THE ROSARY

 October 4, 1975 — FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS

Mary Ann leaned back and after a short period of time said: Thank you, St. Francis. Then she blessed herself three times very reverently and again said:

Thank you, St. Francis, that is true.

You all have very much work to do with the Constant Vigil of Prayer, the cleansing of schools, the promotion of the Rosary which should not be an extra job, it should only be something that everyone should do. But yet, as you all know, there are not enough to say the Rosary, to teach it to their children. Many so-called good Catholics, as some of your Priests and Bishops would say, their own first and second graders and up to the fifth grade, do not even know how to say the Rosary.   They don’t know the Apostles’ Creed, and they are coming from what the Clergy say, “Good Catholic families”.  The error is made here, they are good Catholic families because they support with alms rather than devotion and living the true Christian life.  They are not giving the proper report. They would all succeed much better if they would seek prayers, devotions, rather than alms. Alms are needed, yes, and should be properly executed, but the greatest interest today, in most of your dioceses, is the alms - raising - push and drive, not the Rosary, not the Constant Vigil, not the Holy Hours and the remembrance of Our Holy Mother’s Days. The devotions to Her, such as Perpetual Help and other devotionals.  They are completely forgetting those days. When they did these things be­fore, they didn’t notice that the alms flowed more heavily than they do today.  If the leaders do not encourage devotion how do they expect the populace to follow? They are the Shepherds of the flock, they are the ones to guide them, to lead them. And how better could they do it than by just saying a Rosary? Devotion to the Sacred Heart, devotions to the Litany of the Holy Mother, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to make reparations.  Not by how much they can get into their kitties by having soliciting drives. They are not protecting their flock the right way, as Their Holy Mother said in 1950, “It is the almighty dollar that glitters and shines, it isn’t the Rosary.” The family Rosary is not the most im­portant, nor our Christian devotions. Sports outnumber any spiri­tual devotion, even in the Catholic schools. It is nice as a diversion, but it should not be the main issue. As long as they put the cart before the horse, they cannot succeed. They must be the true Shep­herds, they must lead their flocks in proper devotions. The Rosary cannot be substituted, the Rosary cannot be changed. Our Holy Mother, in 1950, told thy Sister it is the simple Rosary, not any other devotion that should be included in the Rosary.  Meditations on the Mysteries, yes, and the simple, plain Rosary as She taught the Apostles how to say the Rosary. It was not used in the olden days as it is today, but yet there is a history behind the Rosary. The name “Rosary” started because of each rose per each Hail Mary, and the Psalms, each Psalm. The Rosary should never be changed. Holy-Mother disapproves of it very strongly, and those that are claim­ing that the Holy Mother gave them the instructions to do this, are not led by the true Holy Mother. Our Holy Mother in Heaven would not speak to one, one way and to another, another.  It takes away from the true devotion of the Rosary by adding other words, meaningless words, when they are put in the wrong place. They destroy the true devotion to the Rosary. It is a satanic way to take away the Rosary. Satan hates the Rosary, he hates it with everything he has. He will cower in a corner from a Hail Mary. He will spin about in anger when a Hail Mary is said. It is Our Heavenly Mother’s wish that the Holy Rosary be said the way She instructed it to be said; not any invocations to be put into it to dilute the true meaning of the Rosary. You are to announce the Mystery and then meditate upon this Mystery, while you are saying the Hail Marys. Thus by doing this, you are walking the complete Rosary. You are on the same path with it, but if you say other prayers, other words, you are taking away from the Mystery. You are changing the true meaning of the Mystery. Educate thy people here to follow the true Rosary and nothing else. That is Her wish here on these grounds; and in many of Her other places, She asked for the Rosary. It does not mean any other Rosary than the one She instituted. This is the month of the Rosary. Many, many Rosaries should be said, this month espec­ially, and then comes the month of the Poor Souls and All Saints. They, too, need your Rosaries, to bring forth a soul from Purga­tory. Offer your Rosaries for your own needs, but also for the Poor Souls in Purgatory. There are many crying for your atten­tion, call to them, remember the Poor Souls daily. Do not aban­don or forget them, for they will help you with your problems if you remember them.

Thank you. Can I explain what I saw this evening before I forget the details? Thank you, St. Francis.

St. Francis showed me the beginning of his life as a Franciscan, how he and several other people started their Order, how he walked many miles to accomplish what he tried to do, how he removed his wealthy garments and put on the poor, how he fasted. He walked with sandals that had holes in them. They didn’t have the automo­bile then, nor did they have a train, they walked. Many, many miles had to be walked to do a single errand. Then I was shown how St. Francis was kneeling in front of a crucifix, it was just an ordin­ary crucifix.  He is talking to His Lord and God with his eyes closed. Suddenly there was a flash like a bolt of lightning that struck between him and the crucifix on the ground.  St. Francis flew backwards with his arms extended. (Mary Ann leaned back and extended her arms.)  When he did this, Christ appeared large on the crucifix.    The crucifix was a large one.    Christ reached towards him, and when He did this the Wounds broke out.  He had received the gift of the Wounds from His Savior. He doubled over with pain, because when the Wounds entered, they caused him very excruciating pains. Christ disappeared and the same crucifix was left there.   St. Francis collapsed. He passed out and then the picture vanished. 

Who Gave Us The Rosary?

 It was God’s Mother who gave us the Rosary.

When we are shown a masterpiece of any great painter such as Raphael, Michael  Angelo, Titian or Angelico, we know at once that it was a work of priceless value  and perfection.

Yet who are all the greatest masters in the world in comparison to God’s Mother.   She is holier, more  wise, more powerful than all the Angels and Saints.  She is the greatest, the mightiest, and  wisest of all God’s creatures.   Let us bear clearly in mind that the Rosary is not only the gift of God’s Mother but that it is Her Masterpiece.  She gave us two great gifts. First of all she gave us her Divine Son, Jesus.   Secondly, she gave the Rosary.

The Son of God, made man, came to us through Mary,  it is she who takes us and gives us to God.    She does this by the Rosary, which is a prayer so powerful and infallibly planned as it was, with her wisdom and power and love!

She gave us the Rosary to make us strong, holy and pleasing to God.

God gives us all the graces through Mary and she gives these graces most especially through the Rosary.

It is simply a most perfect work, so perfect that Mary could not give us anything better.

She gave it to us as a sure and certain means of obtaining everything we need, as a means to conquer the devil, as a means to overcome all our weaknesses and temptations. 

The Popes and the Rosary

When the Holy Father is pleased to give his personal approval to a book, or write a letter in praise of any work, such a mark of honor is looked on as the highest honor that an author can receive, the best guarantee that any work can have.

“By the means of the Rosary immense benefits are everyday being received by Christian people (Urban V).

“The Rosary was especially given to us as a protection against the great evils and dangers that threaten the World”. (Leo X)

“With the Rosary we drive the devil far from us”. (AdrianVI).

“By the Rosary St. Dominic appeased the anger of God against France and Italy”. (Paul II).

Boniface VIII placed such unbounded confidence in the Rosary that he wished to be buried in vestments on which were embroidered the Mysteries of the Rosary. This act of filial confidence was so pleasing to God that his body was found incorrupt after 300 years.

Pius IX, the great Pope of Infallibility, and Dogma of the Immaculate

Conception, one of the holiest and greatest Pontiffs, who have governed the Church, says: “The Rosary is a very treasure of graces. If you desire to have peace in your hearts, peace in your home, peace in your native land say the Rosary with your families”.   In his audiences he used to say, “Tell your friends that the Pope not only blessed your rosary but that he says  it everyday himself.”   “This is my last recommendation, SAY THE ROSARY.”   He died while saying the Rosary.

Leo XII, deservedly called “Lumen in Coelo” “Light of Heaven”, recommended and preached the Rosary so earnestly when he became Pope that he was called the Pope of the Rosary.   He was already a very old man when he ascended the throne of St. Peter.  Realizing the dangers that threatened him from every side, he placed all  his confidence in the Rosary.   Though the month of May was consecrated to Our Lady, he insisted that the month of October should be more especially consecrated to the Rosary.    And devotions should be carried out with great fervor and solemnity.   In a short time a truly wonderful change came about.   His most powerful and bitter enemies not only ceased their hatred and persecution but manifested for him the utmost respect and friendship.   Thus the sorrows of the Sovereign Pontiff were changed into joys and his reign was one of most glorious in the history of the Church.  When the venerable Pontiff lay on his deathbed one of the Cardinals lovingly consoled him with the following words, “ Remember, dear Holy Father, all you have done for the Rosary.   God’s Blessed Mother is waiting to take your soul to Heaven.”

Pius XI has added to the already immense number of indulgences which have won for the Rosary the title of the “Queen of Indulgences”.

  He granted a Plenary Indulgence each time that any one says the Rosary in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, whether publicly, exposed in the Tabernacle. Holy Mary mother of God, Pray for us NOW…….

Meditations On The Mysteries Of The Rosary

 A mystery is a sacred thing which is difficult to understand. The works of Our Lord Jesus Christ are all sacred and divine because He is God and man at one and the same time. The works of  the Most Blessed Virgin are very holy because she is the most perfect and most pure of God’s creatures. The works of Our Lord and His Blessed Mother can be rightly  called mysteries because they are so full of wonders and all  kinds of perfections and deep and sublime truths which the Holy Spirit reveals to the humble and simple souls who honor these mysteries.

 The works of Jesus and Mary can also be called wonderful flowers; but their perfume and beauty can only be appreciated by those who study them carefully-and who open them and drink in their scent by diligent and sincere meditation.

 Saint Dominic has divided up the lives of  Our Lord and Our Lady into fifteen mysteries which stand for their virtues and their important actions.  These are the fifteen tableaux or pictures whose every detail must rule and inspire our lives. They are fifteen flaming torches to guide our steps throughout this earthly life.

 They are fifteen shining mirrors which help us to know Jesus and Mary and to know ourselves as well. They will also help light the fire of their love in our hearts.

They are fifteen fiery furnaces which can consume us completely in their heavenly flames.

 Our Lady taught St.Dominic this excellent method of praying and ordered him to preach it  far and wide so as to reawaken the fervor of Christians and to revive in their hearts a love for Our Blessed Lord.

 She also taught Blessed de la Roche and said to him in a vision: “When people say one hundred and fifty Angelic Salutations this prayer is very helpful to them and is a very blessed tribute to me. But they will do better still and will please me even more if they say these salutations while meditating on the life, death and passion of Jesus Christ, for meditation is the soul of this prayer”.

For in reality, the Rosary said without meditating on the sacred mysteries of our salvation, would be almost like a body without a soul.

The first part of the Rosary contains five Mysteries called Joyful, because of the joy which they gave to the whole universe. Our Lady and the angels were overwhelmed with joy the moment when the Son of  God was incarnate.  Heaven and earth rejoiced at the birth of Our Savior. Could anyone describe the joy of  Mary and Joseph when they found the Child Jesus after he had been lost for three days.

The second part of the Rosary is composed of five Sorrowful Mysteries. They show us Our Lord weighed down with sadness, covered with wounds, laden with insults, sufferings and torments. Agony, Scourgings, Crowned with thorns, Carrying of the Cross,  Crucifixion and Death.

The third part  of the  Mysteries of the Rosary are called Glorious because when we say them we meditate on Jesus and Mary in their triumph and glory. The Resurrection, Ascension, Descent of the Holy Ghost, Assumption, and the Crowning in Heaven of the Blessed Virgin.

It was because Our Lady wanted  to help us in the great task of working out our salvation that she ordered St. Dominic to teach the faithful to meditate upon the sacred mysteries of the life of Jesus Christ. She did this, not only that they might adore and glorify Him, but chiefly that they might pattern their lives and actions upon His virtues.

The Son Of God has all the more reason to tell us to engrave the mysteries of His life, passion and death upon our hearts and to have always before our eyes, because each mystery reminds us of His goodness to us ) in some special way and it is by these mysteries that He has shown us His overwhelming love and desire for our salvation.

Our Lord is saying to us, “Oh, all of you that pass by, pause a while and see if there has ever been sorrow like unto the sorrow which I have undergone for love of you. Be mindful of my poverty and My humiliations, think of the wine mingled with gall which I drank for you during My Bitter passion.”

These words and many others which could be given here should be more than enough to convince us that we must not only say the Rosary with our lips in honor of Our Lord and Our Lady, but also meditate upon the sacred mysteries while we are saying it.

Let us then, meditate on the life and sufferings of Our Lord by means of the Holy Rosary.  Let’s learn to know Him well and to be grateful for all His blessings so that, at the Day of Judgment, He may number us among His children and His friends.

Prayer moves the hand that moves the universe.
Author unknown

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