their echoes in the ravings of the com-
munists and socialists of our day. The Albigensians 
pillaged the churches, ravaged the monasteries, dese-
crated the sanctuaries of God, and murdered the 
priests, whilst they rejected every moral obligation 
and despised all authority. Pope Innocent sent 
missionaries among them; but to his special envoy, 
Peter of Castelnau, they awarded the crown ol 
martyrdom. 

It was in the midst of these degraded outlaws that 
St. Dominic desired to labor, and, if necessary, lay 
down for them his life. They often sought to de-
stroy him: but God had work for His servant to 
accomplish. Day by day he labored, going from 
place to place preaching, and watering that barren 
vineyard with his sweat, his tears, and his blood. 

( Three times during each night of prayer he scourged 
his body, and offered his innocent blood for the con-
version of that obdurate race. To a missionary of 
less zeal the scanty fruits of such earnest toil would 
have been discouraging; but St. Dominic was not 



30 

disheartened. There was yet one Refuge whither he I 
could fly, one Advocate to whom he had never I 
appealed in vain. Rather, the hour was come that I 
had been fixed in eternity when our Immaculate I 
Mother would bestow another great gift upon a sin- I 
ful world. St. Dominic appealed to the heart of his I 
sweet Advocate, reminding her of the sufferings she I 
witnessed on Calvary, and of her own sorrows, and, I 
with tearful eyes, he besought her not to allow such I 
sufferings and sorrows to be useless to the people for I 
whom Jesus died. Then it was that the heavens I 
opened, and the Mother of God, holding a Rosary in I 
her hand, appeared in dazzling brightness to her ser- I 
vant, whom she thus addressed: " Be of good cour- I 
age, Dominic; the fruits of your labor will be I 
abundant. The remedy for the evils you lament will I 
be meditation on the life, death, and glory of my I 
Son, uniting thereto the recitation of the Angelic I 
Salutation by which the mystery of Redemption was I 
announced to the world." Having explained the 
devotion-of the Rosary, she continued : " The earth 
will remain barren till watered by this heavenly dew. 
This devotion you are to inculcate by your preach-
ing, as a practice most dear to my Son and to me— I 
as a most powerful means of dissipating heresy, ex- I 
tinguishing vice, propagating virtue, of imploring the I 
divine mercy, and of obtaining my protection. I I 
desire that not only you but all those who shall enter I 
your Order, shall perpetually promote this manner of 



31 

prayer. The faithful will obtain by it innumerable 
advantages, and will always find me ready to aid 
them in their wants. This is the precious gift which 
I leave to you and your children." 

Full of gratitude to his Immaculate Mother, and 
animated with new courage, St Dominic arose from 
prayer and setting out for Toulouse, whence he had 
retired a little for his devotions, he hastened to obey 
the command of the Queen of Heaven. 

Before St. Dominic entered the city charged with 
the sublime mission of preaching the Rosary, the 
people, by a mysterious summons, had already 
assembled in the church. Dominic ascended the 
pulpit, and proclaimed the devotion revealed from 
Heaven. For a while they remained insensible to 
his words, but God was not wanting in aiding His 
minister. A violent storm arose, the church was 
lighted up by the lurid glare of the lightning, while 
peal after peal of thunder resounded. A statue of 
the Blessed Virgin then began to move, at one time 
pointing to Heaven in a threatening manner, again 
pointing to the preacher, as if imploring them to 
listen to him and obey his voice. The obdurate 
hearts of the people were at length touched. The 
victory was gained. The Rosary had conquered. 
Prostrating themselves with one impulse at St. 
Dominic's feet, the people begged to be received to 
this wonderful devotion. 



32 

I I I . 

P R O P A G A T I O N O F T H E R O S A R Y , 

THIS was the first victory of the Rosary. In a 
little while St. Dominic saw his labors crowned with 
complete success.. Historians tell us that more than 
one hundred thousand of these deluded people re-
turned to the true fold, where alone are life and 
salvation. The devotion of the Rosary soon spread 
throughout France and Spain. Afterwards it was 
parried by the faithful children of St. Dominic over 
the rest of Europe. Wherever that devotion was 
proclaimed the people flocked in crowds to become 
members of its glorious confraternity. Every rank 
was represented among its members. Popes and 
bishops exercised their influence to have it propa-
gated. The nobles taught it to their vassals. The 
brave Simon De Montfort had his soldiers practise it 
before each encounter with the enemy. In one word, 
the Rosary took hold of the Church, destined never 
to leave her. It is from the commencement of this 
devotion that we may date the revival of faith and 
piety at the close of the Middle Ages. 



33 

IV. 

T H E R E A S O N O F I T S SUCCESS. 

IT may be asked, how was the Rosary so success-
ful in this religious revival ? To answer this it is 
necessary to state some general principles. Man is a 
dependent being. We all rely on God for our 
needs of soul and body. God is able and is ready 
to give us all necessaries, but He requires us to ask 
Him for them.. Not that He may know our wants, 
but that we may pay Him the homage of prayer, and, 
at the same time, recognize our dependence on Him; 
and, furthermore, that, by prayer, we may gain the 
grace and glory which prayer, properly offered, 
obtains. St. Thomas declares the doctrine of prayer 
in a few sentences, luminous as are all the principles 
of the Angel of the Schools. And would to God, 
his teachings on this point were better understood 
to-day ! " God," says he, " has made our salvation, 
and the accomplishment of His designs, which are 
full of love for His elect and tend to their predesti-
nation, to depend on prayer." " When we pray," 
he adds, " it is not in order to change the decrees of 
God, but to fulfil them, and to obtain what He has 
resolved to grant to prayer alone: that thus men may 
deserve to receive by their prayers what he had 
determined to grant them from eternity out of His 
pure goodness." From this we see that, whilst God 
wills our sanctification and our salvation, it is on con-



34 

dition that we make use of thé means which He has 
appointed. Now one of the essential means is prayer. 
"Ask and you shall receive," says our Lord. If 
you refuse to ask ; if you neglect to ask, then you 
cannot expect to receive, since you fail to employ the 
means appointed. If men are overcome by their 
passions, it is because they do not pray as they should 
pray. If to-day our illustrious Pontiff, Leo XIII., 
sees the want, the necessity of prayer for the salva-
tion of the individual and of society, .that want, that 
necessity was equally great in the Middle Ages. 
The Immaculate Mother of God brought to the 
world the remedy for its evils, when she gave St. 
Dominic the Rosary. 

O blessed and ever glorious Mother of God ! you 
knew the evils of the Middle Ages, and ours you 
know; you know our poverty, our weakness, and 
in the love of your pure heart you have given us 
the sure means of enriching ourselves with grace ! 

Behold a form OÏ prayer suited to every rank and 
state of life ; Catholic, like the Church ; addressing 
itself to the young and the old ; capable of being used 
by the sinner as well as by the saint, by the illiterate 
beggar child as well as by the learned statesmen and 
doctors of science ! Oh, gift of Mary, gift of Heaven ! 
how can we praise thee, O Blessed Mother, for this 
tender work of thy unbounded love, for the inheri-
tance of Jesus Christ ! 

The sublime form of prayer taught St. Dominic 



35 

I by our Mother was not universally called the Rosary. 
By some it was called the Pater Nosters, a name 
which still obtains in some parts of Europe. By 

I others it was called the Psalter of Mary, because the 
I entire Rosary contains one hundred and fifty Hail 

I t M a r y s corresponding to the Psalter, or the one hun-
dred and fifty Psalms of David. 

As the word Rosary (in the Latin, Rosarium) 
means a garden of roses, so Mary's Rosary is a 
garden from which we can cull the choicest flowers 
for Heaven. 

¡ g 

S A I N T S A N D R E L I G I O U S O R D E R S H A V E P R A I S E D 
T H E ROSARY. 

WE quote from the writings of an English Domi-
nican : " St. Charles said, ' 1 depend on the Rosary 
almost entirely for the conversion and sanctification 
of my diocese.' Bishops and parish priests have 
emulated one another in promoting the Rosary among 
the faithful committed to their charge. Founders of 
Religious Orders have, a'most without exception, 

I • either commanded or earnestly recommended the 
daily recital of the Rosary. The Benedictines, repre-
sented by men venerable even amidst an Order so 
glorious in its traditional sanctity and. learning, 
speedily adopted this devotion in their ancient clois-
ters. The Carmelites delighted to repeat that they 



34 

dition that we make use of the means which He has 
appointed. Now one of the essential means is prayer. 
"Ask and you shall receive," says our Lord. If 
you refuse to ask; if you neglect to ask, then you 
cannot expect to receive, since you fail to employ the 
means appointed. If men are overcome by their 
passions, it is because they do not pray as they should 
pray. If to-day our illustrious Pontiff, Leo XIII., 
sees the want, the necessity of prayer for the salva-
tion of the individual and of society, .that want, that 
necessity was equally great in the Middle Ages. 
The Immaculate Mother of God brought to the 
world the remedy for its evils, when she gave St. 
Dominic the Rosary. 

O blessed and ever glorious Mother of God! you 
knew the evils of the Middle Ages, and ours you 
know; you know our poverty, our weakness, and 
in the love of your pure heart you have given us 
the sure means of enriching ourselves with grace! 

Behold a form oi prayer suited to every rank and 
state of life; Catholic, like the Church; addressing 
itself to the young and the old; capable of being used 
by the sinner as well as by the saint, by the illiterate 
beggar child as well as by the learned statesmen and 
doctors of science! Oh, gift of Mary, gift of Heaven ! 
how can we praise thee, O Blessed Mother, for this 
tender work of thy unbounded love, for the inheri-
tance of Jesus Christ! 

The sublime form of prayer taught St. Dominic 



I by our Mother was not universally called the Rosary. 
By some it was called the Pater Nosters, a name 

I which still obtains in some parts of Europe. By 
I others it was called the Psalter of Mary, because the 
I entire Rosary contains one hundred and fifty Hail 
15 Marys corresponding to the Psalter, or the one hun-
' dred and fifty Psalms of David. 

As the word Rosary (in the Latin, Rosarium) 
means a garden of roses, so Mary's Rosary is a 
garden from which we can cull the choicest flowers 
for Heaven. 

V. 

S A I N T S A N D R E L I G I O U S O R D E R S H A V E P R A I S E D 
T H E ROSARY. 

WE quote from the writings of an English Domi-
nican : | St. Charles said, ' 1 depend on the Rosary 
almost entirely for the conversion and sanctification 
of my diocese.' Bishops and parish priests have 
emulated one another in promoting the Rosary among 
the faithful committed to their charge. Founders of 
Religious Orders have, a'most without exception, 
either commanded or earnestly recommended the 
daily recital of the Rosary. The Benedictines, repre-
sented by men venerable even amidst an Order so 
glorious in its traditional sanctity and. learning, 
speedily adopted this devotion in their ancient clois-
ters. The Carmelites delighted to repeat that they 



36 
had received from the Dominican Order both their I 
later rules and their Rosary : thus uniting in a double I 
bond the cloistered and the Apostolic Orders of our I 
Lady. The Franciscans, ever ardent in their love I 
for Jesus Christ, made their rough-hewn wcoden I 
chaplets, and preached over the world, poverty and I 
the Beads of their Immaculate Mother. Inspired by I 
similar motives, the Servites, according to the testi- I 
mony of one of their venerable writers, wore the I 
Beads as the best badge of that servitude which is I 
the only true liberty. The first Fathers of the illus-
trious Society of Jesus, taught at once by the word 
and example of their Founder, invariably propagated 
everywhere the devotion of the Rosary, and like St. 
Francis Xavier, who generally used the touch of his 
chaplet as a means of healing the sick, they would 
often, on approaching those distant lands where zeal 
and charity bore them, raise aloft their Rosary, and 
with it bless the strange and barbarous people, who 
were to be conquered by that love of Jesus and 
Mary, of which the Rosary must ever form the most 
complete expression. St. Philip, called by the Popes 
the ' Apostle of Rome', ever stands before us. whether 
in history or in picture, with that chaplet seeming t o . I 
belong to him as much as his miracle-working, disin-
terested and tender charity. St. Vincent de Paul, 
when training a young Order to win souls to Christ, 
specially instructed its members to depend more upon 
their Beads than upon their preaching, in missions to 



37 

the people, and in retreats to priests and to students. 
i Who is there, throughout this whole country, in whom 
j devotion to the Rosary has . not been created or in-
[ creased by the disciples of St. Alphonsus ? or by those 

apostolic Congregations, which, under the name of the 
Passion, etc., have won so many souls to God ? In 
the religious communities of women, amidst the 
almost countless varieties of grace and of charity, we 
shall find the old Rosary of our Lady uniting all in a 
bond of devotional unity. " 

V I . 

W H A T T H E P R E D E C E S S O R S O F L E O X I I I 
T H O U G H T O F T H E ROSARY. 

WE here give a few selections from the many 
words of praise uttered by preceding Popes in honor 
of the Rosary: Without exception the Sovereign 
Pontiffs have shown their love for the Beads, enrich-
ing the devotion with many proofs of their fostering 
care. Pope Urban calls the Rosary I' the propagator 
of Christianity." And truly, the preaching of the 

I Rosary spreads the Kingdom of Christ, by spreading 
the knowledge and love of Jesus and Mary. We 
have proof of this in the flourishing Christianity of 
Tonquin, and of those parts of China, America, and 
of the West Indies, where the Rosary, preached by 
the | White Fathers,"—as the natives called the sons 



38 

of St. Dominic,—converted so great a number of 
idolators, and kept them constant in the faith. 

Pope Clement VIII. calls the Rosary, " the pro-
tection and the security of the faithful," and alludes to 
the victories which have been obtained, and the mir-
acles which have been wrought, through the Holy 
Rosary. Indeed, successive ages have united in a 
grand chorus to testify how the Rosary had been 
instrumental in delivering devout Rosarians from 
many terrible dangers; in banishing evils from body 
and from soul; in healing the sick and in raising the 
dead;—as the Holy Virgin revealed to the Blessed 
Alan, " immense volumes would have to be written, 
if all the miracles of my Holy Rosary-were to be 
recorded " 

Pope GregoryXIII. calls the Rosary, "the appeaser 
of the anger of God, the rainbow of peace, uniting 
angered Heaven with guilty earth;" and he speaks of 
the hands armed with that holy sign of the Rosary, 
as " equipped with a heavenly shield." 

Pope Gregory XIV. calls the Holy Rosary, " t h e 
destroyer of sin." How often has the soul, aban-
doned to sin, been, by the recital of this prayer, 
saved from the abyss of vice ? And when sincere 
lovers of souls seek the conversion of others, to what 
remedy do they apply so constantly, and so effica-
ciously, as to the recital of the Holy Rosary ? 

Pope Paul V. describes the Rosary as the " Treas-
ury of all graces;" in it " sinners find life, the just 



39 

find it more abundantly;" the contemplation of the 
sacred mysteries of our Saviour's life inflames the 
heart with love of God, and raises it easily to the 
exercises of the sublimest virtues. Devotion to the 
Rosary is a pledge of perseverance in good, of a 
happy death, and of a blessed predestination. 

Pope Julius IHi proclaims the Holy Rosary to be 
" a most illustrious ornament of the Catholic Church, 
offering to us, with a sublime, reality, those precious 
and mysterious stones mentioned in Holy Writ as 
decorating the vestments of the Spouse of Christ." 

Nor can we be surprised at such commendations, 
I- when we consider how powerfully the heart is 

affected by frequent meditation on the Incarnation, 
"the Childhood, the Passion, and the Risen Glory of 
our Lord: how great must be the benefit to the soul, 
when such practical meditations are offered up under 
the; invocation of our Queen and our Mother, and 
joined with the recital of prayers so precious as the 
Our Father and the Hail Mary! 

lip 
T H E P E O P L E A L W A Y S D E V O T E D T O T H E 

R O S A R Y . 

W I T H the faithful, the Rosary has ever maintained 
| its place. Other rosaries or beads have been in-

vented, in pious imitation of those taught by our 
Lady. Some of these have been condemned ; some 



40 

have been tolerated; some have even been indul-
genced; but none have ever been allowed to assume 
the name of Rosary. The faithful have ever caught the 
spirit of the Church, and clung with traditional rever-
ence and love to that devotion, which coming from 
Heaven, alone presents to the mind and to the heart the 
sum of the Christian life. Who does not remember 
in early days old-fashioned beads treasured amidst 
faithful families as memorials of times of danger 
and of persecution? A venerable priest who lately 
died in Rome, in the odor of sanctity, declared that the 
faith had been preserved in Ireland, solely by the de-
votion of its faithful people to the Rosary. During 
the dark days of persecution, when there was not a 
Catholic school in the three British Isles; when it 
was felony to teach even the Catholic Catechism, 
and death for the Priest to say Mass, the Irish 
mothers, taking their Crucifix and beads, told their 
little ones the story of Jesus and Maryland thus kept 
the Faith of our fathers green in the hearts of their 
-children. The venerable Curé D'Ars declared em-
phatically that in this century it was the Rosary which 
restored religion in France; and we know by the 
testimony of Saints, and of our Blessed Lady herself, 
it was the preaching of the Rosary which at two 
terrible epochs reanimated and saved the faith of 
Southern Europe. 



41 

SECOND PART. 

V I I I . 

T H E R O S A R Y I S T H E U N I O N O F V O -

C A L A N D M E N T A L P R A Y E R S . 

As St. Dominic united in the Order of Friai 
Preachers the activity of the priest ministering to the 
wants of the people, with the contemplation of the 
recluse, so he did the same with prayer. Through 
his instrumentality vocal and mental prayer met and 
wedded. Their union is indissoluble and their life is 
destined to last as long as the Church herself. 

The founder of the Rosary chose the highest 
form of vocal prayer and as its companion he selected 
the New Testament for a book of meditation. For 
the mysteries of the Rosary are but the epitome of 
the Gospels. The Rosary then is not vocal prayer 
alone, nor is it meditation which latter is often a use-
less roaming of the mind; but it is a sublime prayer 
united with meditation on fixed principles of faith. 
In books on meditation we are told to exercise the 
three powers of our soul—Memory, Understanding, 
Will. This we can easily do in meditating on the 
mysteries of the Rosary. Take for instance the 
Scourging at the Pillar. The memory presents a 
large hall full of rude soldiers, who drag in a poor 
prisoner, pull off His garments bind Him to a pillar 



42 

and there tear off the flesh from His bones until His 
body is all raw and covered with wounds and His 
blood streaming over the floor. Next the under-
standing considers who this prisoner is I the adorable 
Son of the Most High God, the Lord and Giver of 
life. And why does he suffer ? For miserable sin-
ners ; for us ungrateful men; for those who are* 
scourging Him. Now the will is influenced to make 
acts of compassion, love, adoration, thanksgiving 
petition, etc. 

Some, however, cannot meditate, or at best can 
meditate but poorly. These our loving Mother 
will not deprive of the blessings of 'the Rosary. 
However she requires that they have at least the in-
tention of meditating. Pope Benedict XIII. has de-
clared that for the consolation of simple people who 
are not very capable of meditating on the mysteries, 
they can gain the indulgences by a slight meditation 
o n l y " ; nevertheless he adds, " we will that they 
should be trained to meditate according to the rules 
of the Confraternity." 

The meditation must accompany each separate 
decade. 

It suffices if the Mystery is formally given out in 
v/ords and set before the mind thus: " In the first 
Joyful Mystery let us consider the message of the 
Angel Gabriel, and the great Mystery of the Incar-
nation of the Son of God," and so of the other Mys-
teries. 



43 

There are various ways of meditating on the 
Mysteries of the Rosary. One laid down by ancient, 
writers is that of considering a separate point on each 
Hail Mary connected with the Mystery. In this 
method the incidents which surround each Mystery in 
the Holy Scriptures may be pondered, as giving a 
fresh meaning to the truth presented for our medi-
tation. I 

I X . 

V O C A L P R A Y E R S O F T H E R O S A R Y . 

THE entire Rosary is composed of fifteen decades, 
or mysteries, divided into three parts, known as the 
Joyful, the Sorrowful, and the Glorious Mysteries. 
In honor of each mystery a decade is recited, that is, 
one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory be 
to the Father. To practise the devotion as taught by 
our Blessed Mother, it is necessary to meditate on the 
mysteries, either immediately before the decade or 
during its recital Each decade, like David's harp of 
ten strings, gives a heavenly melody that delights the 
heart of our Immaculate Mother. We shall now 
consider the different prayers of the Rosary, and 
first: 

T H E O U R F A T H E R . 

Jesus Christ Himself taught us the first essential 
part of the Rosary—the Our Father. This divine 
prayer contains petitions for all things necessary for 



44 

" soul and body. St. Thomas says that by this prayer 
we not only ask those things which we should reas-
onably desire, but we ask them in the very order in 
which we should ask them; that in teaching us how 
we should pray, our Lord has also taught us to regu-
late our desires.. 

The devout soul first utters its ardent love for 
God, and next expresses its longing desire that the 
whole earth should praise God and do His will as the 
blessed do in Heaven. Then are asked the neces-
saries of the body and soul, and the deliverance from 
all evils. 

T H E H A I L M A R Y . 

As we can present no prayer so pleasing, so effica-
cious, to the Eternal Father, as the prayer which was 
placed on out lips by our beloved Redeemer, so we 
can offer no prayer to our Immaculate Mother so 
pleasing, so efficacious, as that salutation which the 
same Eternal Father placed on the lips of the angel 
sent to salute her. When first that prayer was 
uttered, Heaven was reconciled with sinful earth, 
the work of Redemption was begun, Heaven and 
earth were filled with joy. Tertullian says that as 
the Lord's Prayer is the breviary of the Gospel, so 
the Angelic Salutation may be called the breviary of 
Mary. It tells of her dignity, her power, her glory. 
One of the highest angels of Heaven salutes her, 
calls her full of grace, tells her the Lord is with her, 
not as with other creatures, but in an ineffable man-



45 

ner. When we say the Angelic Salutation, we fill 
Mary and all Heaven with joy, in recalling the 
sublime Mystery of the Incarnation. Mary revealed 
to Blessed Alan, O. P., the devoted child of the 
Rosary, that in saying the Hail Mary here on earth, 
we imitate the angels, who are continually repeating 
that salutation before her in Heaven, filling her im-
maculate Heart with joy in the recollection of the 
great mystery which secured to her the sublime 
dignity of Mother of God. 

To the Hail Mary, as given by the angel and St. 
Elizabeth, was added, about the time of St. Dominic 
(perhaps by him), the name Jesus. And since then 
that sacred name is pronounced with adoring love 
every day by millions of the faithful. St Augustine 
says the Hail Mary is the treasury of God, whence 
He distributes the gifts of Heaven to men. St. 
Jerome calls it the tree of life, which resuscitates the 
dead, sustains the living, heals the diseased. 

Says Blessed Alan: "Heaven rejoices, the earth 
is astonished, Satan flees, hell trembles, the world 
appears miserable, the heart is inflamed with love, 
the flesh is overcome, sadness is banished, fervor 
increases, the mind is illumined, the heart is enlarged, 
when 1 say the Hail Mary." No wonder the saints 
delighted m often repeating that divine salutation, so 
powerful m its effects. 



46 

T H E H O L Y M A R Y . 

The Holy Mary was composed after the Council of 
Ephesus. It is the universal cry of the divinely 
inspired Church. We call Mary the Mother of God, 
against Nestorius and all those heretics who deny 
her that sublime prerogative. As we call that 
woman mother from whom we received only part of 
our being, that is, our body, so we rightly call Mary 
the Mother of God, although she only gave Him 
part of His being. Jesus received from Mary that 
Sacred Body which suffered on the Cross, that 
Precious Blood which paid the debt of our sins. 

Whilst we repeat the Holy Mary, we are making 
an act of faith in the Humanity and Divinity of Jesus 
Christ In calling Mary the Mother of God, we 
proclaim to the world our belief that God had a 
mother, that He was born of a woman, that He was 
made man. Never will a child of the Church forget 
the mystery of Redemption, or lose faith in that 
fundamental dogma of Christianity, the Incarnation, 
so long as he practises the devotion of the Rosary. 

In saying " pray for us sinners," we acknowledge 
Mary's power and our own sinfulness. We make 
an act of humility and an act of contrition; we do 
not think we are worthy to address God, but ask 
the purest, the most holy and most powerful Virgin 
to intercede for us. The ten Hail Marys end with 
the Glory be to the Father, which is an act of su-
preme homage to the Adorable Trinity. The Glory 



47 

be to the Father, etc., is not a part of the Rosary, 
but a fitting ending to each decade. We adore the 
Father in the Lord's Prayer, the Son in His Incarna-
tion in the Hail Mary, the Blessed Trinity in the 
Boxology. these beautiful and divine prayers are 
Mended and entwined as it were with T H E MYSTER-
JIES OF THE ROSARY which are the life and soul of 
[this devotion. —— 

X. 

T H E M Y S T E R I E S O F T H E R O S A R Y . 

The first part of the Rosary: The Five Joyful 
• Mysteries are occupied with the Incarnation, Birth, 

and Childhood of Our Lord; the Five Sorrowful, 
with His passion and death; the Five Glorious, with 

. His triumph and glory, with the mission of the 
I Holy Ghost, and the Assumption and Coronation of 

1 our Immaculate Mother. It will be seen at a glanc« 
I that these fifteen Mysteries present for our contem-
I plation the great truths of our Christian faith. They 
I are the Gospels meditated, the whole Bible epito. 
I mized. For in reality what is the Old Testament 
I but a collection of prophetical and historical books, 
I foretelling in type and figure and symbol and pro-
I phecy the coming and character and kingdom of the 
| world's Redeemer ? These, with the history of that 

strange people the Hebrew race appointed to guard 
sacredly those books, comprise +he Old Testament. 



48 

Now, what is the New Testament but the fulfilment 
of what was foreshadowed and foretold in the Old ? 
It tells of the coming of the angel, the Visitation to 
St. Elizabeth, the Nativity, the Presentation of Our 
Lord in the Temple, and how He was found there by 
His Mother and St. Joseph. It also tells of His terri-
ble sorrow and scourging, and coronation with thorns, 
ind crucifixion. But if the New Testament tells of 
the humiliations and sufferings of Our Lord, it also 
tells of His triumph and glory, of His gift to the 
world by sending us the Paraclete. O Blessed 
Mother Mary, in presenting us your glorious Rosary 
you would teach us the whole economy of redemp-
tion. Especially would you put the crucifix in our 
hand and tell us to meditate on all your Son did and 
suffered for us. " The Rosary preaches Christ and 
Him crucified. 1 

I L L U S T R A T I O N S A N D M E D I T A T I O N S . 

The following simple illustrations, intended es-
pecially for private devotions, will serve to aid the 
mind in forming to itself pictures of- the great truths 
which the Rosary proposes for our mediation. When 
the Rosary is said in public, the Contemplations and 
Prayers need not be employed. Yet it must be rc. 
membered, that for the majority of our people, the 
mere naming of the mystery does not suffice. Each 
mystery should be presented to them in brief, forci-



49 

ble, clear language, so that they may be enabled 
easily to form to themselves a mental picture of each 
subject of meditation.* The Rosary affords the 
faithful a system of sublime prayer " intertwined 
with meditation," it does more, it presents them a 
Catechism instructing them in the great truths of 
their faith. In this the Rosary surpasses all other 
devotions. 

*See Appendix f o r brief points of meditation. 



50 

Let us contemplate in this Mystery how the 
Angel Gabriel saluted our Blessed Lady with the 
title, " Full of Grace," and declared unto her the 
Lncarnation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ. 

One Pater. Ten Aves. One Gloria. 



51 

L E T U S P R A Y . 

0 Holy Mary, Queen of Virgins I T h r o u g h the most high 
Mystery of the Incarnation of thy beloved Son, our Lord 
Jesus Christ, wherein our salvation was begun, obtain f o r us, 
through thy most holy intercession, light t o understand the 
greatness of t h e benefit He hath bestowed upon us, in vouch-
safing t o become our Brother, and giving thee, His own b e -
loved Mother, t o be our Mother also. Amen. 

P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N 

T H E A N G E L I C A L S A L U T A T I O N . 

if T h e most Holy Trinity consents t o the Incarnation of 
Jesus Christ. 

2. Mary is chosen t o be the Mother of the Incarnate Word. 
3. T h e Angel Gabriel announces that happiness t o Mary. 
4. T h e Angel salutes her, saying, " Hail Mary, full of grace, 

t h e Lord is with thee." 
5. Mary is troubled at the sight and speech of the Angel. 
6. She prays in her holy solitude. 
7. The Angel says, " Fear n o t , Mary, thou shalt conceive b y 

the power of the Holy Ghost." 
18. Mary answers, " B e h o l d the handmaid of the L o r d ; be it 

done unto me according t o thy w o r d . " 
9. The Holy Ghost overshadows her. 
10. And the W o r d was made Flesh, and dwelt among us. 

V I R T U E — H U M I L I T Y . 

• Humble yourself frequently b y considering y o u r nothing-
ness, y o u r sins, and miseries. Be willing that others despise 
y o u . Patiently bear with any contempt you m a ; meet with. 

A S P I R A T I O N . 

" T o thee, O Lord, be glory and honor—10 us shame and 
confusion." 



52 

Let us contemplate in this Mystery how the 
Blessed Virgin Mary, understanding from the 
angel that her cousin, St. Elizabeth, had con-
ceived, went with haste into the mountains of 
Judea to visit her, bearing her Divine Son within 
her womb, and remained with her three months. 

One Pater. Ten Aves. One Gloria. 



53 

L E T U S P R A Y . 

O Holy Virgin, most spotless m i r r o r of h u m i l i t y ; b y that 
exceeding charity w h i c h m o v e d thee t o visit t h y holy cousin, 
St Elizabeth, o b t a i n f o r us, t h r o u g h t h y intercession, that o u r 
hearts being visited b y t h y Divine Son, and f r e e d f r o m all sin, 
we may praise a n d give thanks t o Him f o r e v e r . Amen. 

P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N . 

T H E V I S I T A T I O N : 

l j M a r y , w i t h great humility and charity, goes t o visit her 
cousin, St. Elizabeth. 

2 . Mary, guided b y t h e Holy G h o s t , a n d accompanied b y 
the holy angels-

3. Mary crosses t h e mountains in haste. 
4. Mary is received w i t h great j o v b y her u u s i n , St. 

Elizabeth. 
5. St. J o h n is sanctified in his m o t h e r ' s w o m b . 
6. St. Elizabeth says, " Blessed is t h e f r u i t of t h y \v~mb." 
7. Mary r e p l i e s , " M y soul d o t h magnify t h e L o r d . " 
g. Elizabeth e x c l a i m s , " Whence is this t o me, t h a t the 

mother of m y Lord should come t o visit m e ? " 
9. T h e house of Zacharias supremely blessed b y the visits of 

J e s u s a n d Mary. 
10. Mary serves her cousin in all humble offices f o r the 

space of t h r e e m o n t h s . 

V I R T U E — C H A R I T Y . 

Be particularly careful n o t t o say o r listen t o anything 
against y o u r n e i g h b o r ' s reputation. Let n o day pass w i t h o u t 
showing him y o u r charity b y some little service. 

A S P I R A T I O N . 

" O Lord, enkindle in o u r hearts the fire of T h y charity. 



54 

Let us contemplate in this Mystery how the 
Blessed Virgin Mary, when the time for her de-
livery was come, brought forth our Redeemer, 
Jesus Christ, at midnight, and laid Him in a 
manger, because there was no room for Him in 
the inns at Bethlehem. 

One Pater. Ten Aves. One Gloria. 



55 

L E T U S P R A Y . 

O most pure Mother of God I Through thy Virginal and 
most joyful delivery, whereby t h o u gavest t o the world thy 
only Son, our Saviour, we beseech thee obtain f o r us through 
thy intercession, the grace t o lead such pure and holy lives in 
this world, that we may become w o r t h y t o sing, without ceas-
ing, the mercies of thy Son, and His benefits t o us, b y thee. 
Amen. 

P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N . 

T H E B I R T H O F J E S U S C H R I S T . 

1. Mary gives birth t o a Child, and remains a Virgin. 
2. Mary gives b i r t h t o Jesus, and wraps Him in swaddling-

clothes. 
3. Mary contemplates Jesus with love and astonishment. 
4. Mary embraces Jesus and presses Him t o her heart. 
5. Mary feeds Jesus with her Virginal Milk. 
6. Mary lays Jesus in a manger that Joseph had prepared. 
7. Jesus lies in a manger between an o x and an ass. 
8. T h e angels s i n g , " Glory to God in the highest, on earth 

peace t o men of good-will.'' 
9. T h e shepherds come t o visit the Child Jesus. 
10. The Magi come t o adore the Holy Child, and offer him 

presents. 

• V I R T U E — P O V E R T Y . 

Every day visit the Blessed Sacrament f o r five jninutes, as 
another Bethlehem, and then disengage y o u r heart f r o m family, 
friends, goods, etc. 

A S P I R A T I O N . 

" What have I in heaven or on earth but thee, my God ?" 



56 

Let us contemplate in this Mystery how the\ 
Blessed Virgin Mary on the day of her purifica-
tion presented the Child Jesus in the Temple, 
where Holy Simeon, giving thanks to God, with 
great devotion received Him into his'arms. 

One Pater. Ten Aves. One Gloria. 



.57 

L E T U S P R A Y . 

O Holy Virgin, most admirable mistress and pattern of 
obedience, w h o didst present the Lord of the Temple in the 
Temple of G o d ; obtain f o r us, f r o m thy Blessed Son, that, 
with holy Simeon and devout Anna, we may praise and glorify 
Him forever. Amen. 

P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N . 

T H E P R E S E N T A T I O N . 

1. Mary goes t o the Temple t o offer her Holy Child. 
2. Jesus and Mary submit t o the law. 
3. T h e way f r o m Nazareth t o Jerusalem is long and difficult. 
4. Mary carries the Child Jesus in her arms. 
5. Mary continues her journey, pondering all these things 

in her heart. 
6. Mary offers Jesus in the Temple. 
7. Mary redeems Jesus at the ransom appointed f o r the 

poor. 
8. Anna rejoices t o see'her prophecy fulfilled. 
9. T h e holy old man, Simeon, embraces Jesus with joy. 
10. Simeon says, " L o r d , now lettest thou t h y servant de-

part in peace." 

V I R T U E — O B E D I E N C E T O F A I T H . 

Never d o o r say anything through human respect, o r t o 
please yourself. Whether you eat o r drink, o r whatever else 
you do, let all tend t o the greater glory of God. 

A S P I R A T I O N . 

" T o the King of Ages, immortal and invisible, be all honor 
and glory.',' 



5 8 

Let us contemplate in this Mystery how the 
Blessed Virgin Mary, after having lost (through 
no fault of hers) her beloved Son in Jerusalem, 
sought Him for the space of three days ; and at 
length found Him in the Temple, sitting in the 
midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking 
them questions, being of the age of twelve years. 

One Pater. Ten A "es. One Gloria. 



59 

L E T US PRAY. 

O m o s t Blessed Virgin, m o r e t h a n M a r t y r in t h y s u f f e r i n g s , 
a n d y e t t h e c o m f o r t of s u c h as a r e a f f l i c t e d ; b y t h a t u n s p e a k -
able j o y , w h e r e w i t h t h y s o u l w a s filled, w h e n at length t h o u 
d i d s t find t h y well-beloved S o n in t h e T e m p l e , t e a c h i n g in t h e 
midst of t h e d o c t o r s , o b t a i n f r o m Him t h a t w e m a y s o seek 
Him-and find Him in His Holy C a t h o l i c C h u r c h as n e v e r m o r e 
t o b e separated f r o m Him. A m e n . 

P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N . 

M A R Y F I N D S J E S U S I N T H E T E M P L E . 

1. M a r y has lost her Beloved C h i l d . 
2 . M a r y is d e p r i v e d of her o n l y T r e a s u r e . 
3. M a r y seeks Him w i t h a n x i e t y . 
4. M a r y seeks J e s u s in t h e s t r e e t s a n d r o a d s . 
5. M a r y finds J e s u s again a f t e r t h r e e d a y s . 
6 . M a r y finds J e s u s in t h e T e m p l e . 
7. J e s u s , t w e l v e y e a r s o l d , teaches t h e d o c t o r s . 
8. M a r y s a y s , " S o n , w h y hast t h o u m a d e us s o r r o w f u l ? " 

I 9. J e s u s r e t u r n s w i t h M a r y a n d J o s e p h , a n d is o b e d i e n t u n t o t h e m . 
10. M a r y preserves in her heart t h e sayings t>f J e s u s . 

I • 
V I R T U E — U N I O N W I T H G O D . 

O b e y y o u r p a r e n t s a n d c o n f e s s o r , a n d o t h e r s u p e r i o r s , 
I e x a c t l y . Be docile t o g o o d advice, a n d pliant t o t h e will of 
I o t h e r s . 

A S P I R A T I O N . 

" J e s u s , m o s t o b e d i e n t , deliver u s f r o m all self-will." 



60 

Let us contemplate in this Mystery how ouf 
Lord Jesus Christ was so afflicted for us in thi 
garden of Gethsemane, that His Body was 
bathed i?i a bloody sweat, which ran down in 
great drops to the ground. 

One Pater. Ten A "es. One Gloria. 



61 

L E T US PRAY. 

0 m o s t Holy V i r g i n , m o r e t h a n M a r t y r ! By t h a t a r d e n t 
p r a y e r w h i c h o u r b e l o v e d Saviour p o u r e d f o r t h t o His Heavenly 
Father", in t h e g a r d e n , v o u c h s a f e t o i n t e r c e d e f o r us, t h a t , o u r 
passions b e i n g reduced t o t h e o b e d i e n c e of r e a s o n , w e m a y 
always, a n d in all t h i n g s , . c o n f o r m a n d s u b j e c t o u r s e l v e s t o t h e 
holy will of G o d . A m e n . 

P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N . 

T H E P R A Y E R A N D B L O O D Y S W E A T O F O U R B L E S S E D 

S A V I O U R I N T H E G A R D E N . 

1. J e s u s g o e s i n t o t h e G a r d e n of Olives. 
2. J e s u s p r a y s , l y i n g p r o s t r a t e o n t h e g r o u n d . 
3. J e s u s perseveres in His p r a y e r . 
4 . J e s u s is s o r r o w f u l , even u n t o death. 
5. J e s u s is b a t h e d in a sweat of b l o o d . 
6 . J e s u s s u b m i t s His will t o His Heavenly F a t h e r . 
7. J e s u s w a r n s His disciples t o w a t c h a n d p r a y . 
8. J e s u s b e t r a y e d b y J u d a s . 
9. J e s u s is seized b y His o w n creatures. 
10. J e s u s cruelly b o u n d , a n d d r a g g e d f r o m o n e j u d g e t o 

a n o t h e r . 

V I R T U E — F I D E L I T Y T O P R A Y E R . 

Receive every a n n o y a n c e a n d affliction as c o m i n g f r o m t h e 
hand of G o d . Keep yourself r e s i g n e d t o His g o o d pleasure in 
fill t h i n g s . 

A S P I R A T I O N . 

" L o r d , n o t m y will b u t T h i n e b e d o n e . " 



.62 

Let us contemplate in this Mystery how our 
Lord Jesus Christ was most cruelly scourged in 
Pilate's house, the number of stripes they gave 
Him being about five thousand. 

One Pater. Ten Awes. One Gloria. 



63 

LET US PRAY. 

O M o t h e r of G o d , o v e r f l o w i n g f o u n t a i n of patience I 
T h r o u g h t h o s e s t r i p e s t h y o n l y and m u c h - b e l o v e d Son v o u c h -
safed t o s u f f e r f o r u s , o b t a i n of Him f o r u s grace t o m o r t i f j 
o u r rebellious senses, t o a v o i d t h e o c c a s i o n of sin, a n d t o b 
ready t o s u f f e r e v e r y t h i n g r a t h e r t h a n o f f e n d G o d . A m e n . 

P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N . 

T H E S C O U R G I N G O F J E S U S C H R I S T . 

1. J e s u s is delivered t o b e s c o u r g e d . 
2 . J e s u s is falsely accused. 
3. J e s u s is s t r i p p e d of His clothes. 
4. J e s u s is n a k e d in t h e hands of His e x e c u t i o n e r s . 
5. J e s u s is f a s t e n e d t o a pillar. 
6 . J e s u s is lashed w i t h s c o u r g e s . 
7. J e s u s is b r u i s e d w i t h clubs. 
8. T h e Flesh of J e s u s is t o r n w i t h p o i n t s of lead. 
9 . T h e B l o o d of J e s u s flows d o w n t o t h e g r o u n d . -
10. T h e y u n f a s t e n J e s u s ; He clothes Himself again. 

V I R T U E — S P I R I T O F P E N A N C E . 

M o r t i f y y o u r c u r i o s i t y a n d c o n t r a d i c t y o u r o w n will daily. 
Deny yourself occasionally s o m e t h i n g at meals. 

A S P I R A T I O N . 

" J e s u s of Nazareth, King of t h e J e w s , m a k e m e t r u l y 
m o r t i f i e d . " 



64 

Let us contemplate in this Mystery how those 
cruel ministers of Satan plaited a crown of sharp 
thorns, and cruelly pressed it on the Sacred Head 
of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

One Pater. Ten A "es. One Gloria. 



L E T US PRAY. 

0 M o t h e r of o u r Eternal Prince, t h e King of G l o r y , b y t h o s 
s h a r p t h o r n s w h e r e w i t h His Sacred Head w a s pierced, w e 
beseech t h e e o b t a i n , t h r o u g h t h y i n t e r c e s s i o n , t h a t w e m a y b e 
delivered f r o m all m o t i o n s of p r i d e , a n d escape t h a t s h a m e 
w h i c h o u r sins deserve at t h e day of j u d g m e n t . A m e n . 

P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N . 

T H E C R O W N I N G W I T H T H O R N S . 

1. J e s u s b r o u g h t f o r t h t o b e c r o w n e d w i t h t h o r n s . 
2 . T h e y p r e p a r e a c r o w n of t h o r n s f o r J e s u s . 
3. T h e y f o r c e t h e c r o w n of t h o r n s u p o n t h e Head of J e s u s . 
4 . T h e Head of J e s u s is p i e r c e d o n e v e r y s i d e . 
5. T h e Bloocl flows f r o m t h e Head of J e s u s . 
6 . T h e Forehead of J e s u s is c o v e r e d w i t h B l o o d . 
7. T h e Eyes of J e s u s a r e b a t h e d in t e a r s . 
8. T h e Lips of J e s u s , a r e pale as d e a t h . 
9 . J e s u s is c l o t h e d in a p u r p l e g a r m e n t t h r o u g h d e r i s i o n . 
1 0 . J e s u s is cruelly m o c k e d a n d d e r i d e d : " Behold t h e 

M a n I f 
V I R T U E — L O V E O F H U M I L I A T I O N . 

If assailed b y i m p a t i e n c e , restrain it i n s t a n t l y . Daily p e r f o r n * 
three' acts of mildness a n d patience. 

A S P I R A T I O N . 

" L o r d , y o u r t h o r n s a r e m y r o s e s , a n d y o u r s u f f e r i n g s m y 
Paradise." 



66 

Let us contemplate in this Mystery how our 
Lord Jesus Christ, being sentenced to die, bore, 
with the most amazing patience, the Cross, which 
was laid upon Him for His greater torment and 
ignominy. 

One Pater. Ten A "es. One Gloria. 



67 

L E T US PRAY. 

O Holy V i r g i n , e x a m p l e of p a t i e n c e ! By t h e m o s t p a i n f u l 
c a r r y i n g of t h e C r o s s , in w h i c h t h y S o n , o u r L o r d J e s u s 
C h r i s t , b o r e t h e h e a v y w e i g h t of o u r s i n s , o b t a i n f o r us f r o m 
Him, t h r o u g h t h i n e i n t e r c e s s i o n , c o u r a g e a n d s t r e n g t h t o 
follow His steps, a n d b e a r o u r C r o s s a f t e r Him t o t h e e n d of 
o u r lives. A m e n . 

P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N . 

J E S U S C A R R Y I N G H I S C O S S . 

1. J e s u s c o n d e m n e d t o b e crucified. 
2. J e s u s l o v i n g l y e m b r a c e s His c r o s s . 
3. J e s u s carries His cross, o n His t o r n a n d w o u n d e d S h o u l d e r s . 
4. J e s u s falls u n d e r t h e w e i g h t of His c r o s s f o r o u r sins. 
5. J e s u s , again loaded w i t h His c r o s s , rafts His s o r r o w f u l 

M o t h e r . 
6. J e s u s leaves t h e i m p r e s s i o n of His Sacred C o u n t e n a n c e 

o n t h e veil of St. V e r o n i c a . 
7. J e s u s s a y s , " If these t h i n g s a r e d o n e in t h e green w o o d , 

w h a t shall b e d o n e in t h e d r y ? " 
8. None can b e f o u n d willing t o c a r r y t h e c r o s s f o r J e s u s . 
9. J e s u s , loaded w i t h His c r o s s , falls a t t h e f o o t of C a l v a r y . 
10. J e s u s , again loaded w i t h His c r o s s , ascends t h e hill of 

Calvary. 

V I R T U E — G O O D U S E O F S U F F E R I N G . 

Fly all o c c a s i o n s d a n g e r o u s t o h o l y p u r i t y . G u a r d y o u r 
senses, a n d r e s t r a i n every idea ever s o r e m o t e l y h u r t f u l t o i t . 

A S P I R A T I O N . 

« - l e s u s , L o v e r of c h a s t i t y , have mercy o n us."-



68 

Let us contemplate in this Mystery how our 
Lord Jesus Christ, being come to Mount Calvary, 
was stripped of His garments, and His Hands 
and Feet nailed to the Cross, in the presence of 
His most afflicted Mother. 

One Pater. Ten A "es. One Gloria. 



69 

LET US PRAY. 

O Holy M a r y , M o t h e r of G o d ! As t h e b o d y of t h y b e l o v e d 
Son w a s f o r u s s t r e t c h e d u p o n t h e C r o s s , s o m a y w e o f f e r u p 
o u r s o u l s a n d b o d i e s t o b e crucified w i t h Him, and o u r hearts 
t o b e pierced w i t h grief at His m o s t b i t t e r P a s s i o n ; a n d t h o u , 
0 m o s t s o r r o w f u l M o t h e r , graciously v o u c h s a f e t o help u s , b y 
t h y a l l - p o w e r f u l intercession, t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e w o r k of o u r 
salvation. A m e n . , 

P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N . 

J E S U S C R U C I F I E D . 

1. J e s u s is cruelly s t r e t c h e d u p o n t h e C r o s s . 
2. His sacred Hands a n d Feet a r e pierced w i t h nails. 

. 3. J e s u s is raised u p o n t h e c r o s s , a n d His Blood f l o w s i n 
s t r e a m s f r o m all His W o u n d s . 

4. J e s u s p r a y s f o r His enemies. 
5. J e s u s p r o m i s e s paradise t o t h e p e n i t e n t t h i e f . 
6. J e s u s r e c o m m e n d s St. J o h n t o His Holy M o t h e r . 
7. J e s u s in His t h i r s t is o f f e r e d vinegar a n d gall. 
8. J e s u s cries o u t , " M y G o d , w h y hast T h o u f o r s a k e n Me ? " 
9. J e s u s says, " It is f i n i s h e d ! " , 

1 0 . J e s u s gives u p His S p i r i t i n t o t h e h a n d s of G o d His 
F a t h e r . 

V I R T U E — P A R D O N I N G O F I N J U R I E S . 

Every d a y at n o o n r e p r e s e n t t o yourself o u r L o r d c r u c i f i e d , 
a n d reflecting t h a t y o u r sins a r e t h e cause of His sufferings» 
declare y o u r s o r r o w , a n d p r o m i s e n e v e r t o o f f e n d H i m m o r e . 

A S P I R A T I O N . 

" O G o d , b e m e r c i f u l t o m e a s i n n e r . " 



Let us contemplate in this Mystery how our 
Lord Jesus Christ, triumphing gloriously over 
death, rose again the third day, immortal and 
impassible. 

One Pater. Ten Aves. One Gloria. 



71 

L E T US PRAY. 

O g l o r i o u s V i r g i n M a r y ! By t h a t u n s p e a k a b l e j o y t h o u 
d i d s t receive in t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n of t h y Divine S o n , w e beseech 
thee o b t a i n f o r u s f r o m Him, t h a t o u r h e a r t s m a y never g o 
a s t r a y a f t e r t h e false j o y s of t h i s w o r l d , b u t m a y b e f o r e v e r 
wholly e m p l o y e d in t h e p u r s u i t of t h e o n l y t r u e a n d s o l i d j o y s 
of Heaven. A m e n . 

P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N . 

T H E R E S U R R E C T I O N O F J E S U S C H R I S T . 

1. J e s u s rises again t h e t h i r d d a y f r o m t h e dead. 
2. J e s u s c o n q u e r s death a n d hell. 
3. J e s u s consoles a n d delivers t h e P a t r i a r c h s a n d P r o p h e t s . 
4. J e s u s rises g l o r i o u s l y . 
5. J e s u s rejoices His Holy M o t h e r . 
6. J e s u s a p p e a r s t o M a r y Magdalene. 
7. J e s u s a p p e a r s t o Peter, and blesses h i m . 
8. T h e disciples at E m m a u s s a y , " D i d n o t o u r h e a r t s b u r n 

w i t h i n us, w h e n He s p o k e t o u s ? " 
9 . J e s u s a p p e a r s in t h e m i d s t of His disciples a n d gives t h e m 

His peace. 
1 0 . J e s u s s h o w s His W o u n d s t o St. T h o m a s . 

V I R T U E — L I V E BY F A I T H . 

Reflect daily f o r five m i n u t e s o n death and o n t h e n o t h i n g -
ness of all t h a t passes w i t h t i m e . Act in all t h i n g s like o n e 
c o n v i n c e d t h a t n o t h i n g is t r u l y great b u t w h a t is eternal. 

A S P I R A T I O N . 

" M y L o r d and m y G o d . " 



72 

Let us contemplate in this Mystery how our 
Lord Jesus Christ, forty days after his resur-
rection, ascended into heaven, attended by angels, 
in the sight, and to the great admiration, of His 
most Holy Mother and His Holy Apostles and 
disciples. 

One Pater. Ten A "es. One Gloria. 



73 

LET US PRAY. 

O Mother of God, comforter of the afflicted! As thy 
beloved Son, when He ascended into Heaven, lifted up His 
Hands and blessed His Apostles, as He was parted f r o m t h e m 
so vouchsafe, most Holy Mother, t o lift up thy pure hands t o 
Him on our behalf, that we may enjoy the benefits of His 
blessings, and thine, hère on earth, and hereafter in Heaven. 
Amen. 

P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N . 

T H E A S C E N S I O N O F J E S U S C H R I S T . 

1. The Ascension of Jesus Christ. 
2. Jesus ascends into Heaven b y virtue of His own power. 
3. Jesus quits His beloved disciples. 
4. Jesus promises t o remain with them forever. 
5. Jesus promises them the Holy Ghost. 
6. As Jesus ascends, He blesses His disciples. 
7. Jesus opens Heaven f o r us. 
8. Jesus is seated at the right hand of God the Father. 
9. Jesus displays His five Wounds, on our behalf, t o His 

Heavenly Father. 
10. Jesus is our Mediator in Heaven. 

V I R T U E — C H R I S T I A N H O P E . 

Entertain f o r God the sentiments of a child towards his 
parent, the sweetest hope and confidence, and with this feeling 
often raise your mind t o Him in Heaven. 

A S P I R A T I O N . 

" In thee, O Lord, have I hoped—let me never be confounded." 



Let us contemplate in this Mystery how our 
Lord Jesus Christ, being seated on the right 
hand of God, sent as He had promised, the Holy 
Ghost upon His Apostles, who, after He was as-
cended, returning to Jerusalem, continued in 
prayer and supplication with the Blessed Virgin 
Mary, expecting the performance of His promise. 

One Pater. Ten Aves. One Gloria. 



75 

L E T US PRAY. 

o sacred V i r g i n , T a b e r n a c l e of t h e Holy G h o s t , w e beseech 
t h e e o b t a i n , b y t h y i n t e r c e s s i o n , t h a t t h i s m o s t sweet C o m -
f o r t e r , w h o m t h y b e l o v e d S o n sent d o w n u p o n His A p o s t l e s , 
filling t h e m t h e r e b y w i t h s p i r i t u a l j o y , m a y teach u s in t h i s 
w o r l d t h e t r u e w a y of salvation, a n d m a k e us w a l k in t h e w a y 
of v i r t u e a n d g o o d w o r k s . A m e n . 

P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N . 

T H E H O L Y G H O S T D E S C E N D S U P O N T H E B L E S S E D 

V I R G I N A N D T H E A P O S T L E S . 

k J e s u s s e n d s t h e Holy G h o s t . 
2 ; J e s u s s e n d s t h e C o m f o r t e r . 
3. J e s u s s e n d s fire u p o n t h e e a r t h . 
4. T h e Holy G h o s t inflames all h e a r t s w i t h His love. 
5. T h e Holy G h o s t enlightens t h e i r m i n d s . 
6 . T h e ' H o l y G h o s t s t r e n g t h e n s their hearts. 
7. T h e Holy G h o s t gives t h e g i f t of t o n g u e s . 
8 . T h e Holy G h o s t d i s t r i b u t e s His g i f t s . 
9 C o m e , O Holy G h o s t , a n d visit t h e hearts of T h y f a i t h f u l . 
10. C o m e , 0 H o l f G h o s t , enlighten o u r hearts w i t h t h e fire 

of T h y d i v i n e love. 

V I R T U E — Z E A L F O R S A V I N G S O U L S . 

I n s t r u c t s o m e i g n o r a n t p e r s o n , o r o f f e r daily, f o r t h e c o n -
v e r s i o n of s i n n e r s a n d t h e p r o p a g a t i o n of t h e Faith, t h e Holy 
Sacrifice of t h e Mass. 

A S P I R A T I O N . 

" S e n d f o r t h T h y S p i r i t , 0 L o r d , a n d they shall b e created, 
a n d T h o u wilt renew t h e f a c e of t h e earth.'1 



76 

Let us contemplate in this Mystery how the 
glorious Virgin, twelve years after the resur-
rection of her Son, passed out of this world unto 
Him, and was by Him assumed into heaven, ac-
mpanied by the holy angels. 
One Pater. Ten A "es. One Gloria. 



77 

L E T US PRAY. 

0 m o s t p r u d e n t Virgin, w h o , e n t e r i n g t h e heavenly palaces, 
d i d s t fill t h e angels w i t h j o y , a n d m a n w i t h h o p e ; vouchsafe 
t o i n t e r c e d e f o r u s at t h e h o u r of o u r death, t h a t b e i n g deliv-
ered f r o m t h e illusions a n d t e m p t a t i o n s of t h e devil, w e may 
j o y f u l l y and securely pass o u t of t h i s t e m p o r a l state, t o e n j o y 
t h e happiness of eternal life. A m e n . 

P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N . 

T H E A S S U M P T I O N O F T H E B L E S S E D V I R G I N . 

i M a r y is a s s u m e d i n t o Heaven. 
2 . G o d t h e Father receives His well-beloved D a u g h t e r . 

3 . J e s u s receives His Holy M o t h e r . 
4. T h e Holy G h o s t receives his b e i o v e d S p o u s e . 
5. T h e S e r a p h i m salute M a r y . 
6. T h e Angels serve M a r y . 
7. M a r y r e j o i c e s all Heaven. 
8 . M a r y i s seated at t h e r i g h t h a n d of J e s u s . 
9 . M a r y is o u r a d v o c a t e i n Heaven. 
10. M a r y is c>ur m e d i a t r i x i n Heaven. 

V I R T U E — U N I O N W I T H G O D . 

F r e q u e n t l y call t o m i n d the-Holy Presence of G o d . D o s o a t 
least b e f o r e y o u r p r i n c i p a l a c t i o n s . W h e n t e m p t e d t o sin, 
r e m e m b e r that G o d b e h o l d s y o u . 

\ S P I R A T I O N . 

« I n T h e e , f r o m T h e e , v u d b y T h e e , are all t h i n g s , 0 L o r d . ' 



78 

Let us contemplate in this Mystery how the 
glorious Virgin Mary was, to the great jubilee 
wd exultation of the whole court of heaven, and 

particular glory of all the Saints, crowned by 
her Son with the brightest diadem of glory. 

One Pater. Ten A "es. One Gloria. 



79 

L E T US PRAY. 

O g l o r i o u s Queen of all t h e heavenly h o s t I We beseech thee 
accept t h i s R o s a r y , w h i c h , a s a c r o w n of r o s e s , w e o f f e r a t t h y 
f e e t ; and g r a n t , m o s t g r a c i o u s L a d y , t h a t , b y t h y i n t e r c e s s i o n , 
o u r souls m a y b e inflamed w i t h s o a r d e n t a d e s i r e of seeing 
t h e e s o gloriously c r o w n e d , t h a t it m a y n e v e r d i e w i t h i n u s , 
u n t i l it shall b e c h a n g e d i n t o t h e h a p p y f r u i t i o n of t h y blessed 
s i g h t . A m e n . 

P O I N T S O F M E D I T A T I O N . 

T H E C R O W N I N G O F T H E B L E S S E D V I R G I N M A R Y . 

11 M a r y g l o r i o u s l y c r o w n e d i n heaven. 
2 . M a r y c r o w n e d t h r o u g h her s e r a p h i c love. 
3. M a r y c r o w n e d t h r o u g h h e r angelic p u r i t y . 
4 . M a r y c r o w n e d t h r o u g h her p r o f o u n d h u m i l i t y . 
5. M a r y c r o w n e d t h r o u g h her p e r f e c t o b e d i e n c e . 
6 . M a r y c r o w n e d t h r o u g h her holy p r u d e n c e . 
7. M a r y c r o w n e d t h r o u g h her a d m i r a b l e patience. 
8 . M a r y c r o w n e d t h r o u g h her a r d e n t g r a t i t u d e . 
9. M a r y c r o w n e d t h r o u g h h e r h o l y perseverance. 
10. M a r y c r o w n e d in Heaven, a b o v e all Saints a n d Angels, 

w i t h t h e h o n o r d u $ t o t h e M o t h e r of G o d . 

V I R T U E — C O N F I D E N C E I N M A R Y . 

Entertain t h e greatest confidence in t h e p o w e r a n d g o o d n e s s 
of t h e Blessed V i r g i n : b u t recollect, a t t h e s a m e time, t h a t n o 
o n e will e n j o y t h e f a v o r of her p r o t e c t i o n w h o d o e s n o t 
endeavor t o i m i t a t e her v i r t u e s , particularly her l o v e of G o d . 

A S P I R A T I O N . 

" 0 Mary, m y Hope, I expect all g o o d t h r o u g h y o u . " 



.80 

Pere Monsabre suggests the following dominant t h o u g h t in 
each Mystery, accordingly as we contemplate the life of Jesus 
o r of M a r y : 

THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES. 

The Incarnate W o r d . l . 

The first gift of Jesus. 2. 

Jesus a Child. 3. 
The offering of Jesus. 4. 
Jesus Master. 5. 

Greatness and humility of 
Mary. ' 

C h a r i t y and gratitude of 
Mary. 

Mary at the crib. 
Mary and the law of G o d 
Mary seeking Jesus. 

THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES. 

The Anguish of Jesus. 1. The forebodings of Mary. 
The Blood of Jesus 2. The tears of Mary. 
The Reproach of Jesus. 3. T h e homage of Mary. 
The Falls of Jesus. 4. Mary on the road t o Cal-

vary. 
The Death of Jesus. 5. Mary at the f o o t of the 

C r o s s . 

THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES. 

T h e T r i u m p h of Jesus. 1. The joys of Mary. 
Jesus in heaven. 2. The hope of Mary. 
The Spirit of Jesus. 3. Mary, channel of grace. 
Jesus at His M o t h e r ' s T o m b . 4. The innocence of Mary. 
Jesus the Rewarder. 5. Mary Queen. 

It will likewise aid devout meditation t o consider the Mys-
teries as recorded in Holy Scripture. 



81 

X I . , 
H O W T O SAY T H E R O S A R Y . 

Usually we find the beads made up in five de-
cades, on which, we can say the entire Rosary by 
cour+ing our Chaplets three times. Each Chaplei 
of five decades has generally a cross and four bead? 
which reach to the decade beads. There is a custom 
of saying the Creed on the Cross, an Our Father on 
the larger bead, and a Hail Mary on each of the 
smaller beads before commencing the Rosary. These 
prayers are not a part of the Rosary proper. 

The Dominicans recite the Rosary in the following 
manner: 

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

V. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. 
R. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed 

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. 
V. Thou, O Lord, wilt open my lips. 
R. And my tongue shall announce Thy praise. 
V. Incline unto my aid, O God. 
R. O Lord, make haste to help me. 
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and 

to the Holy Ghost. 
R. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever 

shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia. 
From Septuagesima to Easter, in place of Alleluia, 

is said, " Praise be to Thee, O I nrd, King of Eternal 
Glory." | S « | 



.82 

If the Rosary be recited by several together, the 
person who leads, recites the parts marked V, the 
others answering as given after R. 

The Joyful mysteries are assigned to all Mondays 
and Thursdays in the year, and the Sundays from the 
first Sunday of Advent to the first Sunday of Lent. 
The Sorrowful are assigned to all Tuesdays and Fri-
days, and to the Sundays in Lent. The Glorious 
are assigned to all Wednesdays and Saturdays, and 
to the Sundays from Easter to Advent 
The Five Joyful Mysteries are : 

The Annunciation. 
The Visitation. 
The Birth of our Lord. 
The Presentation. 
The Finding in the Temple. 

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries are : 
The Agony in the Garden. 
The Scourging. 
The Crowning with Thorns. 
The Carrying of the Cross. 
The Crucifixion. 

The Five Glorious Mysteries are: 
The Resurrection. 
The Ascension. 
The Coining of the Holy Ghost. 
The Assumption. 
The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin. 





.84 
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our 

sweetness, and our hope; to thee we cry, poor ban-
ished children of Eve; to thee we send up our sighs, 
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears ; turn, 
then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy 
towards us, and, after this our exile, show unto us 
the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus; O clement 
O pious, O sweet Virgin Mary ! 

V. Queen of the most Holy Rosary, pray for us : 
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises 

of Christ. 

Let us pray. 
O, God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, 

death, and resurrection, has purchased for us thé 
rewards of eternal life : grant, we beseech Thee, that 
meditating upon these mysteries, in the Most Holy 
Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate 
what they contain, and obtain what they promise, 
through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. 

V. May the divine assistance remain always 
with us. 

•R. Amen. 
VI May the souls of the faithful departed, through 

. the mercy of God, rest in peace. 
R. Amen. 



.85 
T H I R D P A R T . 

X I I . 
C O N F R A T E R N I T Y O F T H E R O S A R Y . 
All Christians can, of course, recite the Rosary as 

a form of prayer, and they will not fail to find it 
most excellent in itself and most fruitful in its re-
sults ; but by entering the Confraternity which bears 
its name many additional and precious advantages 
may be gained. 

The Confraternity of the Holy Rosary is an asso-
ciation, the members of which undertake to say the 
fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary once every week. It 
was founded by St. Dominic early in the thirteenth 
century, at the express instruction of Our Lady her-
self, who taught him this manner of praying, and 
inspired him to found the Confraternity in her honor. 
It is the most ancient of all Confraternities existing 
in the Church, and probably none is more widely 
spread, or enriched with as many indulgences and 
other privileges. 

The advantages of the Confraternity of the Holy 
Rosary are obvious: 

l It obtains the special protection of the Blessed 
Virgin, since it was erected at her inspiration, and m , 
her honor. 

2. The fulfilment of the obligation it imposes 
secures a number of prayers being said Dy each mem-
ber, and reminds him of the principal Mysteries of 
our Holy Faith. 



.86 

3- The members, in immense numbers, and all 
over the world, share in the benefits of each other's 
prayers and good works. 

4 The members also participate in the merits and 
good works of the Order of St. Dominic, to which 
they are affiliated. 

5. Numerous indulgences, both plenary and par-
tial, are granted to the Confraternity, many of which 
will be found further on, with the conditions for 
gaining them accurately stated. 

For hundreds of years this great Confraternity 
has literally embraced the world. The Rosary, which 
is the Gospel meditated, as well as the sweetest hymn 
of praise to Jesus and Mary, has become the daily 
companion of the learned and of the simple. The 
Rosary has become the instructor of the child in 
the mysteries of Christianity; the consoler of the 
afflicted; the treasure of the poor; the monitor of 
the rich; the companion of the missionary; the 
prayer of the religious; the crown of the martyr. 
The Rosary has become the emblem of truth and the 
tvpe of charity. 



87 

XXVIII. 

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ROSARY CONFRA-
TERNITY AND ENJOY ITS BENEFITS. 

To become a member of the Confraternity and 
enjoy its benefits three things are necessary : 

FIRST, to give your full name to be registered in a 
Dominican Convent, or in some church where the 
Confraternity is canonically established. 

SECOND, to have your beads blessed by a Domini-
can or any other priest who has power from the 
Master General of the Dominicans to impart the 
Dominican blessing to beads. 

THIRD, to say, with meditation, your fifteen decades 
each week. It is not necessary to say the fifteen 
decades in one day, or at one time; you can say five 
decades, or even one at a time. Should you neglect 
your fifteen decades, or a part of them, during the 
week, you commit no sin: you still benefit by the 
prayers of your fellow members, but you lose the 
indulgence attached to the saying of your own 
Rosary. 

NOTE.—Give y o u r full name t o be registered, as J o h n 
Smith, n o t Mr. Smith, n o r J . Smith. Ellen Smith, n o t Miss 
Smith, n o r Mrs. E. Smith. 



88 
XXVIII. 

L A T E S T A U T H E N T I C L I S T O F R O S A R Y 

I N D U L G E N C E S * 

•GRANTED BY T H E SOVEREIGN P O N T I F F S TO T H E C O N F R A -
T E R N I T Y O F T H E ROSARY AND TO ALL T H E F A I T H F U L 
RECITING I|T, SUBMITTED TQ T H E SACRED CONGREGATION 
O F INDULGENCES FOR EXAMINATION AND A P P R O V E D 
OF, AND CONFIRMED BY H I S H O L I N E S S , LEO X I I I . , 
AUGUST 2 9 , 1 8 9 9 . 

I N D U L G E N C E S G R A N T E D T O T H E 

M E M B E R S O F T H E C O N F R A -

T E R N I T Y O N L Y . 

I 
I N D U L G E N C E S G R A N T E D T O T H O S E W H O J O I N T H E 

C O N F R A T E R N I T Y . 

PLENARY Indulgence is granted to all those, who, 
having confessed and received Communion, become 
enrolled in the Confraternity. (Gregory XIII, 
Gloriosi, 15 July, 1579). 

2. Plenary Indulgence, to all those, who being 
duly enrolled and having confessed and received Holy 
Communion in the church or chapel of the Confra-
ternity, recite a third part of the Rosary, and pray 

ifor the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff (S. Pius V, 
Consueverunt, 17 Sept., 1569). 

NOTE.—Those who have themselves enrolled in 
the Confraternity, can gain these Indulgences either 
on the day of admission or on the following Sunday 
or Festival. (S. C. Indulgences, 25 Feb., 1848). 

• T a k e n f r o m The Rosary Magazine, January, 1900. 



.89 

I I . 

I N D U L G E N C E S G R A N T E D T O R O S A R I A N S R E C I T I N G 

T H E R O S A R Y . 

A. At any time of the year. 
3. Plenary Indulgence, once during life, is granted 

to all those who recite the Rosary in the course of 
the week in accordance with the laws of the Confra-
ternity. (Innocent VIII, 15 Oct., 1484). 

4. If they recite the entire Rosary, they gain all 
those Indulgences, which in Spain are granted to 
those who recite the chaplet of the Blessed Virgin. 
(Clement IX, Exponi nobis, 22 Feb., 1668).* 

5- Indulgence of fifty years, once in the day, is 
granted to those who recite a third part of the Rosary 

* What is understood b y the above mentioned chaplet it is n o t 
easy t o say w i t h certainty. Many a u t h o r s maintain that it is 
the Franciscan Chaplet of the Blessed .Virgin, mentioned b y 
Wading (Anal. Ord. Min. T o m . x ad a n n u m 1492, page 6 i ) . 
Against this o p i n i o n , however, it may be urged that there is 
n o document extant in the Dominican o r Franciscan Archives 
f r o m which it may be gathered that the chaplet in question is 
the same as the Franciscan Chaplet. But even granting that il 
is, the question which concerns us m o s t at present still r e - . 
mains o b s c u r e , viz., what indulgences in particular are granted 
t o Rosarians in virtue of the a b o v e communication. T h e 
Sacred Congregation of indulgences evidently did n o t wish t o 
decide the question, since in the revision of various summaries 
of Rosary Indulgences, it simply inserted the above indulgence 
w i t h o u t c o m m e n t o r explanation. 



.90 
in the chapel of the Rosary or at least in that part of 
the church where the Rosary altar may be seen; or 
also in any church or public oratory, when one does 
not live in a place where the Confraternity is erected. 
(Hadrian VI, Illius qui, l Apr., 1523). 

6. To those who recite the Rosary three times in 
the week an indulgence of ten years and as many 
quarantines for each recitation. (Leo X, Pastoris 
Aeterni, 6 Oct., 1520). 

7. Indulgence of seven years and as many quar-
antines each week is granted to those who recite the 
entire Rosary. (S. Pius V, Consueverunt, 17 Sept., 
1569). 

8. Indulgence of five years and as many quaran-
tines, or 200 days each time the name of Jesus, in 
the Hail Mary, is devoutly pronounced, whilst reciting 
the Rosary. (Pius IX, Deer. S. C. Indulg., 14 Apr., 
1856). 

9- Indulgence of two years for each of the three 
days of the week on which the third part of the fif-
teen mysteries is recited, provided the fifteen mys-
teries are said within the week. (Clement VII, Etsi 
temporalium, 8 May, 1534). 

10. Indulgence of three hundred days is granted 
to those who recite a third part of the Rosary. (Leo 
XIII, 29 Aug., 1899). 

11. Indulgence of one hundred days as often as 
a Rosarian induces another to recite the third part 
of the Rosary. (Leo XIII, Aug. 29, 1899). 



.91 
12. Indulgence of three hundred days, once in 

the day, for assisting on Sunday or feast days in a 
Dominican church at the exercise of reciting or sing-
ing processionally the decades of the Rosary before 
representations of the fifteen mysteries. (S. C. 
Indulg., 21 May, 1892). 
B. On certain days of the year or festivals. 

13. Plenary indulgence, on the feast of the An-
nunciation is granted to Rosarians, who having con-
fessed and received Communion recite the Rosary. 
(St. Pius V, Injunctum nobis, June 14, 1566). 

14. Indulgence of ten years and as many quaran-
tines, on the feasts of the Purification, Assumption 
and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, for the recitation 
of the Rosary. (S. Pius V, loc cit). 

15. Indulgence of ten years and as many quaran-
tines on the feasts of the Resurrection, Annunciation 
and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin for the recitar 
tion of the third part of the Rosary. (S. Pius, V, 
Consueverunt, 17 Sept. 1569). 

16. Indulgence of seven years and seven quaran-
tines on the remaining feasts of our Lord and the 
Blessed Virgin, on which are commemorated the 
sacred mystery of the Rosary (viz., on the feasts of 
the Visitation B. V. M., Nativity of our Lord, Puri-
fication and Compassion B. V. M., [Friday after Pas-1 
sion Sunday], Ascension of our Lord, Pentecost and 
he feast of All Saints), provided the members recite at 
east a third part of the Rosary. (S. Pius V, loc. cit.) 



.92 

17. Indulgence of seven years and seven quaran-
tines on the feasts of the Nativity, Annunciation and 
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin on condition they 
recite weekly the entire Rosary, in accordance with 
the statutes of the Confraternity. (Sixtus IV, Pas-
tor is Aeterni, May 30, 1578', Leo X, Past or is 
Aeterni, Oct. 6, 1520). 

18. Indulgence of one hundred days on the feasts 
of the Purification, Annunciation, Visitation, As-
sumption and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. (Leo 
X, loc. cit). 

I I I . 

I N D U L G E N C E S G R A N T E D T O R O S A R I A N S A S S I S T I N G 

A T T H E R O S A R Y P R O C E S S I O N . 

19. Plenary Indulgence is granted to all those, 
who having confessed and received Communion, are 
present at the Procession on the first Sunday of the 
month and there pray for the intention of the Sover-
eign Pontiff and moreover visit the chapel of the 
Rosary. (Gregory XIII, Ad augendam, Oct. 24, 
1577). 

NOTE.—This indulgence may be gained by Rosa 
rians who are traveling, or engaged in actual employ-
ment (v. g. soldiers in actual service), for the recita-
tion of the entire Rosary; the sick, however, or those 
lawfully impeded may gain this indulgence by re-
citing one third part of the Rosary. (Gregory XIII, 
Cupientes, Dec. 24, 1583)-



.93 

20. Plenary Indulgence to those taking part in the 
procession on the feasts of the Purification, Annun-
ciation, Visitation, Assumption, Nativity, Presenta-
tion and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed 
Virgin (Pius IV, Dum Praeclara, Feb. 28, 1561), 
or on any day within the octave of these feasts. (S. 
C. Ind., Feb. 25, 1848). 

21. Indulgence of five years is granted to those 
assisting at the procession on the day in which [ac-
cording to the custom at the Minerva in Rome] are 
distributed to young girls dowries out of the alms of 
the Confraternity. (Gregory XIII, Desiderantes, 
March 22, 1580). 

22. Indulgence of one hundred days for assisting 
at the .procession taking place on certain fixed days. 
(Gregory XIII, Cum sicut, Jan. 3, 15 79) -

23. Indulgence of sixty days for accompanying 
the usual processions of the Confraternity as well as 
all other processions taking place with the authoriza-
tion of the Ordinary, also for accompanying the 
Blessed Sacrament when borne to the sick. (Gre-
gory XIII, Gloriosi, July 15, 1579)-

NOTE.— Sisters m a y have Rosary Procession t h r o u g h the 
cloister o n the frrst'Sunday of t h e month, but n o one m u s t 
take part except those living in the monastery. (S. C. Ep., 
Reg. 1616 et 1617). But if there is n o procession of the 
Rosary, enclosed nuns, o r those legitimately impeded by their 
rule f r o m being present at the Rosary Procession, may gain all 
the indulgences by reciting a third part of the Rosary. ( S . C . I . 
18 Sep., 1862. 



.94 

I V . 

I N D U L G E N C E S G R A N T E D T O R O S A R I A N S V I S I T I N G 

T H E C H U R C H O R C H A P E L O F T H E 

C O N F R A T E R N I T Y . 

24. Plenary Indulgence on the first Sunday of', 
every month to those, who having confessed and 
received Communion visit the chapel or church of 
the Confraternity of the Rosary and there pray for 
the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff. (Gregory 
XIII, Ad augendam, Mar. 12, 1577). 

NOTE.—This indulgence may be gained by those 
Rosarians who on account of sickness are prevented 
from going to church, provided that having previ-
ously confessed and received Communion they recite 
at home the Rosary before a devout image (i. e., a 
third part—S. C. Indulg., Feb. 25, 1877 ad 6 ) ; or 
recite devoutly the seven penitential psalms. (Gre-
gory XIII, Ad augendam, Nov. 8, 1578). 

25. Plenary Indulgence on the first Sunday of 
every month is granted to those who, having received 
the sacraments, for some space of time are present at 
the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the church 
of the Confraternity, when sanctioned by the Or-
dinary, and there pray for the intention of the 
Sovereign Pontiff. (Gregory XVI, Ad augendam, 
Dec. 17, 1833)-

26. Plenary Indulgence granted to those who 



.95 

having confessed and received Communion, visit the 
chapel of the Rosary or church of the Confraternity 
and there pray for the intention of the Supreme 
Pontiif, from the first Vespers to sunset, on the feasts 
of the Nativity of our Lord, Epiphany, Resurrection, 
Ascension and Pentecost: likewise on any two Fri-
days of Lent; also on the feast of All Saints and 
once within the octave of All Souls. (Gregory XIII, 
Pastoris Aetemi, May 5, 1582 ; Gregory XVI, Ad 
augendam, Dec. 17, 1833 ; S. C. Indulg., May 12, 
1851). 

27. Plenary Indulgence on- the same conditions, 
from the first Vespers to sunset on the following 
feasts of the Blessed Virgin, viz., the Immaculate 
Conception, Nativity, Presentation, Annunciation, 
Visitation, Purification, Assumption and on the feast 
of the Seven Dolors (Friday after Passion Sunday). 
(Gregory XIII, loc. cit.; Clement VIII, De salute, 
Jan. 18, 1593 ; Gregory XVI, loc. cit.). 

N O T E a.—Plenary Indulgence on the feasts of the 
Immaculate Conception, Nativity, Presentation, An-
nunciation, Visitation, Purification and Assumption 
of the Blessed Virgin, may be gained also during the 
octaves, but once only during each octave. (S. C . , 
Ind., Feb. 25, 1848). 

N O T E b.—Plenary Indulgence on the Festivals of 
Easter, Ascension and Pentecost, and on the feasts of 
the Immaculate Conception, Nativity, Annunciation, 
Visitation, Purification, Presentation and Assumption 



.96 
of the Blessed Virgin, also on the two Fridays 
of Lent, may be gained also by visiting any other 
church or public oratory. (S. C. Indulg., May 12, 
1851). 

N O T E c.—As regards those traveling, engaged in 
actual service, the sick or those otherwise lawfully 
impeded, for the gaining of the plenary indulgence 
granted to those visiting the Rosary chapel on the" 
days on which the Mysteries of the Rosary are com-
memorated, the same provision is made as exists for 
those who are unable to be present at the Rosary 
Procession (vid. No. 19 above). (Sixtus V, Dum 
ineffabilia, Jan. 30, 1586). 

28. Plenary Indulgence, on the same conditions, 
on the Sunday within the octave of the Nativity of 
the B. V. M. (Clement VIII, Ineffabilia, Feb 12, 
1598). 

29. Plenary Indulgence, under the same con-
ditions, on the third Sunday of April, from first 
Vespers to sunset. (Gregory XIII, Cum, sicui, Jan. 
3, 1579). 

30. Indulgence of seven years and seven quaran-
tines granted to those, who having confessed and 
received Communion visit the chapel or altar of the 
Confraternity and there pray for the intention of the 
Sovereign Pontiff, on the feasts of the Nativity of our 
Lord, Easter, Pentecost and on the feasts of the 
Immaculate Conception, Nativity, Annunciation, 
Visitation and Assumption of B. V. M.. also on the 



.97 

feast of All Saints. (Clement VIII, Salvatoris, 
Jan. 13, 1593; De salute, Jan. 18, 1593)-

31. Indulgence of an hundred days for each day 
when one visits the chapel or altar of the Rosary, 
and prays for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff. 
(Gregory XIII, Cum sicut, Jan. 3, 1579). 

NOTE.—Nuns living within cloister, youth of both • 
sexes living in colleges, seminaries, boarding schools, 
in a word, all persons living in institutions so regu-
lated that they are not free to go out at their own 
pleasure, moreover all members of Catholic societies 
—can gain all the indulgences for which is prescribed 
the visiting of the chapel or church of the Confra-
ternity, provided being duly enrolled in the Con-
fraternity they visit their own church or chapel or 
oratory. (S. C. Indulg., Aug. 11, 1871; Feb. 8, 
1874). 

Rosarians who are sick or in any way impeded from 
receiving Holy Communion, or visiting the church or 
chapel, can gain all the indulgences for which the 
above conditions are prescribed, provided that having 
confessed and fulfilled the other conditions pre-
scribed, they perform some pious work enjoined by 
their confessor. » 

On certain feasts, in addition to the plenary in-
dulgence, for visiting the church or chapel of the 
Rosary, a partial indulgence is also granted; to gain 
the latter, however, a special visit to the church or 
chapel is necessary. 



98' 

V . 

I N D U L G E N C E S G R A N T E D T O R O S A R I A N S W H O V I S I T 

F I V E A L T A R S . 

32. Rosarians who visit five altars of any church 
whatsoever, or of any public oratory, or five times 

* visit one or two altars in churches where five do not 
exist, gain the same indulgences as if they had visited 
the stations at Rome. (Leo X, May 22, 1518). 

V I . 

I N D U L G E N C E S G R A N T E D T O T H O S E W H O - S A Y O R 

H E A R T H E V O T I V E M A S S O F T H E M O S T H O L Y 

R O S A R Y . 

33.• All indulgences granted to those reciting the 
entire Rosary may be gained by priests, who are 
members of the Confraternity, on condition that they 
celebrate the votive Mass according to the Roman 
missal " p r o diversitate temporis" at the Rosary 
altar (the votive Mass may be said twice in the 
week*). Rosarians may gain the same indulgences 
by devoutly assisting at this Mass and praying. (Leo 
X I I I , Ubiprimum, 2 O c t , I 8 9 8 ) . 

34. Once a month, on the day they receive Com-
munion, having been to confession, those who 

• O n W e d n e s d a y s a n d S a t u r d a y s , e x c e p t o n f i r s t a n d s e c o n d 
c l a s s f e a s t s , a n d a f e w o t h e r s p e c i a l d a y s , 



.99 

regularly celebrate or hear the votive Mass, can gain 
the same indulgences as those who assist at the 
usual Rosary procession* on the first Sunday of 
each month. (Clement X, Caelestium munerum> 
February 16, 1671). 

35. An indulgence of one year is granted to 
those who assist in a body at Mass and are present 
for the sermon on the Blessed Virgin and the anti-
phon " Salve Regina " on the Saturdays of Lent. 
(Gregory XIII, Desiderantes, March 22, 1580). 

V I I . 

I N D U L G E N C E S G R A N T E D . T O T H O S E W H O M A K E 

T H E F I F T E E N S A T U R D A Y S I N H O N O R O F T H E 

R O S A R Y . 

36. A Plenary Indulgence can be gained on three 
of the fifteen Saturdays (the selection of these three 
days is left to the choice of each Rosarian) by con-
fessing and communicating for fifteen consecutive 
Saturdays (either immediately preceding the feast of 
the Holy Rosary or any time within the year). Like-
wise Rosarians must visit a church of the Confra-
ernity and during their visit pray for the intention 
of the Holy Father. (S. C. Indulg", Decern. 12, 
1849). 

* Vid. 24. 



.100 
37. An indulgence of seven years and 280 days 

can be gained on the twelve remaining Saturdays. 
(C. S. Indulg , Decern. 12, 1849). 

V I I I . 
I N D U L G E N C E S G R A N T E D T O T H O S E W H O P R A C T I S E 

C E R T A I N D E V O T I O N S D U R I N G T H E M O N T H O F 

T H E R O S A R Y . 

38. A Plenary Indulgence is gained for attending 
at least ten of the exercises which the Dominicans 
usually have in their churches during the month of 
October, on condition of the reception of the sacra-
ments and prayer for the Sovereign Pontiff. Rosa-
rians may select whatever days are most convenient 
for these ten exercises. (S. C. Indulg., 3 1 Aug 
1885). 

39- An indulgence of seven years and 280 days 
as often as Rosarians are present at the devotions 
held daily in Dominican churches during the month 
of October. (S. C. Ind., Aug. 3 1 , 1 8 8 5 ) . 

IX. 

I N D U L G E N C E S G R A N T E D T O T H O S E W H O A R E P R E S - 1 

E N T A T T H E A N T I P H O N " S A L V E R E G I N A " 

W H E N I T I S S U N G . 

40. An indulgence of three years and 120 days 
is granted to Rosarians who are present in a church of 



.101 

the Confraternity and hold a lighted candle during 
the singing of the ' ' Salve Regina" (if it is not cus-
tomary to have lighted candles, one Hail Mary must 
be said). The "Salve Regina"* is usually sung on 
those feasts of the B. V. M. which are celebrated by 
the Universal Church (S. C. Indulg., Septem. 18, 
1862 ad 4), also on the principal feasts of the 
Apostles and on the feasts of the Dominican Saints. 
(Clement VIII, Ineffabilia, Feb. 12, 1598). 

41. An indulgence of a hundred days is granted 
to Rosarians for every day of the year on which 
they are present for this antiphon after Compline. 
(Clement VIII, loc. cit.). 

42 An indulgence of forty days on all Saturdays 
and feast days during the year. (Leo X, Pastoris 
Aeterni, Oct. 6, 1520). 

NOTE.—Those legitimately impeded from being 
present in the church for the singing of the " Salve " 
can gain the same indulgences as indicated in Nos. 
40 and 41 by reciting the antiphon while kneeling 
before an altar or an image of the Blessed Virgin, 
(Clement VIII, Ineffabilia, February 12, 1598). 

* In accordance w i t h the C o n s t i t u t i o n s of the Friars' Preach-
ers, a part of the choral obligation is the singing of the " Salve 
R e g i n a " daily, after C o m p l i n e . 



.102 

X. 

I N D U L G E N C E S G R A N T E D T O R O S A R I A N S W H O 

M E D I T A T E O R P E R F O R M O T H E R S P I R I T U A L 

E X E R C I S E S . 

43- Plenary Indulgence once a month, if during 
the entire month they meditate daily for half an hour 
or at least a quarter of an hour, on condition also of 
their selecting some day of the month for the reception 
of the sacraments of Penance and of Holy Eucharist. 
(Clement X, Ad ea, Jan. 28, 1671). 

44. A Plenary Indulgence is granted, on condition 
that once during the year Rosarians devote -them-
selves to prayer, mortification and other good works 
for forty days, in memory of the forty days our 
Lord passed in the desert. The Plenary Indulgence 
can be gained but once in the year, and this on any 
day selected by Rosarians. (Pius VII, Adaugendam, 
Feb. 16, 1808). 

45. An indulgence of seven years and 280 days 
for each time that Rosarians meditate for half an 
hour. (Clement X, Ad ea, Jan. 28, 1671). 

46. An indulgence of one hundred days for each 
time Rosarians meditate for a quarter of an hour. 
(Clement X, loc. cit). 



.103 

X I . 

I N D U L G E N C E S G R A N T E D T O T H O S E W H O V I S I T 

T H E S I C K M E M B E R S O F T H E C O N F R A T E R N I T Y . 

47. An indulgence of three years and 120 days 
for each timé that Rosarians visit sick members of 
the Confraternity. (Clement VIII, Ineffabilia, Feb. 
12, 1598). 

48. An indulgence of one hundred days is granted 
Rosarians for exhorting sick members of the Confra-
ternity, to receive the sacraments of the Church. 
(Gregory XIII, Cum sicut, Jan. 3, 1579). 

X I I . 

I N D U L G E N C E S G R A N T E D T O T H O S E W H O P R A Y 

F O R T H E D E C E A S E D M E M B E R S O F T H E C O N F R A -

T E R N I T Y . 

49. A Plenary Indulgence, provided Rosarians 
are present in churches of the Friars Preachers or 
chapels of Dominican Nuns for the reciirtion of the 
Office of the dead, usually chanted on the four anni-
versaries (Feb. 4, July 12, Sept. 5, Nov. 10*), to-

* I n the Dominican Breviary t h e 4 t h of February is set apart 
f o r c o m m e m o r a t i n g t h e anniversary of the deceased f a t h e r s 
and m o t h e r s of the m e m b e r s of the O r d e r , and J u l y 1 2 t h f o r 
those b u r i e d in Dominican cemeteries; September 5th f o r t h e 
deceased benefactors of the O r d e r ; November 10th f o r the d e -
ceased b r o t h e r s and sisters. 



.104 

gether with the reception of the sacraments of 
Penance and Holy Communion and prayer for 
the Sovereign Pontiif. • This indulgence can be 
gained but once on each of the four days. . (Pius 
VII, Ad augendam, Feb. 16, 1808). 

50. An indulgence of eight years is granted to 
Rosarians who take part in the procession for the 
dead, in the church of the Confraternity, or the 
cloister of the Convent, every Saturday, or at least 
once a month. (Gregory XIII, Desiderantes, Mai. 
2 2 , 1 5 8 0 ) . 

51. An indulgence of three years and 120 days for 
each attendance at the funeral obsequies of Rosar-
ians in a church of the Confraternity. (Clement 
VIII, Ineffabilia, Feb. 22, 1598). 

52. An indulgence of a hundred days is granted 
Rosarians, provided they are present with the banner 
of the Confraternity at the burial of a deceased 
member of the same association, or provided they 
are present at the anniversaries celebrated for the de-
ceased member of the Confraternity and pray for 
the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff. (Gregory 
XIII, Cumsicut, Jan. 3, 1579)-



.105 

X I I I . 

I N D U L G E N C E G R A N T E D T O R O S A R I A N S W H O P E R -

F O R M W O R K S O F C H A R I T Y O R P I E T Y . 

53. An indulgence of sixty days each time that 
a member of the Confraternity performs some work 
of charity or piety. (Gregory XIII, Gloriosi, July 
15, 1579). 

X I V . 

I N D U L G E N C E G R A N T E D R O S A R I A N S A T T H E H O U R 

O F D E A T H . 

54. A Plenary Indulgence can be imparted to 
Rosarians by a priest, even outside confession, using 
the prescribed formula, provided they have recited 
weekly the Rosary. (Innocent VIII, 13 Oct., 1483 ; 
Decree of the S. C. Indulg., August 10, 1899). 

55. A Plenary Indulgence is granted those who 
have recited the entire Rosary at least once in their 
lives, on condition they have in their hand a blessed 
candle of the Rosary while departing f r o m this life. 
(Hadrian VI, Illius qui, April 1, 1523). 

56. A Plenary Indulgence is granted to those who 
have received the sacraments of Penance and Holy 
Eucharist. (S. Pius V, Consueverunt, Sept. 17, 
1569). 

57. A Plenary Indulgence is granted to those who 
with contrite hearts invoke the name of Jesus, at 



.106 
least in their heart, if they cannot do so with their 
lips. (Leo XIII, Rescr. S. C. Indulg., Aug. 19, 
1899). 

58. A Plenary Indulgence is granted to those who 
having received the sacraments of the Church make 
profession of faith in the Roman Catholic Church, 
recite the "Salve Regina" and commend themselves 
to the Blessed Virgin. (Clement VIII, Ineffabilia, 
Feb. 12, 1598). 

NOTE—Although there are here indicated many 
plenary indulgences to be gained at the hour of death, 
yet the interpretation of the Decrees of the S C. of 
Indulgences is : that only one plenary indulgence can 
be gained at the hour of death and that by complying 
with one or other of the conditions required above. 

XV. 

I N D U L G E N C E S G R A N T E D T O D E C E A S E D M E M B E R S O F 

T H E C O N F R A T E R N I T Y 

59. In churches of the Friars Preachers the 
Rosary altar is privileged for priests of the Order 
in behalf of a deceased member of the Confraternity 
(Gregory XIII, Omnium saluti, Sept. 1, 1582). 

60. In churches of the Confraternity the Rosary 
altar is privileged for priests who are members of 
the Confraternity not only in behalf of a deceased 
Rosarian but in behalf of any one dead, although 



.107 

there is another privileged altar in the church. But 
if there is no other privileged altar, then the Rosary 
altar is privileged for all priests, even though they are 
not'members of the Confraternity, and in behalf of 
any one dead. (S. C. Indulg., Cameracen., June 7, 
1842; Pius IX, Omnium saluti, Mar. 3, 1857). 

I N D U L G E N C E S T H A T C A N B E G A I N E D 

B Y R O S A R I A N S A N D T H E F A I T H -

F U L I N G E N E R A L . 

61. An indulgence of seven years and 280 days 
can be gained on the first Sunday of each month by 
being present at the Rosary Procession. (S. Pius V, 
Consueverunt, Sept. 1 7 , 1 5 6 9 ) . 

6 2 . A PLENARY INDULGENCE, IN MEMORY OF 
THE VICTORY GAINED OVER THE T U R K S NEAR THE 
ECHINADES ISLANDS THROUGH THE AID OF THE 
ROSARY, CAN BE GAINED FOR EACH VISIT* MADE T O 
THE ROSARY CHAPEL (OR T O THE IMAGE OF THE B . 
VIRGIN THERE EXPOSED FOR VENERATION,—S. C . 
IND., J A N . 2 5 , 1 8 6 6 ) , FROM THE FIRST VESPERS OF 
THE FEAST OF THE M O S T H O L Y ROSARY UNTIL THE 
SETTING OF THE SUN ON THE FEAST ITSELF, BY ALL 

* Each visit must b e distinct, that is, o n e m u s t leave t h e 
church after each visit. It is also necessary t o p r a y f o r t h e 
i n t e n t i o n of t h e Pope on every visit. 



.108 
WHO, HAVING APPROACHED THE SACRAMENTS, PRAY 
FOR THE INTENTION OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF. 
( S . Pius V . , Salvatoris, MARCH 5, 1 5 7 2 ; S . C . 
INDULG., APRIL 5 , 1 8 6 9 ; JULY 7 , 1 8 8 5 ) . 

NOTE.—It is permitted to go to confession on the-
Friday immediately preceding the Feast of the Most 
Holy Rosary in order to gain the above indulgence; 
(Leo XIII, Rescr. S. C. Ind., Aug. 19, 1899). 

63. A Plenary Indulgence on any day selected 
within the octave of the feast of the Holy Rosary, can 
be gained by all who visit the Rosary chapel or the 
statue of the Blessed Virgin and who during their visit 
pray for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff. 
(Benedict XIII, Pretiosus, May 20, 1727; S. C. 
Ind., July 7. 1885). 

64. A Plenary Indulgence under the same condi-
tions can be gained on the feast of Corpus Christi 
and on the feast of the Titular Saint of the church. 
(Gregory XIII, Desiderantes, March 2 2 , 1 5 8 0 ) . 

65. All and each of the indulgences indicated in 
the above list may be applied to the souls of the 
faithful departed who are united to God by the bond 
of charity, except, however/the plenary indulgence 
at the hour of death. (Innocent XI, Ad ea, June 15 
1679). 

D E C R E E . 
The Master General of the Order of Preachers, in 

compliance with the mandate of article XVI of 'the 



109 j 

Apostolic Constitution Ubi Primum issued last year, 
having drawn up a new list of Indulgences to be re-
vised by this Sacred Congregation, this same Congre-
gation with the aid of its consultors has examined 
the above list with the greatest care. And having 
after mature deliberation judged that certain things 
should be eliminated, added, explained or more 
briefly expressed, this same Congregation through 
the undersigned Cardinal Prefect submitted to his 
Holiness Leo XIII for approbation all those modifica-
tions to be made in the aforesaid catalogue. His 
Holiness, in the audience of 29th of August, 1899, 
ratified the above changes, and at the same time ap-
proved of the new catalogue in all its parts and 
confirmed by his Apostolic authority and as far as 
necessary granted anew all the indulgences contained 
therein, decreeing at the same time that all the in-
dulgences granted to the Confraternities of the Rosary 
not contained in the present catalogue, are to be con-
sidered as abrogated and revoked, so that all Sodali-
ties of the Holy Rosary hitherto established or which 
in future shall be established by the Master General of 
the Order of Preachers shall enjoy those indulgences 
only which are inserted in the present catalogue ; all 
things whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding. 

Given in Rome at the Secretariate of the same 
Congregation, Aug. 29, 1899. 

FR. JEROME M. CARD. GOT!!, Prefect. 
L T S t A. SABATUCCI, Archbishop of Antin, Sec. 



.110 

A P P E N D I X 

S U M M A R Y O F I N D U L G E N C E S G R A N T E D T O A L L T H E 

F A I T H F U L F O R T H E D E V O T I O N O F T H E M O S T 

H O L Y R O S A R Y . 

1. Plenary Indulgence once in the year is granted 
to all who recite daily at least a third part of the 
Rosary and receive the Sacraments, on any day which 
they choose, provided they use a Rosary , blessed by 
a Dominican or by a priest having faculties from the 
Master of the Order. (Raccolta, Edit. 1898 No 
194). 

2. Indulgence of one hundred days for each 
" Our Father," and each " Hail Mary | is granted to 
those who recite the entire Rosary or at least a third 
part, provided the Rosary used is blessed by a Domin-
ican or by one having Dominican faculties. (Ibid.) 

3- Indulgence of five years and 200 days for the 
recitation of one-third part of the Rosary. (Ibid.) 

4 Indulgence of ten years and 400 days once a 
day for those who together with others either at home 
or in the church or in some oratory, public or private 
recite at least a third part of the Rosary, (ibid.) 

5. Plenary Indulgence on the last Sunday of each 
month for all those who recite in union with others 
at least three times in the week the third part of the 
Rosary, either at home or in the church or in some 
oratory; and who, on the aforesaid last Sunday, 



.Ill 

having received the Sacraments, visit some church or 
public oratory and there pray for the intention of the 
Sovereign Pontiff. (Ibid.) 

6. Plenary Indulgence can be gained on any one 
of the fifteen consecutive Saturdays by the faithful 

» who on. the aforesaid Saturdays receive the Sacra-
ments and recite a third part of the Rosary or 
devoutly meditate on the Mysteries of the Rosary. 
(Raccolta, edit, cit., No. 197). 

NOTE.—As often as the faithful are lawfully im-
peded from performing the above exercise on Satur-
days, they can, without losing the indulgences, per-
form it on Sundays. (Ibid.) 

7. Indulgence of seven years and 280 days on all 
the Saturdays hot included in the preceding number 
(i. e., on the remaining fourteen Saturdays). (Ibid). 

8. Plenary Indulgence may be gained by all those 
who at any time of the year make a novena in honor 
of the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, reciting 
prayers approved by legitimate authority, provided 
that on any day on which they choose, either within 
the nine days or within eight days immediately fol-
lowing the novena, being truly penitent and having 
confessed and communicated they pray for the inten-
tion of the Sovereign Pontiff. (Raccolta. Edit, 
cit.: No. 149). 

9 Indulgence of three hundred days for all the 
other days of the novena on which they say the above 
prayers. (Ibid.) 



.112 

F O R T H O S E R E C I T I N G T H E T H I R D P A R T O F T H E 

R O S A R Y D U R I N G T H E M O N T H O F O C T O B E R . 

The following indulgences have been granted in 
perpetuity by our Holy Father, Leo XIII, (Sept. 1 
1883—Aug. 20, 1885—July 23, 1898). 

10. Plenary Indulgence is granted to all those 
who on the feast of our Lady of the Rosary, or on 
any day within the octave, receive the Sacraments, 
visit some church or oratory and there pray for the 
intention of the Sovereign Pontiff, provided that on 
the feast itself and each day within the octave either 
publicly in some church, or privately they recite a 
third part of the Rosary. 

11. Plenary Indulgence is granted to all those 
who, after the octave of the feast of the Most Holy 
Rosary at least ten times within the same month of 
October, either publicly in some church or privately 
recite a third part of the Rosary, and who on any 
day they choose receive the Sacraments, visit some 
church and there pray for the intention of the Sover-
eign Pontiff. 

12. Indulgence of seven years and 280 days 
for each day of the month of October on which $ 
¡he faithful either publicly in some church or priv-
ately recite a third part of the Rosary 

13- All the indulgences contained in this sum-
mary are applicable to the souls in Purgatory. (Rac-
colta, edit, c i t , p. 22, No. 4). 



113 

The Sacred Congregation of Indulgences and Sa-
cred Relics has recognized as authentic and permitted 
to be published the present Summary of Indulgences 
granted to all the faithful for devotion to the most 
Holy Rosary. 

Given in Rome at the Secretariate of the same 
Sacred Congregation, August 29, 1899-

F R . JEROME M . C A R D . G O T T I , Prefect. 
LT-S 1" A . SABATUCCI, Archbishop of Antin, Seer. 



.114 
XV. 

R E C E N T R O M A N D E C I S I O N S . 

The following decisions were given by the S. Con-
gregation of Indulgences, and ratified by His Holiness, 
Pope Leo XIII, August 10, 1899: 

1. The Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary 
has full canonical standing in a Church which has 
lost the letters patent of the Master General of the 
Order of Friars Preachers, authorizing the establish-
ment of the Confraternity, provided the fact of their 
having been duly issued for that Church is recorded 
in some authentic document. 

2. The names of the departed may not be entered 
on the register of the Confraternity, even though it 
be for the purpose of making the deceased sharers in 
the merits of the Confraternity,.and of commending 
them to the prayers of the members. 

3- As soon as they are received and their names 
taken by a priest who has the requisite "faculties for 
that purpose, members of the Confraternity of the 
Most Holy'Rosary may gain all the Indulgences of 
the Confraternity, in virtue of such lawful reception, 
even though their names have not been formally 
entered on the Confraternity register. 

4. The form to be used in giving the Plenary in-
dulgence at the i -ur of death to members of the 



.115 

Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary, is that pre-
scribed by Pope Benedict XIV, in the Apostolic Con-
stitution Pia Mater, and not that approved by 
Innocent XI. 

5. The Blessing at the hour of death, with the 
accompanying Plenary Indulgence, for members of 
the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary may be 
imparted, not only by those priests empowered to do 
so by the Master General of the Order of Friars 
Preachers, but also by all priests whomsoever, and 
even outside Confession. 

On the same day, August 10,1899, at the instance 
of the Cardinal Prefect of the S Congregation of In-
dulgences, His Holiness decreed: 

" W e have revoked, and we wish to be considered 
" as revoked, the faculties, to whomsoever granted, 
"of establishing Confraternities and pious Unions 
« under the title of the Most Holy Rosary, without 
"letters patent under the seal of the Master General 
I of the Order of Friars Preachers; so that, if in the 
" f u t u r e any Confraternities or pious Unions under 
- the title of the Most Holy Rosary shall be estab-
l i s h e d without the aforesaid letters patent, such 
" Confraternities and pious Unions shall enjoy none 
" of the benefits, privileges, indulgences with which 
| the Sovereign Pontiffs have enriched the rightful 
" and true Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary; 



.116 
" moreover, they shall not share even in the other in-
' dulgences ordinarily granted to canonically estab-

" hshed Confraternities of whatever title. All things 
" to the contrary notwithstanding." 

X V I . 

I N S T R U C T I O N S 

FOR T H E CANONICAL E R E C T I O N OF T H E C O N F R A T E R N I T Y . 

We beg Pastors desiring t o have the Rosary Confraternity 
carefully t o note what is required f o r its Canonical Erection' 

1st.—The consent of the Ordinary must be obtained 
. 2nd - I n case the Confraternity has already been canonically 
erected m the same town o r city, the Bishop should be re-
quested t o dispense with a decree of Clement VIII. forbidding 
the C o n f r a t e r n i t y t o be ,in t w o Churches in the same place 
(By Rescript of May 20, 1896, all Bishops a n dispense with 
that decree.) 

3rd.—The Pastor should then write t o the Master General of 
the Dominicans f o r necessary faculties t o erect the Confra-
ternity f o r HE ONLY can give these faculties. 

4th.—The Pastor must send t o the Master General the name 
of his Church, name of the Town or City, Diocese, State and 
his own name with P. O. address, together with a copy of the 
Bishop's permission; all should be legibly written. 

5th.—The Master General in granting Confraternity Facul-
ties empowers each Pastor, either t o erect the Confraternity 
himself, o r t o select any Priest, acceptable t o the Bishop, t o 
perform the Ceremony and deliver the Erection Sermon— 
" R e c t o r e m , vel ilium Sacerdotem Episcipo acceptum, quem 
iste, fortasse impeditus, Sibi Substituerit, d e l e g a m u s " — E x 
Facultatibus. Hence a Dominican Father is not necessary. 



1 1 7 . 

6th.—There must be placed at the altar intended f o r the 
Rosary, a picture, or a statuary group, representing St. Dominic 
kneeling receiving the Rosary f r o m Our Blessed Lady. _ 

7th—A Register should be provided in which the names of 
.Rosarians should be faithfully entered b y the D i r e c t o r * 

The small a m o u n t necessary t o cover postage, printing and 
forwarding of Faculties, booklet of indulgences, etc., should be 
enclosed in the letter t o the Master General. " Expense Lit-
terarum facultativarum Tabelle Indulgentiarum, Formula™, 
Cancellarie et expeditionis per officium Postale sunt in totum 
Ubellas q u i n q u e ( = 5 Francs), ac nemini licet aliquid ultra exi< 
gere." One Dollar inclosed in y o u r letter t o the Master Gen-
eral will cover the expense f o r one Confraternity. 

» ' w o u l d facilitate much the erection of the above Confra-
ternity, if in every diocese some priest would obtain permis-
sion f o r the erection f r o m his Bishop f o r all Pastors of the dio-
cese, w h o might desire the Confraternity canonically erected 
f o r their people, together with permission f o r each Pastor t o 
sign the Bishop's name in the document of application t o 
Rome f o r faculties. 

T h r o u g h the Rosary Faculties granted b y the Master Gen-
eral, Pastors can impart t o beads the Dominican indulgences, 
give the plenary indulgence of the Rosary t o members in arti-
culo mortis, etc. 

Other Priests may procure Personal Faculties empowering 
them t o bless beads and record names i n the Register of the 
Rosary Confraternity. They must also apply t o our Master 
General f o r these Faculties, giving their full name, and P. O. 
address. For obtaining or exercising Personal Faculties the 
consent of the Ordinary is not required. These Priests should 
also send, t o the Master General, a small sum t o pay f o r post-

* T h e D i r e c t o r m a y employ a f a i t h f u l scribe to w r i t e t h e n a m e s 
f c r h i m ; b u t b e m u s t c e r t i f y i n g to t h e i r correctness b y w r i t i n g h!S 
n a m « a t t h e b o t t o m of e a c h c a g e of inscribed names. 



.118 
age, booklet of indulgences, etc. Our Provincial CANNOT give 
Personal Faculties. 

The Priest w h o p e r f o r m s the ceremony of erecting the C o n -
f r a t e r n i t y of the Rosary o r the Holy Name should f o r w a r d t o 
the Master General an account of the erection. "Sacerdos, 
deputatus, sivi regularis sive sascularis, certiorem reddere' 
debet Rmum Magistrum Generalem, se Litteras facultitivas exe-
c u t i o n mandasse tali die, mense, et a n n o . " * 

X V I I . 

T H E C E R E M O N Y O F E R E C T I O N . 

A week or two before the Ceremony of Erecting 
the Confraternity takes place, the people should be 
urged to prepare for Confession and Communion in 
order to gain the indulgences granted on the day of 
their reception into the Confraternity. The time of 
Erection should be published, and the Congregation 
urged to be present. 

At the time published the Priest appointed to erect 
the Confraternity should go, accompanied by the 
Pastor to the Altar destined for the Confraternity, 
and there entone the Veni Creator, which should be 
finished by the choir. Then he should deliver a ser-
mon on the Excellency of the Rosary. The sermon 
being finished, an Anthem may be sung in honor of 
the Blessed Virgin, and, if desired, one in honor of 
St. Dominic, with their proper versicles and prayers. 
Then the Priest delegated for the erection, returns to 

* See I n s t r u m e n t u m peractae Erectionis, etc., page 121. 



119 ' 

the Blessed Virgin's Altar. Wearing a white stole and 
cope, he stands on the platform, and, facing the peo-
ple in a loud voice makes the following declaration: 

1, N. N., of the Order of Preachers, or 1, Father 
N 'in the name of the Most Reverend Father N. N., 
Master General of the Order of Preachers, and by the 
authority delegated to me by him, institute and erect 
the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary of the 
Virgin Mother of God, in this Church of St. N., 
and 1 declare it instituted and erected, with all graces, 
privileges, and indulgences, that have been given, or 
shall be given hereafter to the Confraternities of the 

Most Holy Rorary. 
N B.—In this declaration consists the Erection 

of the Confraternity, it is therefore required for 
the validity of the Act. ' 

Then he adds: 1 also declare that tl'2 Rector of 
this Church of St. N and his successors, are named 
and instituted by the aforesaid Master General the 
Rectors of said Confraternity with all the rights and 
faculties proper, to such office. Also, I appoint and 
declare this altar of St N. (this Chapel) appointed 
for the Rosary Confraternity, so that the faithful 
by visiting it may gain the indulgences conceded by 
the Holy See to those visiting the Chapel or altar of 
the Rosary Confraternity. In the Name of the 
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. 
Amen. 
" NOTE—The p a s t o r is e m p o w e r e d t h r o u g h h i s Faculties to 
p e r f o r m all t h e a b o v e himself. 



.120 
F O R M O F A S O L E M N R E C E P T I O N . 

I N T O T H E C O N F R A T E R N I T Y O F T H E R O S A R Y . 

V. A d j u t o r i u m n o s t r u m in n o m i n e Domini. 
R. f e c ' t coelum et tarram. 
V. Sit n o m e n Domini benedictum. 

R. Ex hoc nunc et usque in s s c u l u m . 
V. Domine exaudi orationem meam. 

R. Et clamor meus ad t e veniat: 
V. Dominus vobiscum. 

R. Et cum spiritu t u o . 

O R E M U S . 

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui per m o r t e m Unigeniti Filii 
tui m u n d u m collapsum restaurare dignatus es, ut n o s a m o r t e 
seterna liberares, et ad gaudia Regni Coelesti perducere?, res-
pice quassumus super hos famulos t u o s qui inter Filios, et 
C o n f r a t r e s Societatis Beatissima; Virginis Sacratissimi Rosarii 
connumerari desiderant, et per merita ejusdem Genitricis Dei 
effunde super illos benedictionem tuam, quatenus benedicti sic 
in hoc sasculo vivant, ut inter oves d e x t e r a tua; in perpetuum 
collocari mereantur. Per C h r i s t u m , &c. 

Then he adds : Auctoritate qua f u n g o r , et mihi a Reverend-
issimo Patre Magistro Generali Ordinis Pradicatorum tradita, 
ego a d m i t t o vos ad confraternitatem SS. Rosarii, et recipio ad 
participationem indulgentiarum eius, quae per sanctam Sedem 
Apostolicam c o n c e s s a e ' f u e r u n t ; item participes vos facio o m -
nium h o n o r u m spiritualium totius sacri Ordinis Fratrum Prae-
dicatorum, sicut et o m n i u m b o n o r u m spiritualium, et o p e r u m 
quae passim, cooperante Dei gratia, a Fratribus et S o r o r i b u s so-
cietatis sanctissimi Rosarii per universum m u n d u m peraguntur. 
In n o m i n e Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen. 

Beads can then be blessed and names received.* Then follows 
Benediction of the M o s t Blessed Sacrament and the T e Deu . 

* S e e F o r m f o r Blessing Beads, p a g e 144 



.121 

I N S T R U M E N T U M 

P E R A C T A E E R E C T I O N I S C O N F R A T E R N I T A T X S SS, R O S A R I I 

anni  
.delegatus per litteras 

ad 

in ecclesia  
loci die m e n s i s . . . . 

Ego  
facultativas-Rmi P. Mag. Fr . 

Ord. Praed. Magist'ri Generalis, datas die 
erigendarti, n o m i n e et auctoritate ipsius, SS. Rosarii confrater-

nitatem in ecclesia S l o c l  

d i o e c e s i s ad dictum locum m e contuli, et 
in praedicta ecclesia, a p p r o b a n t e et dispensante Rino et Illmo 

Domino Episcopo Dioecesano, per litteras, datas die  

praemissa apposita concione, confraternitatem 

SS. Rosarii B. M. V. consueta f o r m a hac ipsa die institui et 

erexi. 

Iuxta litteras facultativas Rmi P. Magistri Generalis Rec-

t o r e m confraternitatis a m e erectae declaravi Reverendum dictae 

Ecclesiae Rectorem, e i u s q u e i n hoc m u n e r e in p o s t e r u m suc-

cessores. Altare S in c o r n u  
ecclesiae s i t u m confraternitati addictum declaravi. 

Actum in ecclesia  
die « 

In q u o r u m fidem . 4 delegatus 

Rector confraternitatis. 
Ego. 

Ego. 

Ego. 
testes. 



122 

XXVIII. 

B L E S S I N G O F R O S A R I E S . 

Rosaries must consist of five, ten, or fifteen de-
cades ; otherwise they cannot be blessed with the in-
dulgences of the Confraternity. All priests having 
faculties to impart the Dominican indulgences to 
beads should wear a white stole and use the form of 
blessing (page 144) which the Church appoints. 
Beads thus blessed should be held as sacred relics 
and the owners should be careful not to lose them. 
To a Protestant asking of Pius IX. permission to see 
some of the relics of the Vatican, the Pope taking up 
his beads said, " Behold the most sacred and richest 
relic of the Vatican." 
' Persons desiring Rosaries blessed should see that 

the beads, which they present, are well chained, and 
of strong wire; and having used them to gain their 
indulgences, they may not give those beads to another 
for the same purpose, should they do so the indul-
gences are lost for both parties. A Rosarian, how-
ever may lend his beads to another to pray on them, 
but not to gain the indulgence. 

Rosaries made of compact solid glass may be 
blessed. (S. C.I. 29th Feb. 1726). Rosary rings 
cannot be blessed (S. C. I. 20th June, 1836 ) 

Rosaries can be blessed for persons not belonging 



.129 

to the Confraternity, conveying an indulgence of 
100 days on each bead. 

All such Rosaries must be blessed by a Dominican 
father or by a priest having Dominican faculty. 

Only Rosaries of five, ten or fifteen decades can be 
blessed with the Dominican blessing. 

Blessed Rosaries lose the indulgences by the death 
of the owner, or by being sold. But they do not 
lose the indulgence if the wire or string is broken, or 
if a" few beads, four or five, are lost. 

When a number say the Rosary together it is 
sufficient if the leader uses blessed beads. This is not 
true for other blessings, than the Dominican. 

XIX. 

T H E B R I D G I T T I N E I N D U L G E N C E . 

To impart the Bridgittine indulgence, it is neces-
sary to have faculties from the Holy See* or from 
the superior of the Order of St. Savior, also called 
the order of St. Bridgitte. 

There are two ways of saying the Chaplet of b% 
Bridgitte. To gain the indulgence equivalent to the 
Rosary Confraternity indulgence, one must employ 
the longer method and say the chaplet of six decades, 
each decade consisting of one Our Father, ten Hail 

* All b i s h o p s of this c o u n t r y have these faculties, w h i c h 
they can, and in all dioceses that we k n o w of, d o communicate 
t o their p r i s t s . 



.124 

Marys and the Apostles' Creed, and terminate by say-
ing one Our Father and three Hail Marys, all making 
seven Our Fathers in honor of the seven joys and 
sorrows of our Lady, and sixty-three Hail M.irys in 
memory of the sixty-three years of Mary's life on 
earth. 

Those employing the shorter method, or five de-
cades, gain but two plenary indulgences in the entire 
year; one on any day selected, the other on the feast 
of St. Bridgitte. In both methods the Apostles' 
Creed * must be added at the conclusion of each de-
cade, otherwise the indulgence is not gained. 

To gain the Bridgittine indulgence no meditation is 
required. 

Rosaries blessed by a Dominican or one having 
faculties from the General of the Friar Preachers, 
have not only the indulgences of the Rosary Confra-
ternity but also all the indulgences granted to the 
Chaplet of St. Bridgitte.f 

XX. 
C R O Z I E R I N D U L G E N C E . 

THE Crozier indulgence is that imparted to rosaries 
by the Canons of the Holy Cross. 

The Master General alone and the fathers of his 
order specially deputed by him can grant these indul-

* S . C o n g . Indulg. 20 May, 1886. 
t S . C . I. 13 Apr., 1 7 2 6 , S . C . I . 18 Sept., 1862. 



.125 

gences to beads. No secular or religious Priest can 
obtain faculties to impart this blessing.. The indul-
gence is 500 days for each bead or for each Hail 
Mary and Our Father. To gain this indulgence, it 
is not necessary to say at least five decades as it is 
to gain the Rosary Confraternity indulgence; for 
the indulgence is attached to each individual bead, so 
that whether only one, or five, or twenty Hail Marys 
are said, 500 days indulgence is granted for each one. 

Meditation is not required to gain this indulgence. 
It is a generally misunderstood notion that this is 

the greatest of all indulgences attached to rosaries. 
Members of the Rosary Confraternity can gain 5 
years and as many quarantines (or 202 5 days) for each 
time they pronounce devoutly the name of Jesus in 
the Hail Mary while reciting the rosary. This alone 
without considering the many other numerous indul-
gences is almost four times as great as the Crozier 
indulgence. • 

X X I . 

T H E A P O S T O L I C I N D U L G E N C E . 

The apostolic or papal blessing is that given by 
the Pope or by a priest possessing faculties to impart 
this blessing. 

As applied to the Chaplet or Rosary—certain con-
ditions are necessary to gain this indulgence. 

First they must carry their beads with them or 
keep them- in their room or in some place near them. 



.126 

It is for this the Indulgence is granted, the recital of 
the Rosary being the condition required in order to 
gain the indulgences. 

The following are the indulgences imparted to 
Rosaries having the apostolic blessing: 

1. On many feast days of the year a plenary 
indulgence is granted to those who are accustomed* 
to recite a third part of the Rosary at least once a 
week, provided also they fulfill the usual conditions 
of confession and communion. 

2. For the recital of the Chaplet of the Rosary 
on the Feasts of our Lord and Blessed Virgin an in-
dulgence of seven years and seven quarantines, 

3- For the recital on any Sunday or feast in the 
year an indulgence of five years and five quaran-
tines 

4. For its recital on any day of the year one 
hundred days. 

5 • For those who recite the Chaplet of the Rosary 
at least once a week an indulgence of one hundred 
days, every time. 

It must be borne in mind that the one hundred 
days granted in Nos. 4 and 5 are not for each bead, 
but for the entire Chaplet. „ 



.127 

X X I I . 

R O S A R I E S F R O M T H E H O L Y L A N D . • 

An indulgence* equivalent to the above apostolic is 
imparted to all Rosaries that have touched the Holy 
Places and Sacred Relics of the Holy Land. > 

The Church also recognizes the Dolor beads* 
blessed by the Servîtes, said in honor of Our 
Mother of Sorrows. But it is of Our Lady's beads 
in her Most Sacred Rosary that our Holy Father 
speaks. These he has especially recommended. 
These he has enriched with the most precious indul-
gences 

* Innocent X I . Unigeniti Dei Filii, J a n . 28, 1688. S. C. 
Indul., June 5. 1721-



138 

X X I I I . 

T H E L I V I N G R O S A R Y . 

I T S I N S T I T U T I O N . 

The society of the Living Rosary, now so exten-
sively propagated, owes its origin to a pious woman 
named Marie Pauline Jaricot, by whom it was 
founded in the city of Lyons, in the year 1826. 
Owing to the troubles of the time the Confraternity 
of the Rosary was greatly neglected. Hoping to 
renew the practice of the beads, and fearing, at the 
same time, lest any might be deterred by too 
heavy a burden, she happily conceived this new and 
easy way of saying the Rosary. She formed small 
bands, or circles, consisting of fifteen members, each 
of whom was obliged to say, not the whole Rosary 
during the week, but simply one decade each day, at 
the same time meditating on the mystery which 
would be assigned by lot. By this means the entire 
Rosary or Psalter of Mary, would be said collectively 
by the members of each circle every day. 

The pious efforts of its founder were soon crowned 
with success, and on January 27, I832, the society 
of the Living Rosary received the approbation of the 
Church in a Brief given by Gregory XVI. 



.129 

T H E E N D O F T H E L I V I N G R O S A R Y . 

The Living Rosary may not only be called the 
handmaid of the great Confraternity of the Rosary, 
but it is clear from the Brief of Gregory XVI that 
the principal end of the society is more fruitfully to 
cultivate the ancient and venerable devotion of the 
most Holy Rosary, and, in this manner, to increase 
the Confraternity itself. Yet it must be remem-
bered that the Living Rosary is, in the true and 
proper sense of thè word, a society canonically in-
stituted, having its own special privileges and indul-
gences. 

R E O R G A N I Z A T I O N O F T H E L I V I N G - R O S A R Y . 

Though the Order of Preachers has had, by the 
authority of the Holy See, the custody of the Rosary 
from its institution, Gregory XVI committed the 
supreme direction of the society of the Living Rosary 
to secular priests, who were called Directors General, 
because, at that stormy time, the Dominicans had 
been expelled from France. To Lacordaire, France 
is indebted for their restoration. As soon as the 
Order was well re-established there, the superiors 
seeing many irregularities in the appointment and 
succession of general and diocesan directors, peti-
tioned the Holy Father to place the Living Rosary 
ir the hands of the Order. Pius IX readily con-



.130 

sented, and in a Brief dated August 17, 1877, he 
conferred for all future time, upon the Master Gen-
eral of the Dominican Order, the supreme direction 
and care of all the Sodalities of the Living Rosary. 
In virtue of these powers, the Most Rev. Father 
Sanvito re-organized the Sodality, and obtained on 
February 2, 1878, from the Sacred Congregation of 
Indulgences, the confirmation of a new Summary of 
Indulgences. 

The Sodality is unlike the Perpetual Rosary, and 
is not a Confraternity. There is no obligation to 
keep a general register, nor are any public exercises 
of devotion prescribed. Members of different socie-
ties may join the Living Rosary, but with this ex-
press condition, that they separately perform the 
duties of each. The great object of the Living Ros-
ary is the devout recitation of the beads, aiming at 
the spirit and practice of the great Confraternity 
that is so rich in blessings and indulgences. 

O F F I C E R S O F T H E L I V I N G R O S A R Y . 

1. The Supreme Moderator and Director Gen-
eral of the Living Rosary is the Master General of 
the Order of Preachers, who either in person or 
through the Provincials of his Order directs and 
governs the societies; 2. Directors; 3. Presidents; 
4. Promoters. 



.131 

D U T I E S O F O F F I C E R S . 

1. The Master General of the Dominican Order 
has supreme authority over everything that pertains 
to the universal government of the Sodality. From 

! him the Provincials of the Order receive Faculties 
for distribution to priests applying for them. 

2. The Provincials of the Order, by the author-
ity delegated to them, appoint Directors. 

3. Directors are appointed for a certain place 
while they remain there, or they receive a personal 
appointment which continues for life. Directors of 
the Confraternity of the Rosary, wherever it has 
been or shall be canonically erected, are also, by this 
fact, the lawful Directors of the Living Rosary. It 
is the duty of the Director to appoint the Presidents 
and Promoters, and to inform himself concerning 
the condition and work of the Sodality. Hence, at 
convenient times, he must call the Presidents and 
Promoters, and, singly or collectively, instruct them 
in the duties of their offices; exciting their zeal in 
the good work, and discussing and determining what-
ever may be necessary for the advancement of the 
Sodality. If the Sodality is without a President, the 
duties of his office devolve on the Director until the 
appointment of a President. 

4. According to rule a President is placed over 
every eleven circles. It is the duty of the President 
to see that each circle has its Promoters, and that 



.132 
the Promoters faithfully perform the duties of their 
office. 

The Presidents may form new circles, and propose 
to the Director, for confirmation, new Promoters. 

Should the Director die or be removed, the Presi-
dent must use all diligence lest the Sodality be de-
prived of a Director beyond a month. 

They must provide each circle with its proper 
number even by transferring Sodalists from one circle 
to another. They shall transmit to the Director, 
from time to time, an account of new circles, and on 
the festival of the Most Holy Rosary they must send 
a list of all the circles. 

Promoters are authorized to receive new members 
into the Sodality. Persons who are absent may be 
received by letter. 

Promoters must keep a record of the names of 
the Sodalists and transmit them yearly, on the feast 
of the Most Holy Rosary, to the President or the 
Director. 

They must provide each circle with its required 
number of Sodalists. 

Sodalists who constitute a circle should, if possi-
sible, live in the same locality. 

In order that this may be done promoters may 
change the Sodalists of each circle, and if the Di-
rector judge it expedient, he may institute for this 
purpose a universal reorganization. 

Once a month promoters must distribute, by lot, 



.133 

the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary among the Social-
ists of each circle. 

If it happens that any circle has not the required 
number, the Promoters will recite the undistributed 
decades, or have them said, till they complete the 
number, which should be done within a month. 

If a circle has more than fifteen Sodalists, the Pro-
moters must transmit the surplus names to the 
President, so that a new circle may be formed. If 
this cannot be done, the Promoter may retain those 
Sodalists, and assign mysteries to them by lot, after 
the ordinary distribution. 

O B L I G A T I O N S O F T H E S O D A L I S T S . 

Strictly speaking, Sodalists are bound but by one 
obligation, namely, to say faithfully each day one 
decade of the Rosary, using beads properly blessed, 
and meditating on the mystery that has fallen to 
them by lot. This obligation does not bind under 
any s i n ; ' but its neglect entails the loss of the 
Indulgence. 

D I S T R I B U T I O N O F T H E M Y S T E R I E S . 

The Mysteries must be distributed each month by 
lot. Distribution in any other way is not allowed. 
The distribution in each circle must be made by the 
Promoter, with two Sodalists assisting. 

In case of difficulty, the selection by lot may be 



.134 

made by the President, two Promoters assisting, and 
this by the consent of the Director for all the circles 
committed to the care of this President. 

Distribution ought to be made on the first days of 
the month, or at least within the first part of the 
month. Where it can be done, the first Sunday of 
the month, especially dedicated to the Rosary, should 
be chosen. 

Sodalists who have been for a long time absent, 
and those to whom the new distribution cannot be 
made known, may choose at the end of the month 
the mystery immediately following the one pre-
viously assigned. 

In each distribution Sodalists receive a new card 
or schedule describing the mystery. 

Some pious exercises in honor of the Holy Spirit 
and the Queen of the Rosary may precede the dis-
tribution. 

P R I V I L E G E S AND I N D U L G E N C E S . 

From the concession of the Master General of the 
Order of Preachers, the Sodalists of the Living 
Rosary partake, in the same manner as the members 
of the Confraternity, of all the spiritual benefits of 
the Dominican Order. This concession, made in 
I836, was renewed by the Vicar General of the 
Order, November 15, 1877. 

A Plenary Indulgence may be gained on thè first 



.135 

feast day after admission, if preceded by confession 
and communion. 

For the recitation of the daily decade, one hundred 
days on week-days. 

Seven years and seven times forty days on Sun-
days and Festivals, and also daily during the Octaves 
which will be noted in the calendar. 

One hundred days for each our Father and Hail 
Mary of the daily decade, provided the Rosary is 
blessed by a Dominican, or by any other priest who 
has received the faculty for blessing from the Master 
General of the Order. 

Plenary Indulgence to be gained once a year (on any 
day chosen), by those who have recited for the entire 
year the daily decade, using a blessed Rosary, con-
fessing and communicating, and praying for the 
intention of the Holy Father. 

Indulgence of one hundred days is granted to Pro-
moters, and three hundred days to Presidents who 
preside over at least eleven circles, as often as they 
perform any part pf their duties. 

For the sake of convenience the remaining Indul-
gences have been arranged in the form of a calendar. 
On the days indicated, Plenary Indulgences may be 
gained on the following conditions: 

1. A decade must be said daily at least for one 
month, unless lawfully excused. 

2. Confession and Communion. 
3. On these days Sodalists ought to visit some 



.136 

church, and offer some prayers. For the visitation 
of the church, a confessor may for cause substitute 
some other pious work. 

C A L E N D A R O F T H E L I V I N G ROSARY. 

J A N U A R Y . 

Circumcision of our Lord. 
Epiphany of our Lord. 
Third Sunday of the month. 

F E B R U A R Y . 

Purification of the Blessed Virgin. 
Third Sunday of the month. 

M A R C H . 

Compassion of the Blessed Virgin (which is cele-
brated on the Friday before Palm Sunday). 

Third Sunday of the month. 
March 2 5. Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin. 

A P R I L . 

Easter Sunday. •I" 
Third Sunday of the month. 

M A Y . 

Ascension of our Lord. 
Feast of Pentecost.-I" 
Third Sunday of the month. 

January 1. 
January 6. 

February 2. 



.137 

J U N E . 

Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. 
Feast of Corpus Christi. 
Third Sunday of the month. 
June 29. Feast of the SS. Peter and Paul, Apostles. 

J U L Y . 

July 2. Visitation of the Blessed Virgin. 
July 16. Feast of our Lady of Mount CarmeL 
Third Sunday of the month. 

A U G U S T . 

August 5. Feast of our Lady of the Snow. 
August 15. Assumption of our Lady.-J-
Third Sunday of the month. 

S E P T E M B E R . 

September 8. Nativity of our L a d y . * 
Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary. 
Third Sunday of the month (which is also the 

feast of the Seven Dolors of our Lady). 
September 24. Feast of our Lady of Mercy. 

O C T O B E R . 

Feast of the Most Holy Rosary (first Sunday of 
the month). 

Third Sunday of the month. 



.138 

N O V E M B E R . 

November l. Feast of All Saints. 
Third Sunday of the month. 
November 21. Presentation of our Lady. 

D E C E M B E R . 

December 8. Immaculate Conception of our 
Lady.-;-

Third Sunday of the month 
December 25. Nativity of our Lord.* 
•I" A partial Indulgence of seven years and seven 

times forty days, may be gained on the feasts so 
marked, and daily through their octaves, for the 
recitation of the daily decade, as well as the Plenary 
Indulgence granted on the feast itself. 

N O T E S . 

1. If from death or any other cause the number 
of the circle is not complete, Sodalists do not lose 
the Indulgences, provided the Promoter within a 
month from the day when the defect becomes known 
completes the required number. 

2. If any Sodalist omit to say his decades, the 
Others are not deprived of their Indulgences. 

3- Those who are members of the Living Rosary 
and the Confraternity have double obligations to 
satisfy. They must say their daily decades for the 
Living Rosary, and the whole Rosary, (15 decades) 
once a week for the Confraternity. 



.139 

4. All Directors of the Living Rosary, even though 
general or diocesan, who held office on November 
15,1877, were confirmed for life, with the faculty 
of selecting new Promoters, to be placed in charge of 
new circles of fifteen. 

5. The feast of the Most Holy Rosary (1st Sun-
day of October) is a special feast of the Sodality. 

6. The feast of St. Dominic (August 4th), the 
founder of the Order of Preachers, is also for the 
Sodality a day of great devotion and thanksgiving. 

7. As St. Philomena has been chosen the special 
Patroness of the Sodality, her feast should be a day 
sacred to the members of the Living Rosary. 

8. All the feasts of our Lord and His Blessed 
Mother, particularly those festivals which have refer-
ence to the Rosary, should be cherished by the So-
dalists with special devotion. On all these days 
mentioned the Socialists should, if possible, confess 
and communicate 

9. Those who go weekly to Holy Communion can 
gain all the Plenary Indulgences falling within the 
week, without extra confession, provided they are in 
the state of grace and fulfil the other conditions. 

10. Offerings may be made by the Sodalists on 
the day of distributing the mysteries to defray neces-
sary expenses for the purchase of books, decoration 
of the altar, or other pious works. 

11. On the first available day after the feast 
of the Most Holy Rosary, a Mass should be said for 



.140 
the deceased Sodalists of that year. Likewise on 
the death of a member a Mass should be said, at 
which all the members, or at least the associates of 
thé same circle, should assist. 

12. It is the right of the Director to prescribe 
what religious exercises and customs shall be ob-
served. 

13. The form for blessing Rosaries is the same 
as that used for blessing Rosaries for the Confra-
ternity. 

14. The following prayers may be said' before 
and after the distribution of the mysteries. 

Antiphon. Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of 
Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. 

V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be 
created. 

R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. 

Let us pray. 
O God, who has taught the hearts of Thy faith-

ful by the light of Thy Holy Spirit : grant us, in the 
same Spirit, to relish what is right, and evermore to 
rejoice in His holy comfort, through Christ our 
Lord. Amen. 

AFTER THE DISTRIBUTION. 

The Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen, etc.) 
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God : 
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises 

of Christ. 



.141 

Let us Pray. 
Pour fourth we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace 

into our hearts, that we-to whom the Incarnation of 
Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message 
of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be 
brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through 
the same Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

V. May the divine assistance, etc. 
R. May the souls of the faithful departed, etc. 

The Reverend clergy w h o wish t o consult the authentic d o c -
u m e n t s of t h e Living Rosary, are referred t o the collection 
published b y t h e present Master General of the Dominicans, 
under the t i t l e : " A c t a Sanctse Sedis,n«cnon S u p r e m o r u m 
M o d e r a t o r u m p r o Sodalitate a Rosario-vivente nuncupata,, 
Reverendissimi P a t r i s F r . Josephi Marias Larroca, Magistri G e n . 
Ord. Praedicatorum, jussu edita." 

a is for sale by Senng« Brothers» New ¡ f « k . 

X X I V . 

T H E P E R P E T U A L R O S A R Y . 

This devotion was instituted by the Dominican, 
Father Petronius Martini, January 1, 1635, at the 
very shrine of the Holy Patriarch, in the Church of 
St. Dominic, Bologna. 

In less than ten years it had spread over France, 
Spain, Belgium, and Germany, as well as Italy, and 
numbered more than a million associates, including 



.142 
the Sovereign Pontiff then reigning. The end of 
this devotion, also called our Lady's Guard of Hohor, 
is to unite the members in such a way that, different 
hours of the day and night being assigned to each, 
some devoted watchers will ever be found in prayer 
and praise at our Lady's Shrine, telling their beads 
for the conversion of sinners, the relief of the dying, 
and the succor of the dead, and all in Mary's blessed 
name. 

At first the help of the dying was the chief pur-
pose, after the honor of our Blessed Mother; but the 
others were soon introduced. And justly, for, each 
hour sinners need God's grace; men are dying, and 
souls are going to Purgatory. Thus this perpetual 
prayer is their constant aid. 

In the beginning, only one hour in each year was 
chosen by the associates; but, as it was feared that 
a sufficient number could not always be found to 
render the devotion perpetual, the practice was in-
stituted of choosing an hour in each month. 

By a Brief of Pius IX., given on April 12, 1867, 
the devotion was approved; but he declared that it 
was not a confraternity, but only a society. 

In Belgium, however, the Dominican nuns of the 
Third Order have established a monastery for the 
express purpose of maintaining the Perpetual Ros-
a r y ; so that there it becomes not merely the devo-
tion of a society, but the distinctive work of a 
community. There are some houses of the same 



.143 

Order in this country, the principal one is in West 
Hoboken, New Jersey, where the Rosary is said day 
and night by some members of the Community. 
There are branch houses of the same Community in 
Baltimore and in Milwaukee. 

M E M B E R S H I P . 

To become a member, one's name must be entered 
on the record, with the hour assigned, i It is not neces-
sary to be a member of the Confraternity, though 
this will scarcely be omitted. It is not necessary to 
spend the hour in a church, but it is counselled. 
Cards of membership, with the hour and the special 
intentions, are distributed to members. 

I N D U L G E N C E S . 

A Plenary Indulgence may be gained on the usua\ 
conditions each time the hour is faithfully observed. 
An Indulgence of three hundred days is granted for 
inducing another to join the Perpetual Rosary ; the 
same for being present at meetings ; for the encour-
agement of works of piety and the more frequent 
recitation of the beads ; and for any good work, done 
in the spirit of the devotion. All these Indulgences 
are applicable to the souls in Purgatory. 

E S T A B L I S H M E N T I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S . % 
The Master General of the Dominicans, being the 

supreme director, appoints, through the Provincials 



.144 

of the Order, the Fatb.ers who will act in the capacity 
of local directors. 

The devotion is established in this country ^ith the 
approbation and encouragement of many archbishops 
and bishops. Its head-quarters are in the Monastery 
of St. Dominic, 10th Street and 13th Avenue, New-
ark, N. J., where the devotion of the Perpetual Adora-
tion of the Blessed Sacrament is also carried on by 
the faithful daughters of St. Dominic. By ad-
dressing the Rev. Mother Prioress, full information 
can be obtained. Members are also received in West 
Hoboken, Baltimore, and Milwaukee. 

X X V . . 
F O R M U L A S O F B L E S S I N G S . * 

"IENEDICTIC ROSARIORUM. 

Y. Adjtttorfùr. 1 n o s t r u m , etc. 
V. Domina, « . a u d i , etc. 
V. Dominus. / o b i s c u m , etc. 

OREMUS. 

Omnipotens, et misericors Deus, qui p r o p t e r eximiam 
charitatem T u a m , qua dilexisti nos, Filium T u u m unigenitum 
Dominum n o s t r u m J e s u m C h r i s t u m de ccelis in terram 
descendere, et de b e a t i s s i m a Virginis, Marias Domina; nostras 
u t e r o sacratissimo, Angelo nuntiante, carnem suscipere, 
Crucemque, ac m o r t e m subire, et tertia die gloriose a m o r t u i s 
resurgere voluisti, ut nos eriperes de potestate diaboli : obse-
cramus immensam clementiam T u a m , ut hasc signa Rosarii in 
h o n o r e m , et laudem ejusSem Genitricis Filii Tui, a b Ecclesia 

* T h e priest w e a r s a w h i t e stole in R o s a r y blessings. 



.145 
Tua fideli dicata, bene dicas, et sancti->fìces, eisque tantam 
infundas virtutem Spiritus Sancti, ut quicumque h o r u m quod-
libet secum portaverit, atque in d o m o sua reverenter tenuerit, 
et in eis ad Te, secundum ejusdem sanctas Societatis instituía, 
divina contemplando mysteria, devote oraverit, salubri, et 
perseveranti devotione abrundet, sitque consors, et particeps 
omnium gratiarum, privilegiorum, et indulgentiarum, quze 
eidem Societati per sanctam Sedem Apostolicam concessa 
fuerunt, a b omni hoste visibili, et invisibili, semper, et ubique 
in hoc saeculo liberetur, et in exitu suo, ab ipsa beatissima 
Virgine Maria Dei Genitrice Tibi, plenus bonis operibus, 
p r s s e n t a r i mereatur. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Jesum 
Christum Filium t u u m , qui tecum vivit. . . . 

Aspergantur aqua benedicta. 

BENEDICTIO CANDELARUM SOCIETAS SS. ROSAMI. 

V. Adjutorium nostrum, etc. 
V. Domine, exaudi, etc. 
V. Dominus vobiscum, etc. 

OREMUS. 

Domine Jesu Christe, Lux vera qui illuminas omnem homi-
nem venientem in hunc mundum, effunde per intercessionem 
Virginis Marias Matris Tuie, et per quindecim ejus Rosarii 
mysteria, b e n e ^ d i c t i o n e m Tuam super hos Cereos, et Can-
delas, et sanctifica eas lumine Tuse g r a t e ; et concede p r o p -
itius, u t , sicut hasc luminaria igne visibili accensa, nocturnas 
depellent tenebras, ita corda nostra invisibili igne, ac Spiritus 
-I- Sancti spleridore illustrata, omnium vitiorum caecitate 
careant, ut puro mentis oculo cernere semper possimus, quae 
Tibi sunt placita, et nostra; saluti utilia : quatenus post hujus 
sasculi caliginosa discrimina, ad lucem indefìcientem pervenire 
mereamur. Qui vivis, etc. 

Aspergantur aqua benedicta. 



.146 

BENEDICTIO ROSARUM.* 

V. Adjutorium nostrum, etc. 
V. Domine exaudi, etc. 
V. Dominus vobiscum, etc. 

OREMUS. 

Deus Creator et Conservator generis humani, Dator g r a t i s 
spiritualis et Largitor « t e r n a ; salutis, benedictione Tua sancta 
b e n e * d i c has Rosas quas p r ò gratiis Tibi exsolvendis cum 
devotione ac v e n e r a t a n e B e a t e semperque Virginis M a n » 
Rosarii, hodie Tibi praesentamus, et petimus benedici et 
infundi in eis per virtutem sanctae Crucis * benedictionem 
coelestem ut qui eas ad odoris suavitatem et repellendas 
infirmatates humano usui tribuisti, talem signaculo sancì» 
Crucis benedictionem accipiant, u t quibuscumque in ìnfìrm-
itatibus apposita; f u e r i n t , seu qui eas in domibus suis vel locis 
cum devotione habuerint aut portaverint, ab infìrmitate 
sanentur, discedant diaboli, contremiscant et fugiant pavidi 
cum suis ministris de habitationibus illis, nec amplius Tibi 
servientes inquietare presumant. Per Christum Dominum 
nostrum. Amen. r 

Aspergantur aqua benedìciti. 

• S u b n o m i n e R o s a r u m . i n t e l l i g e n d a : s u n t rosse n a t u r a l e s a d o d o n s 
s u a v i t a t e m et r e p e l l e n d a s i n f i r m ì t a t e s h u m a n o u s u i t r i b u t a , " n o n a r t e 
f a c t « Q u a r u m foliola in p u l v e r e m r e d a c t a p e r m o d u m m e d i c i n a 
s u m u n t u r c o n t r a q u a s c u m q u e i n f i r m ì t a t e s . P l u r i m a m i r a c u l a e a r u ® 
a p p l i c a t i o n f a c t a a t t e s t a n t u r scriptores. P. LtikeSf O. P. 



.147 

A B S O L U T I O 

B E N E D I C I T I P A P A E X I V . 

PROSCRIPTA A SS. D. LEONE PAPA X I I I . 

Pro impertiendo benedictione cum Indulgentia plenaria Con-
fratribus SS. ßosarti in articulo mortis. 

V. Adjutórium n o s t r u m in nòmine Dòmini. 
Ji. Qui fecit caelum et terram. Ana. Ne reminiscáris, 

Dómine, delieta fàmuli tui (velancílke tuse), ñeque vindíctam 
sumas de peccátis ejus. Kyrie eléison, Christe eleison. Kyrie 
elèi son. Pater noster-

V. Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem. 
Ji. Sed libera nos a malo. 
V. Salvum fac servum tuum (vel ancillam tuam : et sic 

deinceps). 
Ji. Deus meus sperántem in te. 
V. Dòmine, exáudi oratiónem meam. 

Ji. Et clamor meus ad te véniat. 
V. Dominus vobísciim. 

Ji. Et cum spíritu tuo. 

Orèmus. 
Clementissime Deus, Pater misericordiárum, et Deus totius 

consolatiónis, qui néminem vis perire in te credèntem, atque 
sperántem, secundum multitúdinem miseratiónum tuárum 
réspice propítius fámulum tuum {vel fámulam tuam N.) quem 
(vel quam) tibi v e a fides, et spes christiána comméndant.j 
Visita eum (vel earn) in salutári tuo. et per Unigèniti tui pas-
siónem et m o r t e m , ómnium ei delietórum suórum remissiónem, 
et vèniam clemènter indùlge : u t ejus ánima in hora exitus sui 
te júdicem propitiàtum invèniat, et in sánguine ejúsdem Filii 
tui ab omni mácula ablúta transiré ad vìtam mereátur perpètuam. 
Pej- eümdem Christum Dóminum n o s t r u m . 



148 
Tum diclo ab uno ex clericis astantibus. C o n f i t e o r . . Sacer-

dos dicat : Misereâtur. .Deinde. 
Dominus noster Jesus Christus Filius Dei vivi, qui beâto 

Petro apóstolo suo dédit potestâtem ligândi atque solvéndi, per 
suam piissimam misericórdiam recipiat confessiónem tuam, et 
restituât tibi stolam primam, quam in baptismate recepisti : et 
ego facultâte mihi ab apostòlica Sede tributa indulgéntiam ple-
nâriam, et remissiónem ómnium peccatórum tibi concèdo. In 
nòmine Patris, etc. 

Per sacrosâncta h u m a n « reparatiónis mystéria remittat, tibi 
omnipotens Deus omnes p r a s é n t i s , et futüraä vitae pœnas, 
paradisi portas apériat, et ad gàudia sempitèrna p e r d ü c a t 
Amen. 

Benedfcat te omnipotens Deus, Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus 
sanctus. Amen. 

Si vero infirmus sii adeo morte proximus, ut neque confes-
sionis generalis facienda, nequeprœmissarum precum recitan-
darum tempus suppetat, statim sacerdos ei benedictionem tm-
pertiatur. 



.149 

X X V I . 

A P P E N D I X . 

THE FIRST PART OF THE ROSARY. 

T H E F I V E J O Y F U L M Y S T E R I E S . 

FIRST MYSTERY. 

T H E A N N U N C I A T I O N . 

Consider the Infinite Goodness of God in giving 
His Son to redeem us; the Infinite Love of His Son 
in becoming man for our saltation. Congratulate 
the Blessed Virgin chosen to be the Mother of Our 
Saviour. 

SECOND MYSTERY. 

THE VISITATION. 

Consider the charity of the Blessed Virgin in visit-
ing her cousin St. Elizabeth to make known to her 
the glad tidings of Redemption. Join them in prais-
ing God, and in rejoicing at the coming of our 
Redeemer. 

THIRD MYSTERY. 

THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD. 

Consider the suffering and poverty of Our Lord 
in a ¿table of Bethlehem. Rejoice with Mary and 
the Angels over the birth of the Saviour. 



.150 

FOURTH MYSTERY. 

THE OFFERING OF OUR LORD IN THE T E M P L E . 

Consider the Blessed Virgin presenting her Son to 
the Eternal Father. Never did Heaven receive so 
great an offering; join with Simeon and Anna in 
Ipve and adoration. 

FIFTH MYSTERY. 

THE FINDING IN THE T E M P L E . 

Consider the fullness of Mary's joy in finding her 
Son in the Temple after her bitter loss. May we 
share her joy by possessing Him in Heaven. 

THE SECOND PART OF THE ROSARY. 
T H E F I V E S O R R O W F U L M Y S T E R I E S . 

FIRST MYSTERY. 

THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN. 

Contemplate the sorrow of Jesus in the Garden at 
the knowledge of His sufferings, and the enormity of 
our sins. Beg for Sorrow for sin and resignation in 
suffering. 

SECOND MYSTERY. 

THE S C O U R G I N G AT THE PILLAR. 

Behold Jesus scourged and bleeding to satisfy for 
our sins of the flesh. Beg for great purity of mind 
and body. 



.151 

THIRD MYSTERY. 

+ CROWNING WITH THORNS. 

See Jesus crowned with thorns, and His sacred 
face covered with blood to satisfy for sins of pride, 
vanity and evil desires. O, Jesus protect us from 
ever offending You. 

FOURTH MYSTERY. 

THE CARRIAGE OF THE C R O S S . 

Contemplate the sorrowful Mother beholding her 
Son carrying the cross. Ask for grace and strength 
to bear your cross after Jesus. 

FIFTH MYSTERY. 

T H E C R U C I F I X I O N * 

Contemplate the agony of Jesus dying in the sight 
of His afflicted Mother. O, Mary, we are the cause 
of His death, and of your bitter sorrow. Obtain 
that we may never again offend Him by sin. 

THE THIRD PART OF THE ROSARY. 
T H E F I V E G L O R I O U S M Y S T E R I E S . 

FIRST MYSTERY. 

T H E R E S U R R E C T I O N . 

Consider the great joy of the- Blessed Virgin and 
the Disciples in seeing Our Lord triumphant over 
death and Hell. May we die to sin, and rise to life 
everlasting. 



.152 

SECOND MYSTERY. 
THE ASCENSION. 

Behold our Blessed Redeemer ascending to Heaven, 
there to be our Advocate forever. Grant, Blessed 
Lord, that one day we may see You in glory. 

THIRD MYSTERY. 

DESCENT OF THE HOLY G H O S T . 

Consider how Jesus sent down the Holy Ghost to 
enlighten and guide His Church, forever. May we 
always be guided by God's Holy Spirit. 

FOURTH MYSTERY. 
THE ASSUMPTION. 

Contemplate Our Blessed Lady assumed into 
Heaven accompanied by the Angels. O, Immaculate 
Mother, help us to share in your glory. 

FIFTH MYSTERY. 

T H E C O R O N A T I O N . 

Contemplate Our Blessed Lady, crowned by her 
Son with the brightest diadem of glory. O, Mother, 
help us to gain the Crown of Immortality. 

X X V I I . 

R O S A R Y P R O C E S S I O N S . 

Pastors having the Rosary Confraternity should, 
from time to time have a Procession of the Rosary, 
on account of the great indulgences'attached to it. 
See " The Rosary The Crown of Mary," page 92. 



.153 
In some Churches it is had on the first Sunday of 

each month, in others on the first Sunday of May 
and the first Sunday of October. The Procession 
is formed after the manner of the Blessed Sacrament 
Procession: First, the Cross bearer, accompanied by 
acolytes with lighted candles. Then a banner repre-
senting the Blessed Virgin giving the beads to St. | 
Dominic. Next, the altar boys. Then, first banner 
of the Rosary; The First Joyful Mystery, followed 
by ten girls representing the ten Hail Marys. The 
second banner—the Second Mystery, and ten little 
girls, and so on. Procession may consist of five, ten 
or fifteen banners of the Five Joyful, Five Sorrow-
ful, or Five Glorious Mysteries, according to the 
Season—Advent, or Lent, or Pascal Time. 

If the Pastor has not the Rosary banners he may 
use any banner of our Blessed Lady. In some 
places a statue of our Blessed Lady is carried. The 
Priest wearing surplice, stole and cope, accompanied 
by acolytes follows and makes the circuit of the 
Church, whilst the children or choir sing the Ave 
Maris Stella, and, if time permit, the Litany of Lo-
retto. Arriving at the Rosary Altar the Priest sings: 
Regina Sacratissimi Rosarii, ora pro nobis—the choir 
responds: ut digne, etc. Then the prayer as on the 
first Sunday of October—Deus cujus unigenitus, etc. 
This ends the Procession. See Indulgence for saying 
the beads after Procession. 



154 

X X V I I I . 
A P P L I C A T I O N F O R F A C U L T I E S . 

Pastors desiring Faculties f o r the Erection of one o r b o t h 
of the Dominican Confraternities mentioned below, should 
address t h e Master General after t h e f o l l o w i n g f o r m : 
R E V E R E N D Í S I M O P . F . A N D R E W F R Ü H W I R T H , 

M A G I S T R O — G E N E R A L I O R D I N I S P R ^ E D I C A T O R U M . 

1 0 V I A S . SEBASTIANO, ROM^E, I T A L I A . 

R E V E R E N D I S S I M E P A T E R : — 

Ego, i n f r a s c r i p t u s , Rector Ecclesise*  
in loco 

diócesi C o n f r a t e r n i t a t e m S. S. Rosarii t 
in prasdicta Ecclesia optans erigere, a T u a Paternitate enixa 
p o s t u l o , ut litteras facultatiyas ad hanc p r s d i c t a m Confra-
ternitatem rite instituendam necessarias, mihi Reverendo 

i m p e r t i r i benigne concedat. 

Rev •••••• 

(P. O. Address.) 

C O N S E N S U S O R D I N A R I I . 

J u x t a Rescriptum Sacrai Congregationis Indulgenti?'» 
Reliquiisque propositas, de erectione et aggregatione C o n f r a -
ternitatum, Romas die 20 Maii 1896, a SS. Dño, Papa nostra 
Leone XIII. confìrmatum, consensum n o s t r u m ad prasdictam 
C o n f r a t e r n i t a t e m in prasdicta ecclesia erigendam i m p e r t i m u r . 

L . * S . * 

Datum die 190 Episcopus  

* [Sedulo a c d i s t i n c t o c a r a c t e r e i n d i c e n t u r n o m e n et c o g n o m e n 
c e t e r a q u e o m n i a scitu necessaria.J 

t If F a c u l t i e s f o r t h e H o l y N a m e a r e w a n t e d , instead of f o r T h e 
R o s a r y C o n f r a t e r n i t y , t h e n a m e S. S. Nominis should b e s u b s t i t u t e d 
f o r S. S. Rosarii. If t h e p a s t o r desire b o t h , h e should w r i t e S. b . 
Rosarii, et S. S. Nominis. A dollar should b e f o r w a r d e d to R o m e t o r 
tack C o n f r a t e r n i t y . 



.155 
In case the Priest wants only the power t o give the D o m i n -

ican blessing (indulgence) t o beads he should w r i t e t h u s : 
Reverendissime Pater, ego infra Scriptus, enixe p o s t u l o a 
Paternitate Vestra, u t mihi Facultates Rosaria benedicendi 
impartiri benigne digneris. Filius Tuus in Dom. 

Rev 
j 
| P . O „ . . . 

Should a pastor desire Faculties t o establish a C o n f r a -
t e r n i t y in his C h u r c h in. a. t o w n o r city in which t h e same 
C o n f r a t e r n i t y has been Canonically erected, he should ask his 
Bishop t o grant, w i t h permission f o r the C o n f r a t e r n i t y , the 
Dispensation given below. 

P r a t e r e a ex potestate Nobis data per SS. D. N. Leonem 
PP. XIII rescripto diei 20 Maii 1896 dispensamus super Consti-
t u t i o n e Clementis VIII s u b die 7 Decembris 1604 p r o u t sc. 
p r s s c r i b i t u t unica t a n t u m Confraternitas eiusdem Instituti et 
generis, in eodem loco institui et aggregari possit. 

L - * S . '0 

Datum die 190 E p i s c o p u s . . . . .. 









T H E S I N N E R ' S GUIDE» By VEN. Louis of Granada, 
0 . P. A new and revised translation by a Father of 
the same Order. i 6 m o , cloth. Price, 50 cents. 

T h i s i s a w o r k w h i c h t h e D o m i n i c a n F a t h e r s t a k e g r e a t 
p l e a s u r e i n r e c o m m e n d i n g to. t h e . f a i t h f u l , p a r t i c u l a r l y d u r i n g 
t h e h o l y t i m e of a m i s s i o n . T h o u g h a n o l d b o o k , w r i t t e n b y 
o n e of t h e g r e a t e s t m a s t e r s - o f t h e s p i r i t u a l life, it h a s b e e n . i n 
a g r e a t m e a s u r e , n e g l e c t e d b y E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g C a t h o l i c s , , 
o w i n g t o t h e w r e t c h e d t r a n s l a t i o n i n w h i c h it w a s p r e s e n t e d . 
T h e p r e s e n t e d i t i o n s e e k s t o r e m e d y t h e d e f e c t s of t h e f o r m e r . 
T h e t a s k w a s u n d e r t a k e n b y o n e of t h e D o m i n i c a n F a t h e r s , 
a n d w i t h w h a t s u c c e s s , w e l e a v e t h e r e a d e r t o j u d g e f r o m t h e 
t e s t i m o n y of t h e . p i o u s a n d l e a r n e d B i s h o p of W h e e l i n g , R t . 
" R e v . . J o h n J . K a i n , D . D . , a n d f r o m t h e c r i t i c i s m of s o m e of 
t h e a b l e s t C a t h o l i c j o u r n a l s i n t h e l a n d . 

Bishop Kain says of this edition : 
44 G l a n c i n g o v e r p a s s a g e s h e r e a n d t h e r e , a n d c o m p a r i n g t h e m with 

t h e old^ edition, I find a w o n d e r f u l i m p r o v e m e n t . Whilst t h e mean-
i n g is p r e s e r v e d , t h e expressions a r e much c l e a r e r . F r o m a cursory 
examination, t h e style- seems v e r y smooth, a n d even e l e g a n t . I n 
f a c t , it d o e s n o t r e a d l i k e a t r a n s l a t i o n , b u t r a t h e r like a n o r i g i n a l 
E n g l i s h production. O u r c l e r g y a n d p e o p l e o w e y o u a d e b t of 
g r a t i t u d e , which t h e y will t r y to r e p a y , I hope, b y a liberal p a t r o n -
a g e i n t h e p u r c h a s i n g a n d u s i n g of y o u r splendic^edition of one of 
t h e best of spiritual w o r k s . " 

In a n o t h e r letter the Bishop s^ys : 
•ll I h a v ê n o d o u b t t h a t t h e a n t i q u a t e d style of t h e f o r m e r E n g l i s h 

edition h a s b e e n a n obstacle t o t h e circulation of t h a t excellent w o r k . 
1 shall do w h a t I c a n t o make k n o w n t h e n e w édition. I would be 
delighted to see a copy of it in every Catholic home. I onlyr wish that 
ttiy words had weight enough, to carry a copy of that most usefulwork 
into every Catholic family and imprint its contents on every 
Catholic hearth 

H O W T O ' M A K E T H E M I S S I O N . By. a. Dominican 
Father. « i 8 m o , p a p e r . Price 12 cents. * 

: T h i s is a m o s t u s e f u l little b o o k f o r t h o s e d e s i r o u s of m a k i n g 
~a p r o f i t a b l e m i s s i o n . 



B O O K S F O R M I S S I O N S . 

T H E R O S A R Y , T H E C R O W N OP- M A R Y . 
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A b o o k v e r y u s e f u l f o r a l l d e s i r o u s of k n o w i n g t h e o r i g i n , 
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a n d s a y i n g t h e b e a d s w i t h p r o f i t . 
T H E S E C R E T O P S A N C T I T Y R E V E A L E D 

I N M A R Y . B y Blessed Grignon de Montfort. The 
key to the most intimate union with Jesus, through 
Mary. 18mo," paper, 12 cents. 

L I F E O F F A T H E R B U R K E , O. P . , Paper. 
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T H E L I T T L E C R O W N O F M A R Y ; or,I 
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D O M I N I C A N M I S S I O N B O O K . By a Domi-
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. 12mo, 228 "pages. Paper, 25 cents ; cloth, 75 cents. 
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