Mary and the Holy Rosary

[JReducation]

I recently read a couple books about the Rosary; in fact, I just posted a book review of one of them in the “Book Club” section of these forums:

“The Mystery of the Rosary” by Rev. Marc Tremeau, O.P.
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=568369

According to that book, the second part of the “Hail Mary”, the petition to Mary, was introduced about 1440 by St. Bernardine of Siena.

I also have “The Secret of the Rosary” by St. Louis Grignion de Montfort, but am not planning to post a review. St. Louis is clearly a pious person, devoted to the Rosary, but I think the book is too wordy and not well-organized. A reader has to jump all over throughout the book to find a particular topic.

That’s why I said that the words may have been around for a long time. Because the credit is given to different people in different works. My simple guess is that it all depends on your resources. The Jesuits say it was one of their brothers.

I would tend to agree with the Jesuits, because Bernadine was a Franciscan. This kind of devotion was not common to Franciscans. It may be true that Bernadine may have used this prayer of petition with the Ave, but it is unllikely that he made it popular. There is nothing in Franciscan history to suggest that he did. We do have a lot of documentation that says that he preached The Holy Name of Jesus every where. Eventually, he was pulled out of circulation in order to serve the friars. He spent years promoting the spread of the Observant Franciscans. Franciscan history gives him credit for promoting the Holy Name of Jesus and for promoting the Observant Franciscans. This other part is not mentioned. It may be somewhere, but it’s not popularly known.

I repeat, this does not mean that he did not use the petition. It is very likely that by the time it becomes an official part of the Ave, it had been in use for a long time.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[JReducation]

It’s my impression that De Montfort’s books are more mystical than apologetic… I might be wrong. They do contain a lot of information and I’m sure are based on Church Tradition, - and as Br JR said his spirituality is in accordance with the writings of other Saints… probably much of his information comes from other sources. Yet when the books are read, they read almost like something he wrote during prayer. Maybe he did I dont know. I personally like that style but I guess not all do, it depends what you’re looking for. There is something about them; like the Holy Spirit can definitely use them.

You are correct. St. Louie’s writings fall into the branch of theology that was once called Ascetical and Mystical Theology. Today, it’s called Spiritual Theology. That was my major when I got my degree in theology.

Louie does not bother telling you about his sources, because in his mind, it’s not necessary. He’s not trying to write apologetics. He’s not trying to defend the faith. He’s trying to explain how the grace of God worked in Mary and through Mary and he’s trying to help his audience understand Mary’s role in their salvation.

We don’t go to St. Louie to defend Marian dogma. That’s not what he’s trying to teach. He’s trying to teach spirituality. For Marian dogma you go to the Fathers of the Church, Duns Scotus, Bonaventure and other great theologians.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Monica4316]

thanks

 

[pataburd]

The Rosary suits some people, but not all, and is only a prayer among others.

As somebody has already said, if it were essential, it would be in the New Testament.

Let us not forget the parable of the Sheep and Goats. In other words, at the Last Judgement, Jesus asks if we have fed the hungry, given drink to the thirsty and so on. He doesn’t ask us about the prayers we have said.

The Holy Rosary, if not THE most, is certainly one of the most highly indulgenced prayers afforded to the Faithful, which gives it priority of place “among others”.

The principle components of the Holy Rosary, that is the Our Father and the Angelic Salutation (Ave Maria), ARE in the New Testament. In fact, the Holy Rosary is perhaps THE most scriptural prayer we have for popular devotion.

The dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is not explicitly stated in the New Testament, but is absolutely essential for Catholics to believe. (Your argument has a disquieting “Sola Scriptura” edge to it.)

Certainly, we are exhorted to take the words of Our Lord in Matthew 25 seriously. Yet the Corporal Works of Mercy flow from a soul conformed to Christ. And there is perhaps no better prayer for accomplishing such conformity in us than the Holy Rosary.

 

[JReducation]

The Rosary suits some people, but not all, and is only a prayer among others.

As somebody has already said, if it were essential, it would be in the New Testament.

Let us not forget the parable of the Sheep and Goats. In other words, at the Last Judgement, Jesus asks if we have fed the hungry, given drink to the thirsty and so on. He doesn’t ask us about the prayers we have said.

Red is mine. That is not eactly accurate. The Liturgy of the Hours is an essential part of the liturgical life of the Church, protected and preserved by all of the Apostolic Churches, Catholic and Othodox, but it’s not mentioned in the New Testament. Yet, it holds the place of honor as the Official Prayer of the Church.

Much of our spirituality actually comes from the Eastern Fathers, not from the New Testament. Yet, it’s essential to the life of the Church. Religious life is not mentioned in the NT, but the Church says that it is essential to her existence and her identity. Not everything is in the NT.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF