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ON THE RECITATION
OF THE ROSARY

To Combat Modern World Evils

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Encyclical Letter

(Ingravescentibus Malis)

of

His Holiness, Pope Pius XI

(Vatican Press Translation)

Issued September 29, 1937

NATIONAL CATHOLIC WELFARE CONFERENCE

1312 Massachusetts Avenue, N. W.

WASHINGTON, D. C.



Encyclical Letter of Pope Pius XI

on

The Recitation of the Rosary

To Combat Modern World Evils

Copyright 1937

by

National Catholic Welfare Conference



ENCYCLICAL LETTER

TO OUR VENERABLE BRETHREN

THE PATRIARCHS PRIMATES ARCHBISHOPS BISHOPS

AND OTHER ORDINARIES IN PEACE

AND COMMUNION WITH THE APOSTOLIC SEE

ON THE

RECITATION OF THE ROSARY TO COMBAT

MODERN EVILS

POPE PIUS XI

VENERABLE BRETHREN

GREETINGS AND APOSTOLIC BENEDICTION

TV/TORE than once have We asserted—and We
recently repeated this in the Encyclical Let-

ter Divini Redemptoris (Acta Ap. Sedis, 1937, vol.

XXIX, p. 65)—that there is no remedy for the
ever-growing evils of our times except a return to

Our Lord Jesus Christ and to His most holy pre-

cepts.

Truly, only He "hath the words of eternal life”

(Cf. John, VI, 69)

,

and individuals and society can

only fall quickly and miserably if they ignore the

majesty of God and repudiate His Law.

However, anyone who studies with diligence the

annals of the Catholic Church will easily recognize

that the true patronage of the Virgin Mother of

God is linked with all the annals of the Christian

name.

When, in fact, errors everywhere diffused were

bent upon rending the seamless robe of the Church

and upon throwing the Catholic world into con-

fusion, our fathers turned with confident soul to



2 On the Recitation of the Rosary

her “alone who destroys all heresies in the world
5 ’

(Rom. Brev.), and the victory won through her

brought the return of tranquility.

When the impious Mohammedan power, trust-
ing in its powerful fleet and war-hardened armies,

threatened the peoples of Europe with ruin and

slavery, then—upon the suggestion of the Sover-
eign Pontiff—the protection of the heavenly
Mother was fervently implored and the enemy was

defeated and his ships sunk.

Mary Supplicated by Faithful in Every Age

Thus the faithful of every age, both in public

misfortune and in private need, turn in supplica-

tion to Mary, the benignant, so that she may come

to their aid and grant help and remedy against sor-

rows of body and soul. And never was her most

powerful aid hoped for in vain by those who be-

sought it with pious and trustful prayer.

But also in our day, dangers no less grave than

in the past beset civil and religious society.

In fact, because the supreme and eternal author-

ity of God, which commands and forbids, is de-

spised and completely repudiated by men, the

result is that the consciousness of Christian duty is

weakened, and that faith becomes tepid in souls or

entirely lost, and this afterward affects and ruins

the very basis of human society.

Thus on the one hand are seen citizens intent on

an atrocious struggle among themselves because

some are provided with abundant riches and others

must gain bread for themselves and their dear ones

by the sweat of their brows.

Indeed, as we all know, in some regions the evil



On the Recitation of the Rosary 3

has reached such a pitch that it seeks to destroy

all private right of property, so that everything

might be shared in common.

On the other hand, there are not lacking men

who declare that they honor and exalt, above all, the

power of the State. They say they must use every

means to assure civil order and enforce authority,

and pretend that only thus are they able totally to

repulse the execrable theories of the Communists.

However, they despise the light of evangelic wis-

dom and endeavor to revive the errors of the pagans

and their way of life.

To this is added the clever and lamentable sect

of those who, denying and hating God, declare

themselves the enemies of the Eternal, and who

insinuate themselves everywhere. They discredit

and uproot all religious belief from souls. Finally,

they trample on every human and Divine right.

And while they cast scorn on the hope of heavenly

reward, they incite men to seek, even by illicit

means, false earthly happiness, and therefore drive

them with brazen temerity to the dissolution of the

social order, causing disorder, cruel rebellions and

even the conflagration of civil war.

Hope in God Must Not Grow Faint

Nevertheless, Venerable Brethren, though such

great and numerous evils hang over us, and others

still greater are to be feared for the future, we must

not lose heart nor let the confident hope that rests

solely on God become fainter.

He who "made the nations of the earth for

health” (Cf. Wisdom I, 14), without doubt will

not let those perish whom He has redeemed with



4 On the Recitation of the Rosary

His Precious Blood, nor will He abandon His

Church.

But rather, as We said in the beginning, shall We
beseech God through the mediation of the Blessed

Virgin, so acceptable to Him, since, to use the

words of St. Bernard: "Such is the will of God,

Who has wished that we should have all things
through Mary.” (Serm. in Nativ. B.M.V.).

Prayer of Rosary Occupies Distinct Place

Among the various supplications with which we

successfully appeal to the Virgin Mother of God,

the Holy Rosary without doubt occupies a special

and distinct place.

This prayer, which some call the "Psalter of the

Virgin” or "Breviary of the Gospel and of Chris-

tian life,” was described and recommended by Our

Predecessor of happy memory, Leo XIII, with these

vigorous passages: "Very admirable is this crown

interwoven with the angelic salutation which is

interposed in the Sunday prayer, and unites with it

the obligation of interior meditation. It is an ex-

cellent manner of praying . . . and very useful for

the attainment of immortal life” (Acta Leonis,

1898, vol. XVIII, pp. 154, 15 5).

And this can well be deduced from the very

flowers that form this mystic garland.

What prayers in fact can be found more adapt-

able and holy?

The first is that which our Divine Redeemer

Himself pronounced when His disciples asked

Him: "Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke XI, 1); a

very holy supplication which both offers us the

way—as far as it is possible for us—to render glory



On the Recitation of the Rosary 5

to God, and also takes into account all the necessi-

ties of our body and soul.

How can the Eternal Father, when prayed to
with the very words of His Son, refuse to come to

our aid?

The other prayer is the Angelic Salutation,

which begins with the eulogies of the Archangel

Gabriel and of St. Elizabeth, and ends with that

very pious supplication by which we beg the help

of the Blessed Virgin now and at the hour of our

death.

To these invocations, said aloud, is added the

contemplation of the sacred mysteries, through

which they place, as it were, under our eyes the joys,

sorrows and triumphs of Jesus Christ and of His

Mother, so that we receive relief and comfort in

our sorrows. Following those most holy examples,

we ascend to the happiness of the heavenly country

by steps of ever higher virtue.

Rosary Heavenly Suggestion of Virgin Mary

This practice of piety, Venerable Brethren,

admirably diffused by St. Dominic, not without the

heavenly suggestion and inspiration of the Virgin

Mother of God, is without doubt easy for all, even

for the ignorant and the simple.

But those wander from the path of truth who

consider this devotion merely an annoying formula

repeated with monotonous sing-song intonation,

and refuse it as good only for children and silly

women!

In this regard, it is to be noted that both piety

and love, though always renewing the same words,

do not always repeat the same thing, but always ex-



6 On the Recitation of the Rosary

press something new issuing from the intimate sen-

timent of devotion. And besides, this mode of

prayer has the perfume of evangelic simplicity and

requires humility of spirit; and, if we disdain

humility, as the Divine Redeemer teaches, it will

be impossible for us to enter the heavenly kingdom:

"Amen, I say to you, unless you become as little

children you shall not enter the kingdom of

heaven” (Matth. XVIII, 3).

Nevertheless, if men in our century, with its

derisive pride, refuse the Holy Rosary, there is an

innumerable multitude of holy men of every age

and every condition who have always held it dear.

They have recited it with great devotion, and in

every moment they have used it as a powerful

weapon to put the demons to flight, to preserve the

integrity of life, to acquire virtue more easily, and

in a word to attain real peace among men.

Rosary a Daily Practice of Learned Men

Nor are there lacking men famous as to doctrine

and wisdom who, although intensely occupied in

scientific study and researches, never even for a day

fail to pray fervently on bended knee, before the

image of the Virgin, in this most pious form.

Thus kings and princes, however burdened with

most urgent occupations and affairs, made it their

duty to recite the Rosary.

This mystic crown, then, not only is found in

and glides through the hands of the poor, but it

also is honored by citizens of every social rank. And

We do not wish here to pass over in silence the fact
that the Blessed Virgin herself, even in our times,

has solicitously recommended this manner of



On the Recitation of the Rosary 7

prayer, when she appeared and taught it to the

innocent girl in the Grotto of Lourdes.

Therefore why should We not hope for every
grace if We supplicate Our Heavenly Mother in
this manner with due disposition and holiness?

We desire very earnestly, Venerable Brethren,
that the Holy Rosary should be recited in a special

manner in the month of October and with in-

creased devotion both in the churches and in

homes.

And so much the more must it be done since the

enemies of the Divine Name—that is, those who
have rebelled against and denied and scorned the

Eternal God—spread snares for the Catholic Faith
and the liberty due to the Church, and finally rebel

with insane efforts against divine and human rights,

to send mankind to ruin and perdition. Through

efficacious recourse to the Virgin Mother of God,

they may be finally bent and led to penance and

return to the straight path, trusting to the care and

protection of Mary.

Rosary’s Power Cited by Examples in History

The Holy Virgin who once victoriously drove

the terrible sect of the Albigenses from Chris-

tian countries, now suppliantly invoked by us, will

turn aside the new errors, especially those of Com-

munism, which reminds us in many ways, in its

motives and misdeeds, of the ancient ones.

And as in the times of the Crusades in all Europe

there was raised one voice of the people, one sup-

plication, so it is today: in all the world, the cities

and even the smallest villages, united with courage

and strength, with filial and constant insistence,



8 On the Recitation of the Rosary

the people seek to obtain from the great Mother

of God that the enemies of Christian and human

civilization be defeated, and thus that real peace

may shine again over tired and straying men.

If, then, all will do this with due disposition,

with great faith and with fervent piety, it is right

to hope that as in the past, so in our day, the

Blessed Virgin will obtain from her divine Son that

the waves of the present tempests be calmed and

that a brilliant victory crown this rivalry of Chris-

tians in prayer.

Rosary a Spur to Evangelic Virtue

The Holy Rosary, besides, not only serves ad-

mirably to overcome the enemies of God and

Religion, but is also a stimulus and spur to the

practice of evangelic virtues which it injects and

cultivates in our souls. Above all, it nourishes the

Catholic Faith, which flourishes again precisely in

opportune meditation of the sacred mysteries, and

raises minds to the truth revealed to us by God.

Every one can understand how salutary it is,

especially in our times wherein sometimes a certain

annoyance of the things of the spirit is felt even

among the faithful, and a dislike, as it were, for the

Christian doctrine.

Therefore, revive the hope of immortal welfare,

while the triumph of Jesus Christ and of His

Mother, meditated on by us in the last part of the

Rosary, shows us Heaven open and invites us to

the conquest of the Eternal Country.

Thus while an unbridled longing for the things

of this earth has penetrated into the hearts of

mortals and each one more ardently longs for the



On the Recitation of the Rosary 9

short-lived riches and ephemeral pleasures, all feel

a fruitful call back to the heavenly treasures

**where thieves do not break in and neither rust

nor moth doth consume” (Matth. XII, 3 3), and

to the wealth that will never perish.

And the charity which has been weakened and

cooled in many, how can it fail to be rekindled

into love in the souls of those who recall with a

full heart the tortures and death of our Redeemer

and the afflictions of His Sorrowful Mother?

From this charity towards God, then, there can-

not but rise a more intense love of one’s neighbor

if one dwells on the labors and sorrows that Our

Lord suffered for all, reinstating the lost inherit-

ance of the children of God.

Diffusion of Rosary Means Increase in Piety

Therefore see to it, Venerable Brethren, that

such a fruitful practice shall be more diffused,

more highly esteemed by all, and that common

piety be increased.

Through your work and that of the priests who

help you in the care of souls, its praises and ad-

vantages shall be preached and repeated to the

faithful of every social class.

From it, the young will draw fresh energy with

which to control the rebellious tendencies to evil

and to preserve intact the stainless purity of the

soul; also in it, the old will again find repose, relief

and peace from their anxious cares. To those who

devote themselves to Catholic Action may it be a

spur to impel them to a more fervent and active

work of apostolate; and to all those who suffer in



10 On the Recitation of the Rosary

any way, especially the dying, may it bring com-

fort and increase the hope of eternal happiness.

The fathers and mothers of families particularly

must give an example to their children, especially

when, at sunset, they gather together after the

day’s work, within the domestic walls, and recite

the Holy Rosary on bended knees before the image

of the Virgin, together fusing voice, faith and

sentiment. This is a beautiful and salutary custom,

from which certainly there cannot but be derived

tranquility and abundance of heavenly gifts for

the household.

Holy Father’s Words to Newly Wedded

Couples

When very frequently We receive newly-mar-
ried couples in audience and address paternal words

to them, We give them Rosaries, We recommend
these to them earnestly, and We exhort them, cit-
ing Our own example, not to let even one day

pass without saying the Rosary, no matter how

burdened they may be with many cares and labors.

For these reasons, Venerable Brethren, We have
thought to exhort you earnestly, and through you,

all the faithful, to carry out this pious practice.

Nor do We doubt that you, listening, with your

usual response to Our paternal invitation, will bring

about abundant fruits once more.

And in addressing this Encyclical to you, an-

other motive impels Us. We wish that, together

with Us, Our many children in Jesus Christ shall

unite and render thanks to the Mother of God for

the better health We have happily regained.
This grace, as We have had occasion to write



On the Recitation of the Rosary 1

1

(Cf. Chirograph to Cardinal E. Pacelli, Osservatore

Romano, 5th September 1937), We attribute to
the special intercession of the Virgin of Lisieux,

St. Teresa of the Child Jesus. But We know,
though, that everything comes to us granted by

Almighty God through the hands of Our Lady.

Asks Reparation for Offense to Blessed

Mother

And lastly, as there has been launched in the

public press with rash insolence, a very grave

injury to the Blessed Virgin, We cannot do less
than profit by this occasion to offer, together with

the Episcopate and the people of that nation which

venerates Mary as "Queen of the Kingdom of

Poland,” and with the homage of our piety, due

reparation to the august Queen, and denounce to

the whole world this sacrilege committed with im-

punity, as a painful and unworthy thing.

Meanwhile, with a full heart We impart to You,
Venerable Brethren, and to the flock entrusted to

the care of each of you, the Apostolic Blessing as

an augury of heavenly graces and in token of Our

Paternal benevolence.

Given at Castelgandolfo, near Rome, on the 29th

of the month of September, on the Feast of the

Dedication of St. Michael Archangel, in the year

1937, the sixteenth of Our Pontificate.

PIUS PP. XI.