1. The best way to
renew and reform
the Church:
The Rosary
2. The best way to reform the
Church-----The Rosary
1. A Spanish Bishop started preaching the
Rosary. He had such success that in a short
while he saw his diocese changed for the
better. There was a notable decline in immorality
and worldliness of all kinds as well as in gambling.
There were several instances of people being
brought back to the faith, of sinners making
restitution for their crimes, and of others sincerely
resolving to give up their lives of vice. Religious
fervour and Christian charity began to flourish.
These changes were all the more remarkable
because this bishop had been striving to reform
his diocese for some time but with hardly any
results.
3. 2. A Danish priest used to love to tell how the very
same improvement that the Spanish bishop
noticed in his diocese had occurred in his own
parish. He always told his story with great joy of
heart because it gave such glory to God.
"I had," he said, "preached as compellingly as I
could, touching on many aspects of our holy Faith,
and using every argument I could possibly think of
to get people to amend their way of life, but in
vain. Finally, I decided to preach the holy Rosary. I
told my congregations how precious it was and
taught them how to say it, and I affirm that having
taught them to appreciate this devotion, I saw a
manifest change within six months.”
4. 3. Blessed Alan de la Roche, Fr. Jean
Dumont, Fr. Thomas, the chronicles of St.
Dominic and other writers who have seen
these things with their own eyes speak of
the marvellous conversions that are
brought about by this wonderful devotion.
For the Rosary teaches people about the
virtues of Jesus and Mary, and leads them
to mental prayer, to the imitation of Jesus
Christ, to the frequentation of the
sacraments, the practice of genuine virtue
and of all kinds of good works. It also helps
us to gain many wonderful indulgences,
which people are unaware of.
5. 4. “As long as priests followed
Saint Dominic's example and
preached devotion to the holy
Rosary, piety and fervour thrived
throughout the Christian world and
in those religious orders which
were devoted to the Rosary.
But since people have neglected
this gift from heaven, all kinds of
sin and disorder have spread far
and wide.” (St. Louis de Montfort)
6. 5. “The Church has always attributed particular efficacy to
this prayer, entrusting to the Rosary the most difficult
problems. At times when Christianity itself seemed under threat,
its deliverance was attributed to the power of this prayer, and Our
Lady was acclaimed as the one whose intercession brought
salvation.” In Her many Apparitions on earth, like in Lourdes and
Fatima, the Virgin Mary always recommended the recitation of the
Rosary to obtain peace, and to stop heresies. St. Dominic
received the revelation of the Rosary at a time when the Church
was in a critical battle against the heresy of Albegensians. It was
at Prouille in France in 1208 that Dominic suddenly experienced
an Apparition of the Blessed Mother, who said,
“Wonder not that you have obtained so little fruit by your labors. You
have spent them on barren soil, not yet watered with the dew of
Divine grace. When God willed to renew the face of the earth,
He began by sending down on it fertilizing rain of the
Angelic Salutation. Therefore preach my psalter composed
of 150 Angelic Salutations and fifteen Our Fathers, and you
will obtain an abundant harvest.” (Pope John Paul II’s letter)
7. 6. “How much my intercession and the power I have in
heaven are worth has never been hidden in the Church,
for I have demonstrated my ability to save all by so many
thousands of miracles, prodigies and favors operated in
behalf of those devoted to me. With those who have called
upon me in their needs I have always shown myself
liberal, and the Lord has shown himself liberal to them on
my account.
The Most High still wishes to give liberally of his
infinite treasures and resolves to favor those who
know how to gain my intercession before God .
This is the secure way and the powerful
means of advancing the Church, of improving the
Catholic reigns, of spreading the faith, of
furthering the welfare of families and of states, of
bringing the souls to grace and to the friendship of
God.”
(Mary of Agreda. The mystical city of God)