The 15 promises made by our Lady to those who pray the Rosary

[Hesychios]

You are very silly. Perhaps your angelican background can explain it all.

You are very rude.

Of course, a person from a another religion will never be in favor of the Rosary.

You are conflating two different issues:

The rosary, a prayer rule. This is basically a chaplet which grew out of the practice of laypersons praying 150 PaterNosters in emulation of the monastic practice of praying 150 Psalms. The common working laypeople did not have the spare time to sing the Psalms, could not afford a Psalter and often could not read it. The rosary became a favored element in the people’s spiritual kit. (The change to Hail Marys came later and the meditations were introduced at a much later time).

and…

These alleged promises.

Two different things. One does not have to believe these so-called promises to pray the rosary (which is an inherently good prayer rule already). I agree that the thinking behind this set of “promises” is potentially dangerous.

The Age of Revelation is closed, no apparition should influence your belief. If one has the Gospels and the Sacraments one does not even need this kind of thing. In fact, it can leave a person thoroughly unprepared with a false sense of security.

Keep your wicks trimmed, and the lamp oil ready.

 

[Monica4316]

AMEN AMEN. This brings tears to my eyes. I remember my Dad every single day praying the rosary and having this in his bible. I lost him over a year ago, and when he was dying I knew, I just knew the Blessed Mother was there holding him. You will never ever know the peace I got at such a horrible time in my life. I knew she was giving him all the love and confort he needed at the time of his death. Just as she promised him. When you are a stone cold Catholic you Just Know! You know just as sure as the sun and moon, that God is there and his Mother is there also. He went home to his real Mother and Father. :bighanky:

:hug1: that’s beautiful Rinnie!

 

[Monica4316]

You are very rude.

You are conflating two different issues:

The rosary, a prayer rule. This is basically a chaplet which grew out of the practice of laypersons praying 150 PaterNosters in emulation of the monastic practice of praying 150 Psalms. The common working laypeople did not have the spare time to sing the Psalms, could not afford a Psalter and often could not read it. The rosary became a favored element in the people’s spiritual kit. (The change to Hail Marys came later and the meditations were introduced at a much later time).

and…

These alleged promises.

Two different things. One does not have to believe these so-called promises to pray the rosary (which is an inherently good prayer rule already). I agree that the thinking behind this set of “promises” is potentially dangerous.

The Age of Revelation is closed, no apparition should influence your belief. If one has the Gospels and the Sacraments one does not even need this kind of thing. In fact, it can leave a person thoroughly unprepared with a false sense of security.

Keep your wicks trimmed, and the lamp oil ready.

there’s a difference between public and private revelation. Public revelation has ended but God still speaks to His people… there’s still private revelation… we’re allowed to believe in any approved by the Church. As Catholics, we’re allowed to believe in these promises, they’re in fact encouraged.

I don’t see why Mary couldn’t attach promises to this prayer, considering it’s ‘her’ prayer…when we say the Hail Mary, we repeat the words Archangel Gabriel said to her

I also disagree that these promises give a false sense of security. If someone was to pray to Mary just for some reward, that would not be true devotion anyways. But a person who loves Mary and prays the Rosary with their heart, AND believes in these promises, and hopes in them… I don’t see what is wrong with that… Mary would give them the graces they need to persevere in faith and repent of all their sins

Also the way you explained the history of the Rosary is incomplete. Yes it started from the 150 Psalms but that’s not the whole story. Here’s the part you missed:

SECOND ROSE: ORIGIN AND NAME

SINCE the Holy Rosary is composed, principally and in substance, of the Prayer of Christ and the Angelic Salutation, that is, the Our Father and the Hail Mary, it was without doubt the first prayer and the first devotion of the faithful and has been in use all through the centuries, from the time of the Apostles and disciples down to the present.

But it was only in the year 1214, however, that Holy Mother Church received the Rosary in its present form and according to the method we use today. It was given to the Church by Saint Dominic who had received it from the Blessed Virgin as a powerful means of converting the Albigensians and other sinners.

I will tell you the story of how he received it, which is found in the very well-known book De Dignitate Psalterii by Blessed Alan de la Roche. [1] Saint Dominic, seeing that the gravity of people’s sins was hindering the conversion of the Albigensians, withdrew into a forest near Toulouse where he prayed unceasingly for three days and three nights. During this time he did nothing but weep and do harsh penances in order to appease the anger of Almighty God. He used his discipline so much that his body was lacerated, and finally he fell into a coma.

At this point Our Lady appeared to him, accompanied by three Angels, and she said:

“Dear Dominic, do you know which weapon the Blessed Trinity wants to use to reform the world?”

“Oh, my Lady,” answered Saint Dominic, “you know far better than I do because next to your Son Jesus Christ you have always been the chief instrument of our salvation.”

Then Our Lady replied: “I want you to know that, in this kind of warfare, the battering ram has always been the Angelic Psalter which is the foundation stone of the New Testament. Therefore if you want to reach these hardened souls and win them over to God, preach my Psalter.”

So he arose, comforted, and burning with zeal for the conversion of the people in that district he made straight for the Cathedral. At once unseen Angels rang the bells to gather the people together and Saint Dominic began to preach.

At the very beginning of his sermon an appalling storm broke out, the earth shook, the sun was darkened, and there was so much thunder and lightning that all were very much afraid. Even greater was their fear when looking at a picture of Our Lady exposed in a prominent place they saw her raise her arms to Heaven three times to call down God’s vengeance upon them if they failed to be converted, to amend their lives, and seek the protection of the Holy Mother of God.

God wished, by means of these supernatural phenomena, to spread the new devotion of the Holy Rosary and to make it more widely known.

At last, at the prayer of Saint Dominic, the storm came to an end, and he went on preaching. So fervently and compellingly did he explain the importance and value of the Holy Rosary that almost all the people of Toulouse embraced it and renounced their false beliefs. In a very short time a great improvement was seen in the town; people began leading Christian lives and gave up their former bad habits.

catholictradition.org/Classics/secret-rosary.htm

the Rosary is not just another devotion… it summarizes the entire New Testament… when we pray the Hail Mary, we repeat the Angelic Salutation that announced the Incarnation, and lead to our redemption… honestly I’m not surprised there are special promises attached to it…

God bless

 

[WarriorofJesus]

WarriorforJesus: I think you really need to stop making assumptions about me and stop saying rude things about my religious affiliation. You do not know anything about me or my background, and it seems have very little understanding of Anglicanism, since you continually totally misrepresent it’s doctrines and beliefs.

I have not made any assumptions about you and I had not said any rude things about your religious affiliation. Quite trying to act as the victim and putting me as the ‘evil one’. The only assumption I’ve made so far is that your religion will not allow you to understand the Rosary or let you pray the Rosary. I’ve said nothing else than that. It was simply the truth and if you dont like it, OH WELL, DEAL WITH IT. The truth is the truth. I have also not misrepresented any of the doctrines or beliefs of your religion like you are claiming I have so far. I am also NOT continually doing so like you have stated. I am simply paying back and returning the love you show for the Rosary as in saying it’s a dangerous form of prayer and not so believable. So tell me, how does it feel when someone returns the love?

I would not speak that way about Catholicism, and I do not think that such blatant misrepresentation of another group of Christians or another religion is moral. I assume you are not doing it deliberately but don’t know any better.

I have not spoken anything of your religion! I simply said that you guys considered the Virgin Mary as idolatry and that’s why you guys wouldn’t ever say a prayer to her.

These kind of comments do not bring people to Catholicism, if that is something you think is important. It makes Catholics seem like presumptuous, rude, and ill-informed people, and drives them away. I am glad I know that is not true, but I know many who read a post like this while considering the Catholic Church and never consider it again. Perhaps something you should think about.

You weren’t even considering in become catholic in the first place. Just by reading my posts and comments you cannot generalize and conclude that all catholics are presumtuous, rude, and ill-informed people. That’s something you acutally think personally and that’s why you stuck your nose in this thread in the first place to see what you could say about the Rosary. As for the people who read this post and never considering in become catholic is not true. I am simply defending the belief of the Rosary and the promises that were made by our Lady. As a defender of the Catholic Church and of the Virgen Mary, I will not tolerate any ofenses made to her or other indirect ofenses made to the pratices and beliefs we have. So in conclusion, please do not sound like a victim because the only thing you have done in this thread is to scare off people from praying the Rosary by making irrational conclusions and criticizing the promises made by our Lady. Other than that, you’ve only been supporting the negative comments already made by this one other person against the Rosary and our Catholic Church.

 

[Monica4316]

For anyone doubting, why not ask Our Lady to help you understand these promises? and if you don’t pray to Mary, ask Jesus for the truth

 

[WarriorofJesus]

You are very rude.

Ok…? The previous post wasn’t even for you so I don’t understand why you make a comment about that.

You are conflating two different issues:

The rosary, a prayer rule. This is basically a chaplet which grew out of the practice of laypersons praying 150 PaterNosters in emulation of the monastic practice of praying 150 Psalms. The common working laypeople did not have the spare time to sing the Psalms, could not afford a Psalter and often could not read it. The rosary became a favored element in the people’s spiritual kit. (The change to Hail Marys came later and the meditations were introduced at a much later time).

I will save my words from now on. Say what you have to say. Release all that anger through this thread. It’s a good way to become calm. It’s not very good to hold in angers.

and…

These alleged promises.

Two different things. One does not have to believe these so-called promises to pray the rosary (which is an inherently good prayer rule already). I agree that the thinking behind this set of “promises” is potentially dangerous.

Yes, it’s very dangerous. The world is going to end… we are all going to die…

The Age of Revelation is closed, no apparition should influence your belief. If one has the Gospels and the Sacraments one does not even need this kind of thing. In fact, it can leave a person thoroughly unprepared with a false sense of security.

Keep your wicks trimmed, and the lamp oil ready.

I feel secure of myself. It’s my problem whether or not I want to believe in apparitions. Why wont you worry about your own salvation?

 

[Hesychios]

You are very rude.

Have you been saying your rosary? Have you 'Guaranteed your pass to heaven’?

:ehh:

I will save my words from now on. Say what you have to say. Release all that anger through this thread. It’s a good way to become calm. It’s not very good to hold in angers.

I am not angry. I wonder why you might suggest that. If anything I am amused.

I feel secure of myself.

Oh, I see that you feel secure in your salvation because of these promises.

 

[Shin]

The following is from St. Louis de Montfort’s ‘The Secret of the Rosary’:

Whatever you do, do not be like a certain pious but self-willed lady in Rome, so often referred to by speakers on the Rosary. She was so devout and fervent that she put to shame by her holy life even the strictest religious in the Church.

Having decided to ask St. Dominic’s advice about her spiritual life, she made her confession to him. For penance he gave her one Rosary to say and advised her to say it every day. She excused herself, saying that she had her regular exercises, that she made the Stations of Rome every day, that she wore sack-cloth as well as a hair-shirt, that she gave herself the discipline several times a week, that she often fasted and did other penances. Saint Dominic urged her over and over again to take his advice and say the Rosary, but she would not hear of it. She left the confessional, horrified at the methods of this new spiritual director who had tried so hard to persuade her to take up a devotion for which she had no taste.

Later on, when she was at prayer she fell into ecstasy and had a vision of her soul appearing before the Supreme Judge. Saint Michael put all her penances and other prayers on one side of the scales and all her sins and imperfections on the other. The tray of her good works were greatly outweighed by that of her sins and imperfections.
Filled with alarm, she cried for mercy, imploring the help of the Blessed Virgin, her gracious advocate, who took the one and only Rosary she had said for her penance and dropped it on the tray of her good works. This one Rosary was so heavy that it weighed more than all her sins as well as all her good works. Our Lady then reproved her for having refused to follow the counsel of her servant Dominic and for not saying the Rosary every day.

As soon as she came to herself she rushed and threw herself at the feet of Saint Dominic and told him all that had happened, begged his forgiveness for her unbelief, and promised to say the Rosary faithfully every day. By this means she rose to Christian perfection and finally to the glory of everlasting life.

. . . Our Lady one day revealed to Blessed Alan de la Roche that, after the holy sacrifice of the Mass, which is the first and most living memorial of our Lord’s passion, there was indeed no more excellent devotion or one of greater merit than that of the Rosary, which is like a second memorial and representation of the life and passion of Jesus Christ.

. . . Father Dominic, a Carthusian, who was deeply devoted to the holy Rosary, had a vision in which he saw heaven opened and the whole heavenly court assembled in magnificent array. He heard them sing the Rosary in an enchanting melody, and each decade was in honour of a mystery of the life, passion, or glory of Jesus Christ and his holy Mother. Fr. Dominic noticed that whenever they pronounced the holy name of Mary they bowed their heads, and at the name of Jesus they genuflected and gave thanks to God for the great good he had wrought in heaven and on earth through the holy Rosary. He also saw our Lady and the Saints present to God the Rosaries which the Confraternity members say here on earth. He noticed too that they were praying for those who practice this devotion. He also saw beautiful crowns without number, which were made of sweet-smelling flowers, for those who say the Rosary devoutly. He learned that by every Rosary that they say they make a crown for themselves which they will be able to wear in heaven.

This holy Carthusian’s vision is very much like that which the Beloved Disciple had, in which he saw a great multitude of angels and saints, who continually praised and blessed Jesus Christ for all that he had done and suffered on earth for our salvation. And is not this what the devout members of the Rosary Confraternity do?

. . . Dear fellow-members, if you want to serve Jesus and Mary by saying the Rosary every day, you must be prepared for temptation: “If you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptation” (Sir. 2:1). Heretics, licentious people, the so-called respectable people of the world, persons of superficial piety, and false prophets, hand in glove with your fallen nature and all hell itself - all will wage terrible battles against you in an endeavour to make you give up this holy practice.

To help you to be better armed against their onslaught - not so much of acknowledged heretics and profligates as those who are considered “respectable” in the eyes of the world, and even those who are devout but have no use for the Rosary - I am going to tell you simply some of the things these people are always saying and thinking.

“What does this babbler want to say?” (Acts 17:18). “Come, let us attack him, for he is against us” (Wis. 2:12). What is he doing, saying so many Rosaries? What is it he is always mumbling? Such laziness! He does nothing but keep on sliding those beads along, he would do much better to work without amusing himself with such foolishness. Oh yes, it’s quite true, all you have to do is to say the Rosary and a fortune will fall from heaven into your lap. The Rosary brings you all you need without lifting a finger. But hasn’t it been said, “God helps those who help themselves”? Why load yourself with so many prayers? Brevis oratio penetrat coelos; an Our Father and a Hail Mary well said are quite sufficient. God has never commanded us to say the Rosary; of course it’s all right, it’s not a bad devotion when you’ve got the time, but don’t think for one minute that people who say the Rosary are any more sure of heaven than we are. Just look at the saints who never said it!

Etc. . .

 

[Shin]

. . . my dear brothers and sisters, the daily Rosary has so many enemies that I look upon the grace of persevering in it until death as one of the greatest favours God can give us.

Persevere in it and your fidelity will be rewarded with the wonderful crown which is prepared for you in heaven: “Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life” (Apoc. 2:10).

 

[IHeartAquinas]

I never really prayed the rosary until quite recently. Through various trials of my own life and the life of my family (many that have since been overcome, praise the Lord) I began delving deeper and deeper into my faith, and often found that the rosary was a very excellent and disciplined form of meditation that not only helped keep me from sobbing every day and falling into despair, it also helped me realize more clearly many of the things I had taken for granted in my faith, and overcome many hurdles that I had encountered as a child that were still lingering.

I can honestly say that I feel exceptionally blessed, even as the climax of one of the hardest trials of my life looms ever and ever closer with no apparent resolution in sight. Since I have begun my regular devotion, I can say that I have personally witnessed three of what I would call miracles:

1. My father survived pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer there is (only 5% survival rate)
2. By giving what spare change I had to a woman stranded on the side of the road, she was able to make the last bus before nightfall in order to get home to her family
3. And just tonight, as I grumbled about having to stay an hour later after work than usual, by hap and circumstance I encountered a distressed man on my way home and was able to help him.

I feel that, given my past history with strangers, especially people asking for money or flagging me down on the street (I don’t live in the best of neighborhoods), without the reinforcement of the devotion of the rosary, I would have passed by the woman and the man without a second thought. But in both instances, where my first reaction was a sinking feeling in my stomach and a mental “Oh god, what now?” I felt compelled to stop and listen, and moved to compassion. Six months ago I would have run a red light to avoid such people and thought to myself “good job.”

All I can say is that the 15 promises of the Virgin are true. My experience has convinced me of this. Through the rosary I have rediscovered my faith, and through the rosary I have come to have a deeper understanding of what it means to live according to that faith. And for all the temptations of the world, I would trade nothing for the grace and peace I feel currently in my life, even as trial after trial is put in my path.

 

[rinnie]

I never really prayed the rosary until quite recently. Through various trials of my own life and the life of my family (many that have since been overcome, praise the Lord) I began delving deeper and deeper into my faith, and often found that the rosary was a very excellent and disciplined form of meditation that not only helped keep me from sobbing every day and falling into despair, it also helped me realize more clearly many of the things I had taken for granted in my faith, and overcome many hurdles that I had encountered as a child that were still lingering.

I can honestly say that I feel exceptionally blessed, even as the climax of one of the hardest trials of my life looms ever and ever closer with no apparent resolution in sight. Since I have begun my regular devotion, I can say that I have personally witnessed three of what I would call miracles:

1. My father survived pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer there is (only 5% survival rate)
2. By giving what spare change I had to a woman stranded on the side of the road, she was able to make the last bus before nightfall in order to get home to her family
3. And just tonight, as I grumbled about having to stay an hour later after work than usual, by hap and circumstance I encountered a distressed man on my way home and was able to help him.

I feel that, given my past history with strangers, especially people asking for money or flagging me down on the street (I don’t live in the best of neighborhoods), without the reinforcement of the devotion of the rosary, I would have passed by the woman and the man without a second thought. But in both instances, where my first reaction was a sinking feeling in my stomach and a mental “Oh god, what now?” I felt compelled to stop and listen, and moved to compassion. Six months ago I would have run a red light to avoid such people and thought to myself “good job.”

All I can say is that the 15 promises of the Virgin are true. My experience has convinced me of this. Through the rosary I have rediscovered my faith, and through the rosary I have come to have a deeper understanding of what it means to live according to that faith. And for all the temptations of the world, I would trade nothing for the grace and peace I feel currently in my life, even as trial after trial is put in my path.

This is what I am talking about! This is what the Blessed Mother is all about. You can only understand what praying the rosary in your life can do for you if you live it. If more people prayed it you could not have enough time to read all of the miracles. You would see crime reach a record low. Poverty would be all but forgotten. Praying the rosary changes people. I used to be so into things, money etc. Now I am into People, caring, helping etc. Your needs become few, and instead of you wants many they become few also. You become to want more for others then yourself. You start to give more of yourself. You become less judgemental and more thankful to God for what he has given you. Praying the rosary gives you Grace, and that grace gives you the true meaning of life. The meaning all are searching for and our dear Lord gave us the answer before he left us. Love one another as I have loved you! That is what the rosary can do.

With praying the rosary I learn to deal with the loss of my Brother, my Father, and my own Baby. I watched my husband fight cancer, my sister fight cancer. My Mom suffer the loss of my Brother and Father. All of this in the last 5 years. And survived. And you do not become bitter you become a better person because of the suffering. Because you can help others better because you really understand the pain. And you take your pain and help others with pain and you get healing from that. All by the power of the Rosary.

 

[livnlern]

This is what I am talking about! This is what the Blessed Mother is all about. You can only understand what praying the rosary in your life can do for you if you live it. If more people prayed it you could not have enough time to read all of the miracles. You would see crime reach a record low. Poverty would be all but forgotten. Praying the rosary changes people. I used to be so into things, money etc. Now I am into People, caring, helping etc. Your needs become few, and instead of you wants many they become few also. You become to want more for others then yourself. You start to give more of yourself. You become less judgemental and more thankful to God for what he has given you. Praying the rosary gives you Grace, and that grace gives you the true meaning of life. The meaning all are searching for and our dear Lord gave us the answer before he left us. Love one another as I have loved you! That is what the rosary can do.

With praying the rosary I learn to deal with the loss of my Brother, my Father, and my own Baby. I watched my husband fight cancer, my sister fight cancer. My Mom suffer the loss of my Brother and Father. All of this in the last 5 years. And survived. And you do not become bitter you become a better person because of the suffering. Because you can help others better because you really understand the pain. And you take your pain and help others with pain and you get healing from that. All by the power of the Rosary.

This is a beautiful recommendation for the Rosary Rinnie!
And I agree with you that praying the Rosary each day is so helpful in getting through life’s many painful moments. At times I’ve felt like it was a lifeline for me, when my father died and I had problems in my marriage. It’s a daily devotion that ties all my days together and has brought me closer to our Blessed Mother and (of course) to Jesus.
Maybe this is the best way to prove the promises posted by the OP. By telling about all the changes (for the better!) in our lives that came from faithfully praying the Rosary.

 

[Bluegoat]

I have not made any assumptions about you and I had not said any rude things about your religious affiliation. Quite trying to act as the victim and putting me as the ‘evil one’. The only assumption I’ve made so far is that your religion will not allow you to understand the Rosary or let you pray the Rosary. I’ve said nothing else than that. It was simply the truth and if you dont like it, OH WELL, DEAL WITH IT. The truth is the truth. I have also not misrepresented any of the doctrines or beliefs of your religion like you are claiming I have so far. I am also NOT continually doing so like you have stated. I am simply paying back and returning the love you show for the Rosary as in saying it’s a dangerous form of prayer and not so believable. So tell me, how does it feel when someone returns the love?

I have not said the Rosary is a dangerous form of prayer. I have said using it (or any other prayer) in the wrong way could be dangerous. I have said misunderstanding the Promises (if we say that there is a “right” way to understand them) could lead to using prayer in a way that was dangerous.

I have not spoken anything of your religion! I simply said that you guys considered the Virgin Mary as idolatry and that’s why you guys wouldn’t ever say a prayer to her.

This is an excellent example. Anglicans do not consider devotion to the Virgin Mary idolatrous, nor praying to saints in general. As well, addressing a persons beliefs or personal characteristics, rather than the actual argument he or she has made, is an ad hominem argument. Why not refute the argument about the nature of prayer, or try to bring another perspective, as other posters have done. No one else has seen a need for personal attacks.

You weren’t even considering in become catholic in the first place. Just by reading my posts and comments you cannot generalize and conclude that all catholics are presumtuous, rude, and ill-informed people. That’s something you acutally think personally and that’s why you stuck your nose in this thread in the first place to see what you could say about the Rosary. As for the people who read this post and never considering in become catholic is not true. I am simply defending the belief of the Rosary and the promises that were made by our Lady. As a defender of the Catholic Church and of the Virgen Mary, I will not tolerate any ofenses made to her or other indirect ofenses made to the pratices and beliefs we have. So in conclusion, please do not sound like a victim because the only thing you have done in this thread is to scare off people from praying the Rosary by making irrational conclusions and criticizing the promises made by our Lady. Other than that, you’ve only been supporting the negative comments already made by this one other person against the Rosary and our Catholic Church.

I was speaking in general of people who come here looking for information and insight into Catholisism. They see a variety of posts like yours and soon conclude that it cannot be for them. Are they correct to assume all Catholics, or Catholicism itself is like that? No. But one would think you would not like to make yourself a stumbling block in any way.

 

[Monica4316]

The following is from St. Louis de Montfort’s ‘The Secret of the Rosary’:

Whatever you do, do not be like a certain pious but self-willed lady in Rome, so often referred to by speakers on the Rosary. She was so devout and fervent that she put to shame by her holy life even the strictest religious in the Church.

Having decided to ask St. Dominic’s advice about her spiritual life, she made her confession to him. For penance he gave her one Rosary to say and advised her to say it every day. She excused herself, saying that she had her regular exercises, that she made the Stations of Rome every day, that she wore sack-cloth as well as a hair-shirt, that she gave herself the discipline several times a week, that she often fasted and did other penances. Saint Dominic urged her over and over again to take his advice and say the Rosary, but she would not hear of it. She left the confessional, horrified at the methods of this new spiritual director who had tried so hard to persuade her to take up a devotion for which she had no taste.

Later on, when she was at prayer she fell into ecstasy and had a vision of her soul appearing before the Supreme Judge. Saint Michael put all her penances and other prayers on one side of the scales and all her sins and imperfections on the other. The tray of her good works were greatly outweighed by that of her sins and imperfections.
Filled with alarm, she cried for mercy, imploring the help of the Blessed Virgin, her gracious advocate, who took the one and only Rosary she had said for her penance and dropped it on the tray of her good works. This one Rosary was so heavy that it weighed more than all her sins as well as all her good works. Our Lady then reproved her for having refused to follow the counsel of her servant Dominic and for not saying the Rosary every day.

As soon as she came to herself she rushed and threw herself at the feet of Saint Dominic and told him all that had happened, begged his forgiveness for her unbelief, and promised to say the Rosary faithfully every day. By this means she rose to Christian perfection and finally to the glory of everlasting life.

. . . Our Lady one day revealed to Blessed Alan de la Roche that, after the holy sacrifice of the Mass, which is the first and most living memorial of our Lord’s passion, there was indeed no more excellent devotion or one of greater merit than that of the Rosary, which is like a second memorial and representation of the life and passion of Jesus Christ.

. . . Father Dominic, a Carthusian, who was deeply devoted to the holy Rosary, had a vision in which he saw heaven opened and the whole heavenly court assembled in magnificent array. He heard them sing the Rosary in an enchanting melody, and each decade was in honour of a mystery of the life, passion, or glory of Jesus Christ and his holy Mother. Fr. Dominic noticed that whenever they pronounced the holy name of Mary they bowed their heads, and at the name of Jesus they genuflected and gave thanks to God for the great good he had wrought in heaven and on earth through the holy Rosary. He also saw our Lady and the Saints present to God the Rosaries which the Confraternity members say here on earth. He noticed too that they were praying for those who practice this devotion. He also saw beautiful crowns without number, which were made of sweet-smelling flowers, for those who say the Rosary devoutly. He learned that by every Rosary that they say they make a crown for themselves which they will be able to wear in heaven.

This holy Carthusian’s vision is very much like that which the Beloved Disciple had, in which he saw a great multitude of angels and saints, who continually praised and blessed Jesus Christ for all that he had done and suffered on earth for our salvation. And is not this what the devout members of the Rosary Confraternity do?

. . . Dear fellow-members, if you want to serve Jesus and Mary by saying the Rosary every day, you must be prepared for temptation: “If you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptation” (Sir. 2:1). Heretics, licentious people, the so-called respectable people of the world, persons of superficial piety, and false prophets, hand in glove with your fallen nature and all hell itself - all will wage terrible battles against you in an endeavour to make you give up this holy practice.

To help you to be better armed against their onslaught - not so much of acknowledged heretics and profligates as those who are considered “respectable” in the eyes of the world, and even those who are devout but have no use for the Rosary - I am going to tell you simply some of the things these people are always saying and thinking.

“What does this babbler want to say?” (Acts 17:18). “Come, let us attack him, for he is against us” (Wis. 2:12). What is he doing, saying so many Rosaries? What is it he is always mumbling? Such laziness! He does nothing but keep on sliding those beads along, he would do much better to work without amusing himself with such foolishness. Oh yes, it’s quite true, all you have to do is to say the Rosary and a fortune will fall from heaven into your lap. The Rosary brings you all you need without lifting a finger. But hasn’t it been said, “God helps those who help themselves”? Why load yourself with so many prayers? Brevis oratio penetrat coelos; an Our Father and a Hail Mary well said are quite sufficient. God has never commanded us to say the Rosary; of course it’s all right, it’s not a bad devotion when you’ve got the time, but don’t think for one minute that people who say the Rosary are any more sure of heaven than we are. Just look at the saints who never said it!

Etc. . .

this is a great book it got me praying the Rosary!! I highly recommend this book to everyone

 

[cyberwolf001]

I still dont get why most have no trouble with one God, Jesus death and ressurection but the ROSARY (Which this Druid still has a soft spot for) is where the line gets drawn…

 

[rinnie]

This is a beautiful recommendation for the Rosary Rinnie!
And I agree with you that praying the Rosary each day is so helpful in getting through life’s many painful moments. At times I’ve felt like it was a lifeline for me, when my father died and I had problems in my marriage. It’s a daily devotion that ties all my days together and has brought me closer to our Blessed Mother and (of course) to Jesus.
Maybe this is the best way to prove the promises posted by the OP. By telling about all the changes (for the better!) in our lives that came from faithfully praying the Rosary.

God Bless you and I will keep you and your Father in my prayers especially this holiday season. I understand your pain, and hurt with you. But I also understand your joy and hope you have received from saying the rosary and rejoice with you also!

My Dad always told me Jesus was perfect and they crucified him what do you think they will do to you. Thats when I knew life was to be a struggle. But also like any struggle your reward is in the end. Some you receive in this life and some in the next. But there is nothing like the Hand of God upon you when you hurt, and struggle. And there is nothing like the warm embrace you feel in your heart from the Mother Of God when you go through it. She has a way of letting you cry in her arms and wiping your tears away. She can sure give some awesome Love can’t she. So awesome like the love from God that it reaches out from eternity! And gives a whole new meaning to one day at a time, and tommorow will be a better day!

 

[rinnie]

[SIGN][/SIGN]

I have not said the Rosary is a dangerous form of prayer. I have said using it (or any other prayer) in the wrong way could be dangerous. I have said misunderstanding the Promises (if we say that there is a “right” way to understand them) could lead to using prayer in a way that was dangerous.

This is an excellent example. Anglicans do not consider devotion to the Virgin Mary idolatrous, nor praying to saints in general. As well, addressing a persons beliefs or personal characteristics, rather than the actual argument he or she has made, is an ad hominem argument. Why not refute the argument about the nature of prayer, or try to bring another perspective, as other posters have done. No one else has seen a need for personal attacks.

I[SIGN] in general of peoplwas speaking e who come here looking for information and insight into Catholisism. [/SIGN]They see a variety of posts like yours and soon conclude that it cannot be for them. Are they correct to assume all Catholics, or Catholicism itself is like that? No. But one would think you would not like to make yourself a stumbling block in any way.

And may all come who seek be rewarded with the Grace from God to understand. Let us all pray for anyone who truely come to seek our faith be rewarded with the Gift from God to be led to the true understanding of it. And I know that by the power of the Rosary and the Grace from God that comes from it that they will indeed receive a great gift. Lets keep the rosary what it is Power, Power against every evil out there. Power that the Blessed Mother has, which has been given to her by the grace of God. Let us all seek that power, that power to be good, and do good like our Dear Lord Jesus asks of us.

 

[IHeartAquinas]

My Dad always told me Jesus was perfect and they crucified him what do you think they will do to you. Thats when I knew life was to be a struggle. But also like any struggle your reward is in the end. Some you receive in this life and some in the next. But there is nothing like the Hand of God upon you when you hurt, and struggle. And there is nothing like the warm embrace you feel in your heart from the Mother Of God when you go through it. She has a way of letting you cry in her arms and wiping your tears away. She can sure give some awesome Love can’t she. So awesome like the love from God that it reaches out from eternity! And gives a whole new meaning to one day at a time, and tommorow will be a better day!

Amen! Whenever life becomes overwhelming, I maintain my discipline with the rosary and reach for the Book of Job. I cry out my pain and frustration to Our Blessed Mother, pray that these hurdles will pass, and then reinforce my resolve in the face of adversity with Job. Indeed, there is nothing like the comforting spiritual hug of the Blessed Virgin followed by a comforting pat on the back from God, knowing that whatever comes our way, it’ll all be ok in the end.

You’re right rinnie, when we begin to live the rosary and not just pray it, such adversity does not make us bitter, but softens our hearts even further. I cannot put into words the spiritual transformation I have experienced since beginning to regularly pray the rosary. But I want to share it with the world.

 

[Hesychios]

I still dont get why most have no trouble with one God, Jesus death and ressurection but the ROSARY (Which this Druid still has a soft spot for) is where the line gets drawn…

I don’t know how you get such an idea.

I have not seen any criticism of the rosary here. These ‘promises’ are a separate and distinct thing. The rosary (a chaplet) chronologically precedes the promises and exists as an entity separate from these words of an apparition. The rosary would be available to you or anyone whether the purported apparition had made these claims or not.

Many people gather at the church (or parish hall) for scheduled recitations. Many families recite it when together.

The rosary is not liturgical, it is a private devotion which can be freely practiced by anyone without need of permission, nor of an ordained minister or priest. It can be recited in groups, or alone… aloud or silently… with special intentions or without… with the mysteries or without. The layperson has complete liberty to use this devotional tool. No one has attacked the rosary on this thread, as far as I can tell.

The problem is that these promises make a shipwreck of Catholic salvation theology.

From the old Catholic Encyclopedia

The Council of Trent describes the process of salvation from sin in the case of an adult with great minuteness (Sess. VI, v-vi).

It begins with the grace of God which touches a sinner’s heart, and calls him to repentance. This grace cannot be merited; it proceeds solely from the love and mercy of God. Man may receive or reject this inspiration of God, he may turn to God or remain in sin. Grace does not constrain man’s free will.
Thus assisted the sinner is disposed for salvation from sin; he believes in the revelation and promises of God, he fears God’s justice, hopes in his mercy, trusts that God will be merciful to him for Christ’s sake, begins to love God as the source of all justice, hates and detests his sins.

Against the heretical tenets of various times and sects we must hold

• that the initial grace is truly gratuitous and supernatural;
• that the human will remains free under the influence of this grace;
• that man really cooperates in his personal salvation from sin;
• that by justification man is really made just, and not merely declared or reputed so;
• that justification and sanctification are only two aspects of the same thing, and not ontologically and chronologically distinct realities;
• that justification excludes all mortal sin from the soul, so that the just man is no way liable to the sentence of death at God’s judgment-seat.

These promises are deceiving people into thinking that if they do a particular thing, a saint (who has ‘appeared’) will guarantee their salvation.

**Those who trust themselves to me through the Rosary will not perish **

The meek and humble Holy Theotokos is making this claim? What can she mean by ‘perish’?

What about those who trust in her without the rosary? Is she unapproachable any other way?

Whoever recites my Rosary devoutly reflecting on the mysteries, shall never be overwhelmed by misfortune. He will not experience the anger of God nor will he perish by an unprovided death.

What is that supposed to mean? How does one prove this?

If God wants to take you now, and you are not ready, will she stop Him? With what is one provided?

Those who are faithful to recite my Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces and will share in the merits of the blessed.

This is the equivalent of saying that this apparition has the power of God, or power over God. This, as Warrior has stated, is a guarantee (which only God can make).

It turns the concept of Intercession completely on it’s head. Intercession in Christian thought is to ask of God, not demand or compel God. God always retains the right to refuse to hear one’s request as well as to refuse the request itself. It is always the will of God, not our request, that will be done, and we need to always acknowledge that.

For a creature of God to guarantee results to anyone at all (and in this case potentially everyone) is to claim that one has control over the will of God. It is essentially conjuring.

Even if we privately believed that God would never refuse a certain person a sincere request, that person could never personally presume upon the will of God. To do so is a great sin and heresy.

This was a concept completely unknown to the early Christian church, it is not Apostolic, it is not the received teaching.

 

[Shin]

“For, amen I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove from hence hither, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.”

Matthew 17:20

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.

John 14:12-13

Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you."

Matthew 7:7

And yet people still have a problem with promises from Heaven and criticize them.

They criticize the Queen of Heaven as if she cannot make promises, as if she did not hold the blessed child on her lap, and place Him where she wished, and as if her Son did not do whatever she asked, because she never asks what is not His will.