diff options
Diffstat (limited to '58213-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 58213-0.txt | 1245 |
1 files changed, 1245 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/58213-0.txt b/58213-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a5d9a50 --- /dev/null +++ b/58213-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1245 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58213 *** + + + + + + + +The Rosary + + +NIHIL OBSTAT +ARTHURIUS L. McMAHON, O.P., S.T.M +Prior Provincialis + +IMPRIMATUR ++EDUARDUS J. HANNA +Archepiscopus S. Francisci + +S. Francisci, die 27 Sept. 1915 + + + +THE ROSARY + +--- + +THE name Rosary signifies a crown of roses; and well does this +devotion deserve, by just right, a name so beautiful. The rose +is the most beautiful of flowers and ravishes our senses with +its beauty and perfume; and there is no delight that can equal +the heavenly enchantment of the spiritual sweetness which is +exhaled from this beautiful prayer. + +The Rosary is a spiritual garland of mystic roses with which we +deck the brow of Mary--a diadem which reflects the joy and +brilliance, the purity and fecundity of the glorious _Queen of +Heaven_. + +The flowers which we weave are not of this earth, but are +indigenous to Paradise, and were transplanted by an angel's hand +from their native soil to bloom and flourish among the weeds and +thistles of this miserable and sinful world. + +There is no form of prayer more efficacious, or more excellent +and acceptable before Heaven than Mary's own devotion, the +Rosary. There is nothing that the great Holy Father, Pope Leo +XIII, urged more upon the Church than the devout practice of +reciting the beads in her honor. + +The devotion of the Holy Rosary was revealed to St. Dominic by +the Blessed Virgin Mary, who commanded him to preach it +throughout the world; and hence the Rosary has ever been the +spiritual heritage and distinct property of the Dominican Order. + +The Rosary is adapted to the learned and the ignorant, and to +every capacity. The form and matter are intelligible to the most +illiterate, and yet so sublime as to be matter of contemplation +worthy of the highest intellect. Moreover, the Rosary is not +only a most sublime and perfect devotion, but there is no +devotion in the Church which is enriched with more precious and +valuable helps to salvation; and there is nothing, outside the +Holy Sacrifice, that can profit the living and the dead equal to +the pious recitation of the Rosary. + + +The Form and Matter of the Rosary + +The Rosary consists in the recitation, in honor of the Most Holy +Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of the Angelic Salutation one +hundred and fifty times, distributed into fifteen decades; each +decade being preceded by the Lord's Prayer and accompanied by +meditation on one of the principal mysteries of our Divine +Saviour and terminated by the doxology or "Glory be to the +Father," etc. The vocal prayer is the matter, the _body_ of this +exercise; the meditation on the fifteen mysteries is the form, +and, as it were, the _soul_ of this prayer. The Rosary is +divided into three parts; each part contains five mysteries and +is called a chaplet. The first part consists of the five joyful +mysteries; the second, of the five sorrowful; and the third, of +the five glorious mysteries. + + +Manner of Reciting the Rosary + +The method of reciting the Rosary practiced by the Dominicans is +as follows: + +In the name of the Father, etc. + +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. + +Glory be to the Father, etc., Alleluia. + +(From Septuagesima to Easter, instead of Alleluia, say Praise by +to Thee, O Lord, King of eternal glory.) + +Then announce either "the first part of the holy Rosary, the +five joyful mysteries," or "the second part of the holy Rosary, +the five sorrowful mysteries," or "the third part of the holy +Rosary, the five glorious mysteries." Then the first mystery, +"The Annunciation," etc., and Our Father once, Hail Mary ten +times, Glory be to the Father once; in the meantime, meditating +on the mystery. After reciting five decades, the Hail, Holy +Queen is said, followed by + +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 the rewards of eternal life, +grant, we beseech Thee, that, meditating upon these mysteries of +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. + + + +The Five Joyful Mysteries + +(Assigned for Mondays and Thursdays throughout the year, the +Sundays in Advent and after Epiphany till Lent.) + +Like scenes of some wondrous drama these Mysteries set before us +the joys of the life of our Saviour. One by one the scenes are +unfolded--each telling its story, conveying its Gospel lesson to +the human soul. Before our mental view pass the personages +mentioned in God's Book. Here are Mary the humble, Joseph the +obedient, Elizabeth the prayerful, Simeon the just, the angels +on earth and in heaven--all bending in lowly reverence before +Jesus, the grand central figure of the Rosary devotion. Our +minds filled with Faith and Hope and Love, we begin the decades: + + +First Joyful Mystery: + +"The Annunciation" + +"And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of +grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. Who +having heard, was troubled at his saying, . . . And the angel +said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. +Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a +son; and thou shalt call His name Jesus."--(St. Luke, I, 28-31) + +Mary's Humility + +As Jesus, the Savior of Mankind, humbled himself, becoming +obedient even unto the death of the Cross, how fitting that +Mary, his Mother, should in the moment of her greatest +exaltation teach us the lesson of Humility. + +Pride wrought the ruin of legions of angels; through pride our +first parents sinned in the Garden of Happiness. By humility our +salvation was achieved--the humility of the Word of God. In our +pride we have disobeyed God's holy law. Through humble penance +are we to regain God's favor. + +O Mary, humble hand-maid of the Lord, pray that we know our own +unworthiness! + + +Second Joyful Mystery: + +"The Visitation" + +"And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country +with haste into a city of Judea. And she entered into the house +of Zachary and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that when +Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her +womb."--(St. Luke, I, 39-41.) + +Brotherly Love + +Charity prompts Mary to visit her cousin Elizabeth in the hour +of her need. Ah, how the loving heart of our dear Mother +anticipates the words of her Divine Son: "By this shall all men +know that you are My disciples, that you have love one for +another." + +"I was sick and in prison and you did visit Me," says our +Saviour. And He calls those specially blessed of His Father who +shall feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and bring comfort to +those that mourn. Wheresoever we move on earth let us, by kindly +word and sympathetic action, bring a warm breath of heavenly +charity. + +O Mary, sweet Mother of charity, teach us to be kind; and for +the sake of Christ to lighten the burden of Christ's least +brethren! + + +Third Joyful Mystery: + +"The Nativity" + +"And she brought forth her first-born Son, and wrapped Him in +swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was +no room for them in the inn."--(St. Luke, II, 7.) + +Poverty + +"Wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger" is Jesus on +the night of His birth. The world had forgotten the richness of +being poor. It was needful that Jesus should enter into the +world in poverty to teach the lesson of detachment from earthly +things. In the Crib of Bethlehem, as from the Mount, Christ +teaches the self-same lesson: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, +for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." + +If we possess worldly goods, let us act as God's faithful +stewards, giving liberally to the poor of Christ; if poverty be +our lot, let us not murmur against God's Holy will, but rather +thank God we are saved from the many temptations of riches. + +Mary, lover of poverty, teach us to seek first the Kingdom of +God. + + +Fourth Joyful Mystery: + +"The Presentation" + +"And after the days of her purification, according to the law of +Moses, were accomplished, they carried Him to Jerusalem, to +present Him to the Lord. As it is written in the law of the +Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the +Lord."--(St. Luke, II, 22, 23.) + +Purity + +In obedience to the Mosaic law, to which He was not subject, +Christ allowed Himself to be presented body and soul in the +Temple to teach us that by purity of body and soul we are to +consecrate ourselves to the service of God. + +"Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God." As we +are pure of heart, so will our vision of the things of God be +clear. By prayer and the Sacraments shall we maintain purity of +life. Prayer will keep our minds in touch with God. Strict +examination of conscience will make known to us our faults. The +Sacrament of Penance will cleanse our souls. If through the +Sacrament of the Eucharist we abide in Christ, Christ will abide +in us and keep us pure. + +O Mary, Virgin Mother, protect us in body and soul! + + +Fifth Joyful Mystery: + +"The Finding in the Temple" + +"And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found Him in +the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them +and asking them questions. . . . And His mother said to Him: +Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold Thy father and I have +sought Thee sorrowing. And He said to them: How is it that you +sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father's +business?"--(St. Luke, II, 46, 48, 49.) + +Zeal for Souls + +Zeal to be about the things that are His Father's prompts Jesus +to remain in the pulpit in the midst of the doctors of the law, +hearing them and asking them questions. "They that instruct many +to justice shall shine as stars for all eternity." (Daniel XII, +3.) How glorious the reward of those who sacrifice themselves +for the salvation of souls! + +Whatsoever be our station in life, we can work for God by word +and example. If our words are holy and of good repute, and our +actions are prompted by charity, justice and purity, we are +spreading the Gospel of Christ--carrying His message to them +that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. + +O Mary, zealous lover of souls, teach us to work for God! + + + +The Five Sorrowful Mysteries + +(For Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the year, and the Sundays +in Lent) + +The curtain has fallen on the Joyful Mysteries to rise slowly +again, disclosing the principal scene in the Tragedy of Christ. +There is this difference between every other tragedy played out +on the wide stage of the earth and the Tragedy of Christ, that +each one of us acted a sad part in making our Divine Saviour +suffer. When sorrow for our sins brings tears of humble +repentance to our eyes, let us still look up to the Cross--the +Symbol of Hope. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will +draw all things to myself." (St. John, XII, 32.) Saints have +meditated on the sufferings of Christ and have found therein the +motive for further battling against temptation; sinners have +contemplated the Sorrowing Christ and have experienced the +undying truth of His words: "Come to Me all you that labor and +are burdened, and I will refresh you." (St. Matt. II, 28.) + + +First Sorrowful Mystery: + +"The Agony in the Garden" + +"Then Jesus came with them into a country place which is called +Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples: Sit you here, till I +go yonder and pray . . . And going a little further, He fell +upon His face, praying, and saying: My Father, if it be +possible, let this chalice pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I +will, but as Thou wilt."--(St. Matt., XXVI, 36-39.) + +Confidence in Prayer + +In agony Christ prayed: "Father, all things are possible to +thee; remove this chalice from me; but not what I will, but what +thou wilt." (St. Luke, XIV, 36.) Three times He sent up the +self-same cry to His Eternal Father, with earnestness and in +resignation to the Will of His Father. + +Our Saviour, who had a right to be heard because of His +reverence, was constant and humble in prayer, whilst we who have +so frequently rebelled against God's will pray with distraction +and coldness. + +O Mary, for whom thy Son didst work a miracle in answer to +prayer, pray for us and teach us how to pray earnestly and +humbly! + + +Second Sorrow Mystery: + +"The Scourging at the Pillar" + +"But the chief priests and ancients persuaded the people, that +they should ask Barabbas, and make Jesus away. And the governor +answering, said to them: Whether will you of the two to be +released unto you? But they said, Barabbas. . . . Then he +released to them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered +Him unto them to be crucified."--(St. Matt., XXVII, 20, 21, 26.) + +Hatred of Pleasure + +To a world gone mad in the pursuit of pleasure, Christ from the +pillar seems to say: "Learn of Me." Standing quivering under the +cruel lashes, what a lesson of mortification Christ teaches! Is +not every gaping wound in His Sacred Body a rebuke to us who +seek to indulge ourselves at all costs--even the cost of our +eternal salvation. As we watch the scourging of our Saviour let +us bemoan our sins, especially our sins of sensuality. + +O Mary, Mother of Sorrows, preach to us anew the sermon of St. +Paul, who chastised his body and brought it under subjection. +"Know you not that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost +who is in you, whom you have from God; and you are not your own? +For you are bought with a great price. Glorify and bear God in +your body." (I Cor. VI, 19.) + + +Third Sorrowful Mystery: + +"The Crowning With Thorns" + +"Then the soldiers of the governor taking Jesus into the hall, +gathered together unto Him the whole band; and stripping Him, +they put a scarlet cloak about Him. And platting a crown of +thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand. +And bowing the knee before Him, they mocked Him, saying: Hail, +king of the Jews."--(St. Matt., XXVII, 27-29.) + +Humble Faith + +"Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as +little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of +Heaven." (St. Matt. XVIII, 2, 3.) How many times through life +has Christ taught the lesson of unquestioning faith! He endures +the cruel Crowning of Thorns that we may learn to be humble of +intellect. Our earth-bound minds can not measure the things of +God, nor solve His mysteries. + +With simple faith let us accept the truths God has been pleased +to reveal of Himself, praying: "I do believe, Lord: Help my +unbelief." (St. Mark IX, 23.) + +O Mary, pray that our faith may be enlivened! + + +Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: + +"The Carrying of the Cross" + +"And they took Jesus, and led Him forth. And bearing His own +cross, He went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but +in Hebrew Golgotha."--(St. Sohn XIX, 16, 17.) + +"And as they led Him away, they laid hold of one Simon of +Cyrene, coming from the country; and they laid the cross on him +to carry after Jesus."--(St. Luke, XXIII, 26.) + +Patience under Trials + +"If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, and take up +his Cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall +lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the +gospel, shall save it." (St. Mark VIII, 34.) True discipleship +of Christ is shown by the patience with which we endure our +trials. Mark the life of Christ! In sorrow He entered into this +world; in sorrow He lived; enduring an agony of sorrow He died. + +We wish to follow in His footsteps. Let us accept our trials in +humility. We have deserved them for our sins. + +O Mary, Mother of Sorrows, teach us to bear the Cross with +patience! + + +Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: + +"The Crucifixion" + +"And they came to the place that is called Golgotha, which is +the place of Calvary. . . . And after they had crucified Him +they divided His garments, casting lots; that it might be +fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: They divided +My garments among them; and upon My vesture they cast lots. And +they put over His head His cause written: This is Jesus the King +of the Jews."--(St. Matt., XXVII, 33, 35, 37.) + +Love of the Cross + +"I have a baptism wherewith I am to be baptized; and how am I +straitened until it be accomplished." (St. Luke XII, 50.) + +How strange that the Saviour should sigh for the culmination of +His agony--seek in death His triumph! Our human nature shrinks +from pain. Yet if our lives are to be Christ-like, we must +rather seek to suffer as Christ has taught us by His life of +sorrow. + +Trials must surely enter into our lives. 'Tis well we accept +them as coming from the chastening hand of God to purify our +lives and bring us nearer to Himself. Our night of crucifixion +will pass, and then will dawn the glorious morning of our +resurrection in God. + +O Mary, who stood beneath the Cross of thy Son and sorrowed in +union with Him, teach us to love the Cross! + + +The Five Glorious Mysteries + +(For Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the year, and the +Sundays from Easter till Advent.) + +The Sorrows of Christ are over. Step by step we have followed +Him, mourning over our sins, and weeping for the agony they have +caused Him. We have entered the Garden of Gethsemane, heard His +three-times repeated prayer, watched the drops of bloody sweat +bedewing the ground on which He lay prostrate. The cruel lashes +that fell upon His Sacred Body have in a manner cut our souls +with bitter pangs for our wrong-doing. Each thorn that pierced +His adorable brow has pierced us too and stirred us to thoughts +of penance. Sorrowing we have moved towards Calvary mingling our +tears with those of Mary, and repenting of the many times when +tempted to sin, we have cried: "Away with Jesus of Nazareth; +crucify Him, crucify Him." In agony have we stood beneath the +Cross, lifting our tear-stained eyes towards Him and hearing Him +murmur: "It is consummated." Yes, the work of Redemption is +done. The gloom is lifted, the agony has passed. Our day of +resurrection is at hand. + +First Glorious Mystery: + +"The Resurrection" + +"And the angel answering said to the women: Fear not you; for I +know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for +He is risen, as He said. Come and see the place where the Lord +was laid."--(St. Matt., XXVIII, 5, 6.) + +Rising from Sin + +We have learned by bitter experience the sadness of sin; we have +learned how evil and bitter a thing it is to have forsaken the +Lord our God. + +Now, rising from the tomb, Christ teaches the mercy of God. He +spoke kindly to the sinful Samaritan woman, He protected the +woman taken in sin, He received from the outcast Magdalen tokens +of her veneration; yea, from the Cross He spoke words of hope to +the penitent thief, and prayed therefrom for every wandering +prodigal: "Father, forgive them." + +Let us take courage, cast off the old man and put on the new, so +that the grace of God may abound in our souls. + +O Mary, teach us gratitude to God who has forgiven us! + + +Second Glorious Mystery: + +"The Ascension" + +"And He led them out as far as Bethania; and lifting up His +hands, He blessed them. And it came to pass, whilst He blessed +them, He departed from them, and was carried up to heaven. And +they adoring went back to Jerusalem with great joy."--(St. Luke, +XXIV, 50, 51, 52.) + +Presence of God + +"Therefore, if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that +are above; where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. +Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the +earth." (Col. III, 1-2.) + +How vile everything earthly appears when compared with the +beauty of God, the beauty that shall be revealed by God to them +that love Him. + +If like the saints of old we "walk with God," seeing a +reflection of His loveliness in every beautiful thing in life, +and abide in His holy presence at all times by turning every +thought, word and deed towards Him, we are learning each moment +the lesson of Christ's Ascension. Though now we see "darkly and +as in a mirror," we are moving steadily forward toward the +Divine revelation when we shall see Him face to face, and shall +know even as we are known. + +O Mary, teach us always to realize God's holy presence! + + +Third Glorious Mystery: + +"The Descent of the Holy Ghost" + +"And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were +all together in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from +heaven, as of a mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where +they were sitting; and there appeared to them parted tongues as +it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them. And they +were all filled with the Holy Ghost."--(Acts, 11, 1-4.) + +Hearing God's Voice + +To know, to love, to serve God--there is our life's work: to +know Him through the works of His hands; to love Him for His +tender mercies towards us; to serve Him by obedience to His holy +law. In fulfilling the duties of our station in life we are +called upon to make sacrifices. Under the guidance of God's +spirit let us sacrifice with a good heart, mindful that God +loveth a cheerful giver. It may be that God shall say: "Friend, +go up higher." "Go sell all that thou hast and give to the poor +and come and follow me." Should God summon us to heroic work for +His sake, let us obey. + +O Mary, spouse of the Holy Spirit, teach us to obey heavenly +inspirations! + + +Fourth Glorious Mystery: + +"The Assumption" + +"Behold my beloved speaketh to me: Arise, make haste my love, my +beautiful one, and come. For winter is now past, the rain is +over and gone. The flowers have appeared in our land . . . Arise +my love, my beautiful one, and come."--(Canticle of Canticles, +II, 10-13.) + +Union with God + +We have admired Mary's intimate union with her Divine Son, her +tender watchfulness, her sweet motherly sympathy, her glorious +co-operation in the sacred work of the Redemption. Now that He +has ascended into heaven, she cannot endure separation. Her +ardent love seeks union with the dear object of her love. By +God's will is she borne body and soul to Heaven. + +While we are on earth let us strive to be united with God by a +bond of charity, which shall increase as the years go on, and +find its consummation in the heavenly presence. + +O Mary, intense lover of God, teach us to love but God alone! + + +Fifth Glorious Mystery: + +"The Coronation" + +"And a great sign appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the +sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of +twelve stars."--(Apocalypse, XII, 1.) + +Perseverance + +"He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved" (St. +Matt. X., 22). Mary has entered into her reward, and is crowned +with glory. We still are in the vale of sorrows, still tempted +unto sin. "But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be +tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with +temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Cor. X., +13.) This thought should steady us in all our trials. + +The world may tempt us with its vanities; the flesh may tempt us +with its sensualities; the devil may tempt us with his pride; +but neither world nor flesh nor devil will be stronger than +God's grace that shall be ours in answer to earnest prayer. + +O Mary, crowned with glory in Heaven, pray that we may be worthy +to be crowned like thee! + + + +We have woven our spiritual crown of roses at the feet of Mary, +Queen, our Mother of Mercy, whom, after Jesus, we hail as our +life, sweetness and our hope. Mourning and weeping and wandering +in vale of tears, still hopefully have we cried to her, knowing +that she, our powerful advocate in Heaven, will hear our heart- +rending sighs and turn her eyes in love towards us poor banished +children of Eve. And when our exile here below is ended the +clement, the loving, the sweet Virgin Mother of Jesus, will show +us the "Fruit of her womb." + +Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Help of Christians, Refuge of +sinners, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death. +Amen. + + + +The Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary + +In the same manner as we believe that the summit of Christian +perfection is reached through union with Christ, the fountain of +all perfections, and also through the union of Christians among +themselves; so in order to attain this perfection we are piously +taught that the best means is prayer, and a union and co- +operation with our brethren and neighbors in piety and good +works. It is for this reason that the Church encourages +confraternities, and especially the Rosary Confraternity--the +most ancient and universal in the Catholic Church. + +Confraternities of the Rosary, established in Dominican +Churches, not only enjoy the privileges and indulgences which +are common to Confraternities of this character, but also all +the privileges, indulgences, favors and concessions granted to +any other Confraternity of whatever kind or title. (Benedict +XIII, May 26, 1727.) Moreover, the members of the Rosary +Confraternity participate, during life and after death, in all +the good works, merits and suffrages of the three Orders of St. +Dominic. + +How to be Admitted into the Confraternity + +1. It is necessary to give one's name to a Dominican Priest (or +to a Priest who has Dominican faculties). + +2. To have one's name entered in the register. + +3. To have beads blessed by a Dominican Father (or by a Priest +who has Dominican faculties). + +All Catholics who have the use of reason can be admitted into +the Confraternity. Those absent, the deaf and dumb and the dying +can be admitted, provided that they have expressed their desire. + +_Duties_.--The whole fifteen mysteries are to be said by each +associate every week; these mysteries may be said separately. +Meditation (at the least calling the mystery to mind), is +necessary to gain the Indulgences. + +The associates do not bind themselves to these duties under any +pain of sin; but if the entire Rosary is not said during the +week, the member will forfeit many of the Indulgences. + +Religious and others who by Rule or pious custom say the Rosary +every day, satisfy the obligations of the Confraternity by this +recital, and need not say an additional Rosary. + +Indulgences of the Rosary Confraternity + +The Indulgences of the Rosary, being very many and very great, +naturally constitute one of the advantages of membership of the +Confraternity. For although some of them may be gained by non- +members, only those who have been enrolled in the Confraternity +can gain all. Before giving the list of some of these spiritual +graces granted by the Church, it is well to bear in mind that +the devotion and the Confraternity have existed for nearly seven +centuries, and that many Pontiffs have added to the number. It +is on record that Pius IX., one day speaking of the innumerable +treasures in the palace of the Popes, took his Rosary in his +hand and said: "Behold the greatest treasure of the Vatican!" + +The Rosary is the greatest treasure of the Vatican because the +Vatican has made it so, as the following authentic _List of +Indulgences_ with their conditions will show: + +Part I. +Indulgence Granted to Members Only + +I. +ON THE DAY OF ADMISSION. + +1. _Plenary_.--On condition of Confession, Communion, reception +into Confraternity. (Gregory XIII.) + +2. After being received, Confession, Communion in the Church or +Chapel of the Confraternity, recitation of Five Mysteries, +prayers for the Pope's intentions. + +_Note_.--These Indulgences can be gained either on the day of +admission or on the Sunday or Feast day following. + +II. +THOSE WHO RECITE THE ROSARY. + +(a) During the year. + +_Plenary_.--Once during life, for the weekly recitation of the +entire Rosary. + +For saying the whole Rosary of Fifteen Mysteries, members gain +all the Indulgences granted in Spain to the "Crown of the +Blessed Virgin." + +50 _years_, once a day, for those reciting Five Mysteries or a +third part of the Rosary in the Chapel of the Rosary, or in any +part of the Church where the Rosary Altar can be seen. Members +who do not live in a place where the Confraternity is erected +can gain this Indulgence in any Church or public Oratory. +(Adrian VI.) + +10 _years_ and 10 _forty days_ for each recital of the Rosary +when said three times in the week. (Leo X.) + +7 _years_ and 7 _forty days_, once a week, for saying the whole +Rosary. It is not necessary to say the whole Rosary at one time. +(Pius V.) + +5 _years_ and 5 _forty days_ (i. e. 2025 days) for devoutly +pronouncing the Holy Name of Jesus during the recitation of each +Hail Mary. (Pius IX. and Leo XIII.) + +2 years on each of the three times when the whole Rosary is +recited during the week. + +300 _days_ for saying a third part of the Rosary. + +100 _days_ for inducing others to say a third part of the +Rosary. + +300 _days_, once a day, for assisting on Sundays or festivals in +a Dominican Church, when the Rosary is said or sung processionally +before carved or painted representations of each Mystery. + +(b) On Certain Days and Feasts. + +_Plenary_.--Feast of the Annunciation; on condition of +Confession, Communion and recital of the Rosary. (St. Pius V.) + +10 _years_ and 10 _forty days_ on the Purification, Assumption, +Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, for reciting the Rosary. + +10 _years_ and 10 _forty days_ on Easter, Annunciation, +Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, for reciting a third part of +the Rosary. (St. Pius V.) + +7 _years_ and 7 _forty days_ on the other feasts of our Lord and +of the Blessed Virgin on which Mysteries of the Rosary are +celebrated, viz.: Visitation of the Blessed Virgin, Christmas +Day, Purification, Compassion of the Blessed Virgin (Friday +after Passion Sunday), Ascension, Pentecost, and All Saints, for +saying at least Five Mysteries. (St. Pius V.) + +7 _years_ and 7 _forty days_ on Christmas Day, the Annunciation, +Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, for the usual weekly +recitation of the whole Rosary. + +100 _days_ on the Purification, Annunciation, Visitation, +Assumption, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. + +III. +FOR ASSISTING AT THE PROCESSION OF THE ROSARY. + +_Plenary_.--Confession, Communion, assisting at the Procession +on the first Sunday of the month, prayers for the Pope's +intentions, and visiting the Chapel of the Rosary. + +_Note_.--This Indulgence may be gained by members traveling by +sea or land, or who are in service (including soldiers on duty), +if they say the entire Rosary; and by those who are sick or +legitimately hindered if they recite a third part of the Rosary. + +_Plenary_.--For assisting at the Procession on these feasts of +the Blessed Virgin: Purification, Annunciation, Visitation, +Assumption, Nativity, Presentation, Immaculate Conception; or on +any day within their Octaves. + +100 _days_ for assisting at the Procession. + +60 _days_ for assisting at the usual Rosary Procession, or at +any other carried out with permission of the Ordinary, or when +they accompany the _Viaticum_ when it is carried in procession +to the sick. + +IV. +FOR VISITING THE CHAPEL OR CHURCH OF THE CONFRATERNITY. + +_Plenary_.--First Sunday of the month: On condition of +Confession, Communion, visit, with prayers for the Pope's +intentions. + +Sick members may gain this, after Confession and Communion, by +reciting Five Mysteries before a pious image, or by saying the +seven penitential psalms. + +_Plenary_.--First Sunday of the month, having received the +Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist; prayers before the +Blessed Sacrament exposed in the Church of the Confraternity, +and prayers for the Pope's intentions. + +_Plenary_.--Visit to the Chapel or Church of the Confraternity; +Confession, Communion, prayers for the Pope's intentions between +first Vespers and sunset of the following feasts (i e., from +about 1 o'clock P. M. of the vigils of these feasts until sunset +of the feasts themselves), Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, +Ascension, Whitsunday, or any two Fridays in Lent, All Saints, +and any day within eight days after All Souls, on Sunday within +Octave of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, on the third Sunday of +April. + +_Plenary_.--On same conditions, from first Vespers to sunset of +these feasts of the Blessed Virgin, Immaculate Conception, +Nativity, Presentation, Annunciation, Visitation, Purification, +Assumption; and on one day within the Octave of these feasts; on +the Seven Dolorus (Friday after Passion Sunday). + +On Easter, Ascension, Whitsunday, on the above feasts of the +Blessed Virgin, and on two Fridays in Lent, the Indulgence can +be gained by visiting _any_ Church or public Chapel. + +Travelers by land or sea and those in service can gain the +Indulgence for visiting the Church or Chapel of the Rosary on +all days on which Mysteries of the Rosary are celebrated, if +they recite the entire Rosary (i. e., the Fifteen Mysteries); +the sick or legitimately hindered if they say Five Mysteries. + +7 _years_ and 7 _forty days_, Confession, Communion, visit to +Chapel or Altar of the Rosary, with prayers for the Pope's +intentions, on Christmas, Easter, Whitsunday, Immaculate +Conception, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, Annunciation, +Visitation, Assumption, All Saints. + +100 _days, once a day_, for a visit to Chapel or Altar of the +Rosary, with prayers for the Pope's intentions. + +_Note_.--Religious women, the inmates of colleges, seminaries, +schools and Catholic institutions who are members, can gain all +the Indulgences which require a visit to the Chapel or Church of +the Confraternity, if they visit their own Church or Chapel. + +Sick members and others unable to fulfill the conditions of +Communion or visit, can gain the Indulgences if, after +Confession and other conditions, they perform some pious work +prescribed by their confessor. + +For gaining partial Indulgence by the visits, a separate visit +is necessary. + +V. +FOR VISITING FIVE ALTARS. + +For visiting five Altars in any Church or public Oratory (or who +five times visit one or two Altars where there are not five), on +the appointed days, the same Indulgence as for visiting the +Station-Churches in Rome. (Leo X.) + +VI. +FOR SAYING OR HEARING THE VOTIVE MASS OF THE ROSARY. + +For hearing this Mass and offering some pious prayers, members +can gain all the Indulgences granted to the recital of the +entire Rosary. Priests who are members gain the same when they +say the Mass as prescribed in Churches where the Confraternity +is established. Dominican Fathers can say this Mass on all +Wednesdays and Saturdays, except on feasts of first and second +class, and a few other special days. + +Those who are in the habit of celebrating or hearing this Mass +gain, once a month, all Indulgences granted for the usual +Procession on the first Sunday of the month. Confession and +Communion. + +1 _year_ on Saturdays in Lent for assisting at this Mass and at +a Sermon on the Blessed Virgin, and saying the "Hail, Holy +Queen." + +VII. +FOR THE DEVOTION OF THE FIFTEEN SATURDAYS. + +_Plenary_.--On any three of fifteen consecutive Sundays: +Confession, Communion, visit to Church of Confraternity, with +prayers for Pope's intentions. + +7 _years_ and 7 _forty days_ on the other twelve Saturdays. + +VIII. +FOR DEVOTIONS DURING OCTOBER. + +_Plenary_.--For assisting 10 times at these Devotions in a +Dominican Church: Confession, Communion, prayers for Our Holy +Father's intentions. + +7 _years_ and 7 _forty days_ each time assisting at the above. + +IX. +FOR ASSISTING AT THE SINGING OF THE SALVE REGINA. + +3 _years_ and 3 _forty days_ for assisting at the singing of the +"Salve," on certain festivals, in a Church in which the +Confraternity exists. + +100 _days_ for the same every day in the year. + +Members who can not assist can gain the Indulgences by kneeling +before an Altar or picture of the Blessed Virgin, saying the +"Hail, Holy Queen." + +40 _days_ on all Saturdays and Feasts. + +X. +FOR MENTAL PRAYER OR OTHER SPIRITUAL EXERCISES. + +_Plenary_.--Once a month, for at least a quarter of an hour's +mental prayer every day for a month: Confession and Communion. + +_Plenary_.--Any one day in the year, for prayer, mortification, +and other good works for 40 days, in memory of our Lord's 40 +days in the desert. + +7 _years_ and 7 _forty days_ for every half hour of mental +prayer. + +100 _days_ for every quarter of an hour. + +XI. +FOR VISITING SICK MEMBERS. + +3 _years_ and 3 _forty days_ for each visit. + +100 _days_ for inducing them to receive the Sacraments. + +XII. +FOR PRAYING FOR DECEASED MEMBERS. + +_Plenary_.--For assisting at the Office of the Dead, which is +said in Dominican Churches on the four Anniversaries of the Dead +(February 4th., July 12th., September 5th., November 10th.): +Confession. Communion, prayers for the Pope's intentions. + +8 _years_ for assisting at the funeral service and procession on +Saturdays, or once a month, in a Church of the Confraternity. + +3 _years_ and 3 _forty days_ following the body of a deceased +member to the Church of the Confraternity. + +100 _days_ for assisting at funerals with the Confraternity +Cross, and at anniversaries of deceased members, with prayers +for the Pope's intentions. + +XIII. +FOR ANY PIOUS WORK. + +60 _days_ for any work of charity or piety. + +XIV. +FOR THE DYING. + +_Plenary_.--Can be applied by any Priest in the usual way, even +apart from confession, to all who have been accustomed to say +the Rosary every week. (Innocent VIII.) + +_Plenary_.--If having said the entire Rosary at least once, they +die holding the blessed candle of the Rosary. (Adrian VI.) + +_Plenary_.--For Confession and Communion. + +_Plenary_.--For invoking the name of JESUS with a contrite +heart, if they can not do so with their lips. (Leo XIII.) + +_Plenary_.--After receiving the Sacraments, making an act of +faith in the Holy Church, saying the "Hail, Holy Queen," and +commending themselves to the Blessed Virgin. + +_Note_.--Any ONE of these Indulgences may be gained, if the +conditions are fulfilled, but not all at the same time. + +XV. +FOR THE DEAD. + +In all Dominican Churches, the Rosary Altar is privileged for +all Fathers of the Order, on behalf of deceased members. + +Moreover, the Rosary Altar is always privileged for any Priest, +even if not a member, and on behalf of any soul. + +--- + +Part II. +Indulgences shared in by all the faithful, whether Members of +the Confraternity or not. + +7 _years_ and 7 _forty days_.--For assisting at the Procession +on the first Sunday of the month. + +_Plenary_.--TOTIES QUOTIES. ROSARY SUNDAY. Confession, +Communion, visit to the Chapel of the Rosary, or to the Statue +of Our Lady, if exposed to veneration in another part of the +Church, in honor of the victory of Lepanto gained by the prayers +of the Rosary. This Plenary Indulgence may be gained EACH TIME +the visit is repeated, from the first Vespers of the feast (that +is, from about 1 o'clock on Saturday afternoon) until midnight +of Rosary Sunday. During the visits prayers must be said for the +Holy Father's intentions. The confession may be made on the +Friday or Saturday before Rosary Sunday. (St. Pius V.) + +_Plenary_.--On Corpus Christi, on the feast of the Patron Saint +of the Church, and on any day within the Octave of Rosary +Sunday: Confession, Communion, visit to the Chapel or Image (as +above), with prayers for the Holy Father's intentions. + +_Note.--All the above Indulgences, except that for the hour of +death, can be applied to the Holy Souls._ + +ADDITIONAL INDULGENCES TO ALL THE FAITHFUL. + +_Plenary_.--Once a year, for Five Mysteries every day, using a +Rosary blessed by a Dominican, or by a Priest who has the +faculty: Confession and Communion. + +100 _days_ for each "Our Father" and each "Hail Mary," when +saying the entire Rosary, or Five Mysteries on a Rosary blessed +as above. (Raccolta, 194.) + +5 _years_ and 5 _forty days_ for every Five Mysteries or a third +part of the Rosary. (Raccolta.) + +10 _years_ and 10 _forty days_, once a day, for saying Five +Mysteries with others, either at home or in Church, or in a +public or private Chapel. (Raccolta.) + +_Plenary_.--Last Sunday of each month, for Five Mysteries three +times a week as in the preceding: Confession, Communion, visit +any Church or public Chapel, with prayers for the Pope's +intentions. + +_Plenary_.--On any one of fifteen consecutive Saturdays, for +Five Mysteries or other devotions to the Mysteries of the +Rosary: Confession, Communion each Saturday, or on Sundays, if +prevented on Saturdays. + +7 _years_ and 7 _forty days_ for the same on the other +Saturdays. + +_Plenary_.--For any devout Novena of approved prayers in honor +of Our Lady of the Rosary: Contrition, Confession, Communion, +prayers for the Pope's intentions on any day within the Novena +or within eight days after. + +300 _days_ on all other days of the above Novena. + +FOR OCTOBER DEVOTIONS. + +_Plenary_.--On Rosary Sunday, or any day within the Octave: +Confession, Communion, visit to a Church, with prayers for the +Pope's intentions; and provided Five Mysteries are said on the +feast and on every day during the Octave, either publicly in a +Church or in private. + +_Plenary_.--For Five Mysteries, either publicly or in private, +on any ten days of October (after the Octave of the Rosary): +Confession, Communion, visit to a Church, and there pray for the +Pope's intentions, on any day at choice. + +7 _years_ and 7 _forty days_ every day in October for Five +Mysteries either in Church or in private. + +_Note.--All these additional Indulgences are applicable to the +Holy Souls._ + +The above is an exact Summary of Rosary Indulgences as given in +the Index of Indulgences, approved by Pope Leo XIII, at an +audience granted August 29, 1899. + +Since the list just given was approved by Pope Leo XIII, his +successor Pope Pius X, added, or rather renewed, an Indulgence +formerly granted by Pope Innocent VIII., viz., that of 100 +_years and as many forty days_ daily to members of the Rosary +Confraternity who carry their Rosary beads about with them (July +31, 1906). + +A further concession was made by Pope Pius X. (October 13, +1906). To gain the Indulgences attached to the Rosary it is no +longer necessary to say the Five Mysteries at one time. They may +be separated, and a single Mystery may be said at a time. + +CONDITIONS FOR GAINING THE INDULGENCES. + +1. The contrition mentioned as required for the gaining of an +Indulgence is not an actual condition, but only a necessary +disposition, and indicated merely that the recipient must be in +the state of grace. + +2. Weekly Confession, when habitual, suffices for gaining all +the Indulgences, Plenary and Partial, obtainable within the +week. + +3. One Communion suffices to gain many plenary Indulgences. + +4. Communion on Saturday, or on the Vigil of a feast, suffices, +provided the other conditions prescribed be performed on the +Sunday or feast following. + +5. Those unable to receive Holy Communion at the hour of death +can gain the Plenary Indulgence in which the condition of +Communion is required, by invoking the sacred name of JESUS, at +least in heart when they can not do so by word. + +6. The visit to the Church, etc., can be made either before or +after Communion. + +7. The prayers offered in the Indulgenced Church at the time of +Mass or Communion suffice for the visit. + +8. The Chapels of Convents, Workhouses, Seminaries, etc., may be +looked on as public Oratories in favor of those living in them. + +9. The Rosary or other prayers prescribed for gaining the above +Indulgences need not be said kneeling. + +10. The Indulgences granted to members of the Rosary +Confraternity are not suspended during the solemn year of the +Jubilee, unless special mention of this fact be made in the +Papal Bull proclaiming the Jubilee Indulgence. + +11. Religious and others who live in colleges, seminaries and +schools, and all who live in institutions where they are not +free to go out, provided they are members of the Confraternity, +may gain the Indulgences for which a visit to the Rosary Chapel +or Altar is prescribed, by visiting their own Church or Chapel +if they fulfill the others conditions as well. + +12. Sick members who can not receive Holy Communion can have +that obligation, where prescribed, commuted into some other good +work by their confessor, if they go to confession and fulfill +the other conditions. + +--- + +SUMMARY OF INDULGENCES OF DOMINICAN BEADS. + +For saying the beads...................................5,500 +For pronouncing devoutly the Holy Name of Jesus......101,250 +For saying a third part of the Rosary, each time.......2,025 +Again for a third part of the Rosary.....................300 +For carrying the beads................................40,500 + ------- +Total (409 _years_ and 290 _days_ of Indulgences)....149,575 +Plus Crozier Indulgence...............................27,500 + ------- + 177,075 + +(485 _years_ and 50 _days_ of Indulgences.) + + + +CONCLUSION. + +We will end with the words of Pope Leo XIII, the venerable and +zealous Apostle of the Rosary in the nineteenth century. +Speaking to the rulers of the Church, the Pope says: "For these +reasons the Roman Pontiffs have ever given the highest praise to +this Sodality of our Lady. Innocent VII called it 'a most devout +Confraternity.' Pius V declared that by its virtue 'Christians +began suddenly to be transformed into other men, the darkness of +heresy to be dispelled, and the light of Catholic faith to shine +forth.' We also, Venerable Brethren, moved by the example of our +predecessors, earnestly exhort and conjure you, as we have often +done, to devote special care to this sacred warfare, so that by +your efforts fresh forces may be daily enrolled on every side. +Through you and those of your clergy who have the care of souls, +let the people know and duly appreciate the efficacy of this +Sodality and its usefulness for man's salvation." To the +faithful laity the Pontiff's fatherly words are no less strong: +"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. We believe it to be in +the designs of Providence that, in these times of trials for the +Church, the ancient devotion to the august Virgin should live +and flourish. + +"May the Christian people, excited by our exhortations and +inflamed by your appeals, now seek the protection of Mary with +an ardor 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. + +"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 Himself, with the +earnest desire of our heart, to grant you, Venerable Brethren, +every gift of heavenly blessing, through Her in whom He has +placed the fullness of all grace." + +Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary, September, 1915. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rosary, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58213 *** |