Our Lady's Rosary

God sent His Mother to us to try to achieve, through her, what others have failed to achieve through the years since her Son was living on the earth. What is He trying to tell us by sending her to us? Once more, I think He is saying, through the lips of Mary, “come to me. I love you.” “Tell them, Mother,” He is saying urgently, “I love them so much; but, so many times they have not listened to me. Maybe they’ll listen to their Mother in Heaven, because all children love their mother.” Many times we children have listened, and reached out to Jesus through her.

   The Franciscan Crown also called the Rosary of the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin, dates back to the year 1422. The famous Franciscan historian, Fr. Luke Wadding relates that a very pious young man, who had been admitted to the Franciscan Order in that year, had, previous to his reception, been accustomed to adorn a statue of the Blessed Virgin with a wreath of fresh and beautiful flowers as a mark of his piety and devotion. Not being able to continue this practice in the novitiate, he repined very much, and finally decided to quit the cloister and return to the world.

    Our Lady then appeared to him and prevented him from carrying out his purpose. “Do not be sad and cast down, my son,” she said sweetly, “because you are no longer permitted to place wreaths of flowers on my statue.”

    “I shall teach you to change this pious practice into one that will be far more pleasing to me and far more meritorious to your soul. In place of the flowers that soon wither and can not always be found, you can weave for me a crown from the flowers of you prayers that will always remain fresh and can always be had.”

    “Recite one Our Father and ten Hail Mary's:

     First, in honor of the joy I experienced when the angel announced to me the Incarnation of the Son of God.

     Second, the joy I felt on visiting my Cousin Elizabeth.

     Third, the joy I felt when I gave birth to Christ your savior.

     Fourth, the joy I felt when presenting my Divine Son to the adoration of the Magi.

     Fifth, in honor of the joy that thrilled me when, after seeking Jesus for three days, I found Him among the doctors in the Temple.

     Sixth, when I experienced my Divine Son gloriously rose from the grave on Easter Sunday.

    And finally, for the seventh time, in honor of my own most glorious and joyful Assumption into heaven where I was crowned Queen of heaven and earth.”

     At Fatima, again and again, she asked the children to urge everyone to say the rosary every day.

    What is the rosary? Is it a succession of prayers in praise of Mary? Is this why she came down on earth to promote her rosary that seems to be so centered on her— she, who is the modest, humble handmaid of the Lord? Ah, but is it centered on her? Let’s examine it. Do we have so many little beads chained together, representing words of love about her? Oh no! They are an outpouring of praise to God.

    “Hail Mary,” we begin with the words the Angel Gabriel addressed to her. “Hail [Mary] favored one! [Full of grace] The Lord is with you.”[1]

    Why are you full of grace, Mary? “Not of myself,” she answers; “But, because the Lord is with me. He is with me and in me, alive, a human being growing within the confines of my body.”

    “Blessed are you among women,”[2] your cousin, Elizabeth, greeted you,” and at the closeness of the baby Jesus in your womb; the infant, John, in Elizabeth’s womb, was instantly sanctified.

    Mary, why do you ask us to say, “Blessed are you among women?” Isn’t that praising you?

   “Oh no,” she replies quickly. “It is not praise of me; but, of Jesus. I am blessed among women because, blessed is the fruit of my womb, Jesus.”   

    From a simple young woman, who of herself was no one at all, you have become the holy tabernacle chosen by God to hold the developing human body of His Son. You are His “Vessel of Honor” and “Vessel of Singular Devotion.” You are His “Mystical Rose,” His “Tower of Ivory,” His “House of Gold,” His “Gate of Heaven.” You are the “Refuge of sinners,” the “Queen conceived without original sin,” the “Queen of the most holy rosary.”

    “Holy Mary,” you ask us to say. Why? “I am holy,” she says, “because I am the Mother of God — because Almighty God is my human Son, my Baby, my Boy, my flesh and Blood. All praise to Him! Praise to God Almighty!”

    Mary, we are sinners, conceived and born weak and sinful, so yes, let us go on with your rosary and cry out, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.”

   We intersperse the “Hail Mary” with a Profession of Faith, with the “Our Father” and “Glory Be” — to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Throughout the five decade Rosary we meditate on the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries of Christ’s life with you on earth.

   This rosary is not, then, as we might think, simply a tribute to you, is it, Mary? It is far more than that. It is a praise of God and His redemptive plan, aided by your magnificent cooperation.

   If we who are Franciscans want to know what a true spirit of Franciscanism is, we can turn to you, Mary.  

   Your life from beginning to end was a perfect embodiment of this spirit. You went through each day, quietly and uncomplainingly, doing all the little earthly tasks you had to do; doing them cheerfully, well, and thoroughly, while at the same time your heart and spirit was consciously aware of God living with you, in the boy Jesus, and the loving Christ.

   Francis had such a great respect for you, Mary. He recognized that what he was doing was exactly what you had done all your life. He recognized that you were inseparable from Christ and Christ inseparable from you, and all humanity. He recognized the fact that Mary not only lived with Christ; but, she had joys and sorrows with Him and died with Him on the Cross (at least her heart died with him). After your own death, you arose from your grave even as Christ had done. In glory, you ascended into heaven where Jesus, with arms outstretched, received you; led you to the throne of God, and personally crowned you Queen of Heaven and of Earth.

   All queen’s subjects here on earth bow before their queen. Mary, we bow before you, our heavenly Queen.

   Dear Lady — our Fair Lady — our Mother — Mother of our King — our Queen — our First Lady of earth and Heaven, we thank you for the Rosary. We acknowledge it to be a hymn of praise and exaltation to the Triune God, and to your Son, our Brother Jesus, and the blessed fruit of your womb! We sigh with the happiness of knowing you, Mary. Welcome to our lives! Welcome to our homes! Ave! Ave! Ave Maria!