Five Methods of Praying the Rosary--by St. Louis-Marie de Montfort

[Five] Methods for Saying the Rosary

to draw into our souls the Graces of the Mysteries of the Life, Passion and Glory of Jesus and Mary

By St. Louis-Marie de Montfort

The English translation of  The Secret of the Rosary has the 1st and 2nd method only, not the 3rd, 4th, and 5th. All five methods are found in God Alone: The Collected Writings of St
Louis Marie de Montfort  . Here is the Original French version:http://www.santorosario.net/francais/methodes.htm  or

http://www.montfort.org/French/Oeuvres/Methodes.htm 

FIFTIETH ROSE [last rose (chapter) of the book, “The Secret of the Rosary”]: VARIOUS METHODS

SO AS TO MAKE the recitation of the Holy Rosary easier for you, here are several methods which will help you to say it in a good and holy way, together with meditation on the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries of Jesus and Mary. Choose whichever method pleases you and helps you the most: you can make one up yourself, if you like, as several holy people have done before now.

 

First Method

1. Say the “Come Holy Spirit”

Veni Sancte Spiritus,
reple tuoruni corda fidelium, et tui amoris in eis ignem accende.
V. Emitte spiritum
tuum, et creabuntur.
R. Et renovabis faciem
terrae.

 Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of thy faithful people, and kindle in them the fire of thy love. V. Send forth thy spirit, and they shall be created. R. And thou shall renew the face of the earth.

and then make this offering of the Rosary: I unite with all the saints in heaven and with all the just on earth; I unite with you, my Jesus, to praise your holy Mother worthily and to praise you in her and by her. I renounce all the distractions that may come to me while I am saying this Rosary. O Blessed Virgin Mary, we offer you this creed to honour the faith you had upon earth and to ask you to permit us to share in that same faith. O Lord, we offer you this Pater Noster to adore you in your oneness and to acknowledge you as the first cause and the last end of all things. Most Holy Trinity, we offer you these three Ave Marias to thank you for all the graces which you have given to Mary and which you have given to us through her intercession.

Pater Noster, three Ave Marias, Gloria Patri….

Offering of the Decades

Joyful Mysteries

2. First decade

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this first decade in honour of your Incarnation. Through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother we ask for humility of heart.
Pater Noster, ten Ave Marias, Gloria Patri.
May the grace of the mystery of the Incarnation come into me and make me truly humble.

Second decade

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this second decade in honour of the Visitation of your holy Mother to her cousin Saint Elizabeth. Through this mystery and the intercession of Mary we ask for a perfect love of our neighbour.
Pater Noster, ten Ave Marias, Gloria Patri.
May the grace of the mystery of the Visitation come into me and make me truly charitable.

Third decade

We offer you, Child Jesus, this third decade in honour of your holy Birth. Through this mystery and the intercession of your blessed Mother we ask for detachment from the things of this world, love of poverty and love of the poor.
Pater Noster, ten Ave Marias, Gloria Patri.
May the grace of the Birth of Jesus come into me and make me truly poor in spirit.

Fourth decade

We offer you, O Lord Jesus, this fourth decade in honour of your presentation in the temple by the hands of Mary. Through this mystery and the intercession of your blessed Mother we ask for the gift of wisdom and purity of heart and body.
Pater Noster, ten Ave Marias, Gloria Patri.
May the grace of the mystery of the presentation come into me and make me truly wise and pure.

Fifth decade

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this fifth decade to honour Mary’s finding you in the temple among the learned men after she had lost you. Through this mystery and the intercession of your blessed Mother we ask you to convert us and all sinners, heretics, schismatics and pagans.
Pater Noster, ten Ave Marias, Gloria Patri.
May the grace of the mystery of the Finding of Jesus in the temple come into me that I may be truly converted.

Sorrowful Mysteries

3. Sixth decade

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this sixth decade in honour of your intense agony in the garden of Olives. Through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother we ask for perfect sorrow for our sins and perfect conformity to your holy will.
Pater Noster, ten Ave Marias, Gloria Patri.
May the grace of the Agony of Jesus come into me and make me truly contrite and perfectly obedient to the will of God.

Seventh decade

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this seventh decade in honour of your cruel Scourging. Through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother we ask for the grace to mortify our senses.
Pater Noster, ten Ave Marias, Gloria Patri.
May the grace of the Scourging of Jesus come into me and make me truly mortified.

Eighth decade

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this eighth decade in honour of being crowned with Thorns. Through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother we ask for a deep contempt of the world.
Pater Noster, ten Ave Marias, Gloria Patri.
May the grace of the mystery of Our Lord’s Crowning with Thorns come into me and make me truly opposed to the world.

Ninth decade

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this ninth decade in honour of your carrying the Cross. Through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother we ask for great patience in carrying our cross after you all the days of our life.
Pater Noster, ten Ave Marias, Gloria Patri.
May the grace of the mystery of the carrying of the Cross come into me and make me truly patient.

Tenth decade

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this tenth decade in honour of your Crucifixion on Mount Calvary. Through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother we ask for a great horror of sin, a love for the Cross and the grace of a holy death for us and for those who are now in their last agony. Pater Noster, ten Ave Marias, Gloria Patri.
May the grace of the Death and Passion of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ come into me and make me truly holy.

Glorious Mysteries

4. Eleventh decade

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this eleventh decade in honour of your triumphant Resurrection. Through this mystery and through the intercession of your holy Mother we ask for a lively faith.
Pater Noster, ten Ave Marias, Gloria Patri.
May the grace of the Resurrection come into me and make me truly faithful.

Twelfth decade

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this twelfth decade in honour of your glorious Ascension. Through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother we ask for a firm hope and a great longing for heaven.
Pater Noster, ten Ave Marias, Gloria Patri.
May the grace of the mystery of the Ascension of Our Lord come into me and prepare me for heaven.

Thirteenth decade

We offer you, O Holy Spirit, this thirteenth decade in honour of the mystery of Pentecost. Through this mystery and the intercession of Mary, your most holy spouse, we ask for your holy wisdom that we may know, taste and practice your truth and share it with everyone.
Pater Noster, ten Ave Marias, Gloria Patri.
May the grace of Pentecost come into me and make me truly wise in the eyes of God.

Fourteenth decade

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this fourteenth decade in honour of the Immaculate Conception of your holy Mother and her assumption into heaven body and soul. Through these two mysteries and her intercession we ask for the gift of true devotion to her in order to live a good life and have a happy death.
Pater Noster, ten Ave Marias, Gloria Patri.
May the grace of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Mary come into me and make me truly devoted to her.

Fifteenth decade

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this fifteenth and last decade in honour of the Crowning in glory of your holy Mother in heaven. Through this mystery and her intercession we ask for perseverance and an increase in virtue up to the moment of our death and thereafter the eternal crown that is prepared for us. We ask for the same grace for all the just and all our benefactors.
Pater Noster, ten Ave Marias, Gloria Patri.
5. We beseech you, Lord Jesus, by the fifteen mysteries of your life, death, passion and glory, and the merits of your holy Mother, to convert sinners, to help the dying, to free the souls in purgatory, and to give all of us your grace so that we may live well and die well. We pray also for the light of glory to see you face to face and love you during all eternity. Amen.

Second, Shorter Method…

…of Celebrating the life, death and heavenly glory of Jesus and Mary in the Holy Rosary and a method of restraining our imagination and lessening distractions.

6. To do this a word or two is added to each Ave Maria of the decade reminding us of the mystery we are celebrating. This addition follows the name of Jesus in the middle of the Ave Maria:
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,

Decade

1st “Jesus becoming man”
2nd “Jesus sanctifying”
3rd “Jesus born in poverty”
4th “Jesus sacrificed”
5th “Jesus holy of holies”
6th “Jesus in his agony”
7th “Jesus scourged”
8th “Jesus crowned with thorns”
9th “Jesus carrying his Cross”
10th “Jesus crucified”
11th “Jesus risen from the dead”
12th “Jesus ascending to heaven”
13th “Jesus filling thee with the Holy Spirit”
14th “Jesus raising thee up”
15th “Jesus crowning thee”

 

1. quem, Virgo, concepisti.

2. quem visitando Elisabeth portasti.

3. quem, Virgo, genuisti.

4. quem in templo paesentasti.

5. quem in templo invenisti.

6. qui pro nobis sanguinem sudavit.

7. qui pro nobis flagellatus est.

8. qui pro nobis spinis coronatus est.

9. qui pro nobis crucem baiulavit.

10. qui pro nobis crucifixus est.

11. qui resurrexit a mortuis.

12. qui in caelum ascendit.

13. qui Spritium Sanctum misit.

14. qui te assumpsit.

15. qui te in caelis coronavit.

 

At the end of the first five mysteries we say:
May the grace of the joyful mysteries come into our souls and make us really holy.

At the end of the second:
May the grace of the sorrowful mysteries come into our souls and make us truly patient.

At the end of the third:
May the grace of the glorious mysteries come into our souls and make us eternally happy. Amen.

Third Method…

…of Fr. de Montfort for saying fruitfully the holy Rosary, for the use of the Daughters of Wisdom.

7. I unite with all the saints in heaven, with all the just on earth, and with all the faithful here present. I unite with you, my Jesus, in order to praise your holy Mother worthily and to praise you in her and through her. I renounce all distractions which may arise during this Rosary. I desire to say it with attention and devotion as if it were the last of my life. Amen. We offer you, Lord Jesus, this Creed in honour of all the mysteries of our faith, the Pater Noster and three Ave Marias in honour of the unity of your being and the Trinity of your persons. We ask of you a lively faith, a firm hope and an ardent charity. Amen.
I believe in God; Pater Noster; three Ave Marias.

In each mystery, after the word Jesus, add a word to recall and honour the particular mystery. For example: Jesus incarnate, Jesus sanctifying, etc. as it is indicated at each decade.

The Joyful Mysteries

The Incarnation

8. We offer you, Lord Jesus, this first decade in honour of your Incarnation in Mary’s womb; through this mystery and her intercession we ask for deep humility. Amen.
Pater Noster. Ave Maria ten times, adding “Jesus becoming man”.
May the grace of the mystery of the Incarnation come into our souls. Amen.

The Visitation

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this second decade in honour of the Visitation of your holy Mother to her cousin Saint Elizabeth and of the sanctification of Saint John the Baptist; through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother we ask for charity towards our neighbour. Amen.
Pater Noster. Ave Maria ten times. “Jesus sanctifying”.
May the grace of the Visitation come into our souls. Amen.

The Birth of Jesus

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this third decade in honour of your Birth in the stable at Bethlehem; through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother, we ask for detachment from worldly things, contempt of riches and a love of poverty. Amen.
Pater Noster. Ave Maria ten times. “Jesus being born”.
May the grace of the mystery of the Birth of Jesus come into our souls. Amen.

The Presentation in the Temple

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this fourth decade in honour of your presentation in the temple and the purification of Mary; through this mystery and her intercession we ask for purity in body and mind. Amen.
Pater Noster. Ave Maria ten times. “Jesus sacrificed”.
May the grace of the mystery of the Presentation come into our souls. Amen.

The Finding of Jesus

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this fifth decade in honour of your being found in the temple by Mary; through this mystery and her intercession we ask for true wisdom. Amen.
Pater Noster. Ave Maria ten times. “Jesus Holy of holies”.
May the grace of the mystery of the Finding of Jesus come into our souls. Amen.

At the end of this first Rosary the Magnificat is said.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

The Agony

9. We offer you, Lord Jesus, this sixth decade in honour of your Agony in the Garden of Olives; through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother we ask for sorrow for our sins. Amen.
Pater Noster. Ave Maria ten times. “Jesus in Agony”.
May the grace of the mystery of the Agony of Jesus come into our souls. Amen.

The Scourging

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this seventh decade in honour of your cruel Scourging; through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother we ask for the grace to mortify our senses. Amen.
Pater Noster. Ave Maria ten times. “Jesus being scourged”.
May the grace of the mystery of the Scourging of Jesus come into our souls. Amen.

The Crowning with Thorns

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this eighth decade in honour of your being Crowned with Thorns; through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother we ask for contempt of the world. Amen.
Pater Noster. Ave Maria ten times. “Jesus crowned with thorns”.
May the grace of the mystery of the Crowning with Thorns come into our souls. Amen.

The Carrying of the Cross

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this ninth decade in honour of your carrying the Cross; through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother we ask for patience in all our crosses. Amen.
Pater Noster. Ave Maria ten times. “Jesus carrying his Cross”.
May the grace of the mystery of the Carrying of the Cross come into our souls. Amen.

The Crucifixion

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this tenth decade in honour of your Crucifixion and shameful Death on Calvary; through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother we ask for the conversion of sinners, perseverance for the just and relief for the souls in Purgatory. Amen. Pater Noster. Ave Maria ten times. “Jesus crucified”.

10. In this decade before each Ave Maria we ask God through the intercession of the nine choirs of angels for the graces we stand in need of.
Holy Seraphim, ask God etc. Ave Maria etc.
Holy Cherubim, ask etc.
Holy Thrones, ask etc.
Holy Dominations, ask etc.
Holy Virtues, ask etc.
Holy Powers, ask etc.
Holy Principalities, ask etc.
Holy Archangels, ask etc.
Holy Angels, ask etc.
All the Saints of Paradise, ask etc.
Gloria Patri, etc.
May the grace of the mystery of the Crucifixion of Jesus come down into our souls. Amen.

11. At the end of the second rosary the following prayers are said kneeling:

[Prayer composed by Fr. de Montfort asking God for divine Wisdom]
O God of Pater Nosters, Lord of mercy, Spirit of truth, I, a mere worm of the earth, prostrate before your divine Majesty, acknowledging the great need I have of your divine wisdom which I have lost through my sins and trusting in the unfailing promise you have made to all those who ask with confidence, I come before you today to beg this grace of you with all possible earnestness and the greatest humility. Send us, O Lord, this wisdom which sits by your throne to strengthen our weakness, to enlighten our minds, to inflame our hearts, to speak and to act, to work and suffer in union with you, to direct our footsteps and to fill our souls with the virtues of Jesus Christ and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, for only Wisdom can bring us these gifts. O Father of mercy, God of all consolation, we ask you for this infinite treasure of your divine wisdom, through the tender heart of Mary, through the Precious Blood of your dear Son and through the intense desire you have to bestow your gifts on your poor creatures. Hear and grant our prayers. Amen.

 

12. [Prayer to Saint Joseph]
Hail Joseph the just, Wisdom is with you; blessed are you among all men and blessed is Jesus, the fruit of Mary, your faithful spouse. Holy Joseph, worthy foster-father of Jesus Christ, pray for us sinners and obtain divine Wisdom for us from God, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

This prayer is said three times.

The Glorious Mysteries

The Resurrection

13. We offer you, Lord Jesus, this eleventh decade in honour of your glorious Resurrection; through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother, we ask for love of God and fervour in your service. Amen.
Pater Noster. Ave Maria ten times. “Jesus risen from the dead”.
May the grace of the mystery of the Resurrection come into our souls. Amen.

The Ascension

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this twelfth decade in honour of your triumphant Ascension; through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother we ask for an ardent desire for heaven, our true home. Amen.
Pater Noster. Ave Maria ten times. “Jesus ascending to heaven”.
May the grace of the mystery of the Ascension come into our souls. Amen.

The Pentecost

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this thirteenth decade in honour of the mystery of Pentecost; through this mystery and the intercession of your holy Mother we ask that the Holy Spirit may come into our souls. Amen.
Pater Noster. Ave Maria ten times. “Jesus filling us with the Holy Spirit”.
May the grace of the mystery of Pentecost come into our souls. Amen.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this fourteenth decade in honour of the Resurrection and triumphant Assumption of your holy Mother into heaven; through this mystery and her intercession we ask for a tender devotion to so good a Mother. Amen.
Pater Noster. Ave Maria ten times. “Jesus raising thee up”.
May the grace of the mystery of the Assumption come into our souls. Amen.

The Coronation of Mary

We offer you, Lord Jesus, this fifteenth and last decade in honour of the Coronation of your holy Mother; through this mystery and her intercession we ask for perseverance in grace and the crown of glory. Amen.
Pater Noster. Ave Maria ten times. “Jesus crowning thee”.

14. In this decade before each Ave Maria we ask God through the intercession of all the saints for the graces we stand in need of.
St. Michael the Archangel and all the holy angels, ask of God etc. Ave Maria etc.
St. Abraham and all the holy Patriarchs, ask of God etc.
St. John Baptist and all the holy Prophets, ask of God etc.
St. Peter and St. Paul and all the holy Apostles, ask of God etc.
St. Stephen, St. Lawrence and all the Martyrs, ask of God etc.
St. Hilary and all the holy Pontiffs, ask of God etc.
St. Joseph and all the holy Confessors, ask of God etc.
St. Catherine, St. Therese and all the holy Virgins, ask of God etc.
St. Anne and all holy Women, ask of God etc.
Gloria Patri etc.
May the grace of the mystery of the Crowning in glory of Mary come into our souls. Amen.

15. At the end of the third Rosary the following prayer is said:

[Prayer to the Blessed Virgin]
Ave Maria, well-beloved daughter of the eternal Father, admirable Mother of the Son, most faithful spouse of the Holy Spirit, glorious temple of the Blessed Trinity. Hail, sovereign Queen, to whom everyone is subject in heaven and on earth. Hail sure Refuge of sinners, our Lady of mercy, who has never repelled anyone. Sinner as I am, I cast myself at your feet and beg you to obtain from Jesus, your dear Son, contrition and pardon for all my sins and the gift of divine wisdom. I consecrate myself to you with all that I have. I choose you today as my Mother and Mistress; treat me then as the weakest of your children and the most submissive of your servants. Hear, O my Queen, the prayers of a heart that desires to love and serve you faithfully. Let it not be said that of all who have ever had recourse to you, I was the first to be unheeded. O my hope, my life, my faithful and immaculate Virgin Mary, hear me, protect me, strengthen me, instruct me, save me. Amen.
Praised, adored and loved be Jesus in the most holy sacrament of the altar. Forever and ever.
O Jesus, my dear Jesus, O Mary, Mother of Jesus, my beloved Mother, give us your holy blessing. Amen.
Support us in our troubles, hear us when we pray, preserve us from the world and the devil. Amen.
The superior says, “Nos cum prole pia benedicat Virgo Maria. Amen”.[“May the Virgin Mary with her Loving Offspring bless us.  Amen.”]

Fourth Method

Summary of the life, death and passion and heavenly glory of Jesus and Mary in the holy Rosary.

16.	Credo: 1) Faith in the presence of God. 2) Faith in the gospel. 3) Faith and obedience to the pope as Vicar of Jesus Christ.
	1		Pater Noster	Unity of one, living and true God.
		1	Ave Maria	To honour the eternal Father who conceives his Son in contemplating himself.
		2	Ave Maria	The eternal Word, equal to his Father and who with him produces the Holy Spirit by their mutual love.
		3	Ave Maria	The Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son by the way of love.
	2		Pater Noster	Immense charity of God.
	The Incarnation
17.		1	Ave Maria	To deplore the unhappy state of disobedient Adam; his just condemnation and that of all his descendants.
		2	Ave Maria	To honour the desires of the patriarchs and prophets who pleaded for the coming of the Messiah.
		3	Ave Maria	To honour the desires and prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary to bring forward the coming of the Messiah; and her marriage with Saint Joseph.
		4	Ave Maria	The love of the eternal Father in giving us his Son.
		5	Ave Maria	The love of the Son who gave himself up for us.
		6	Ave Maria	The mission and the greeting of the angel Gabriel.
		7	Ave Maria	The maidenly fear of Mary.
		8	Ave Maria	The faith and consent of the Virgin Mary.
		9	Ave Maria	The creation of the soul and the formation of the body of Jesus in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit.
		10	Ave Maria	The angels adoring the Word Incarnate in the womb of Mary.
	3		Pater Noster	The most adorable majesty of God.
	The Visitation
18.		1	Ave Maria	To honour the joy in the heart of Mary at the Incarnation and the dwelling for nine months of the eternal Word in her womb.
		2	Ave Maria	The sacrifice of himself that Jesus Christ offered to his Father on coming into the world.
		3	Ave Maria	The contentment of Jesus Christ in the humble and Virginal womb of Mary and that of Mary in the enjoyment of her God.
		4	Ave Maria	The doubts of St. Joseph on discovering that Mary was with child.
		5	Ave Maria	The agreement between Jesus and Mary in her womb on the choice of the elect.
		6	Ave Maria	The fervour of Mary when visiting her cousin.
		7	Ave Maria	The greeting of Mary and the sanctification of St. John Baptist and of his mother St. Elizabeth.
		8	Ave Maria	Mary’s thanksgiving to God expressed in her Magnificat.
		9	Ave Maria	Her charity and humility in the service of her cousin.
		10	Ave Maria	The mutual dependence of Jesus and Mary and the dependence we should have upon them both.
	4		Pater Noster	The infinite richness of God.
	The Birth of Jesus
19.		1	Ave Maria	To honour the contempt and the rebuffs which Mary and Joseph encountered at Bethlehem.
		2	Ave Maria	The poverty of the Stable where God came into the world.
		3	Ave Maria	The deep recollection of the exceeding love of Mary when she was about to give birth to her child.
		4	Ave Maria	The coming forth of the eternal Word from the womb of Mary without breaking the seal of her Virginity.
		5	Ave Maria	The adoration and the singing of the angels when Jesus was born.
		6	Ave Maria	The ravishing beauty of her divine child.
		7	Ave Maria	The coming of the shepherds into the stable with their humble gifts.
		8	Ave Maria	The circumcision of Jesus and his suffering accepted in love.
		9	Ave Maria	The giving of the name of Jesus and the nobility of this name
		10	Ave Maria	The adoration of the kings and the gifts they brought.
	5		Pater Noster	The eternal wisdom of God.
	The Purification
20.		1	Ave Maria	Obedience of Jesus and Mary to the Law.
		2	Ave Maria	The sacrifice that Jesus made of his humanity to the Law.
		3	Ave Maria	The sacrifice of her honour the Virgin Mary made to the Law.
		4	Ave Maria	The joy and the songs of Simeon and Anne the prophetess.
		5	Ave Maria	The ransoming of Jesus by the offering of two turtle doves.
		6	Ave Maria	The massacre of the Holy Innocents by Herod the Cruel.
		7	Ave Maria	The flight of Jesus to Egypt through St. Joseph’s obedience to the voice of the angel.
		8	Ave Maria	The mystery of his abode in Egypt.
		9	Ave Maria	His return to Nazareth
		10	Ave Maria	His growth in age and wisdom.
	6		Pater Noster	The incomprehensible holiness of God.
	The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
21.		1	Ave Maria	To honour his hidden, hard working and obedient life at Nazareth.
		2	Ave Maria	His preaching and his being found in the temple among the doctors.
		3	Ave Maria	His fasting and his temptations in the desert.
		4	Ave Maria	His baptism by St. John Baptist.
		5	Ave Maria	His wonderful preaching.
		6	Ave Maria	His astounding miracles.
		7	Ave Maria	The choice of the twelve apostles and the powers he gave them.
		8	Ave Maria	His marvellous transfiguration
		9	Ave Maria	The washing of the feet of the apostles.
		10	Ave Maria	The institution of the Holy Eucharist.
	7		Pater Noster	The essential happiness of God.
	The Agony of Jesus
22.		1	Ave Maria	To honour the places of retreat that Jesus Christ chose during his life, especially that of the Garden of Olives.
		2	Ave Maria	His humble and fervent prayers offered during his life and on the eve of his passion.
		3	Ave Maria	His patience and gentleness towards his apostles during his life and especially in the Garden of Olives.
		4	Ave Maria	His weariness of soul during all his life and especially in the Garden of Olives.
		5	Ave Maria	The outpouring of blood in which his sorrows bathed him.
		6	Ave Maria	The comfort he consented to receive from an angel in his agony.
		7	Ave Maria	His conformity to the will of his Father in spite of his natural reluctance.
		8	Ave Maria	The courage with which he went to meet his executioners and the power of his words with which he crushed them and then uplifted them.
		9	Ave Maria	His betrayal by Judas and his arrest by the Jews.
		10	Ave Maria	His desertion by his apostles.
	8		Pater Noster	Wonderful patience of God.
	The Scourging
23.		1	Ave Maria	To honour the chains and ropes with which Jesus was bound.
		2	Ave Maria	The blow that he received in the house of Caiphas.
		3	Ave Maria	The three denials of St. Peter.
		4	Ave Maria	The shameful treatment he received at the house of Herod when he was dressed in a white robe.
		5	Ave Maria	His being stripped of all his clothes.
		6	Ave Maria	The scorn and insults he received from his tormenters because of his nakedness.
		7	Ave Maria	His being beaten and flayed with rods of thorn and cruel whips.
		8	Ave Maria	The pillar to which he was bound.
		9	Ave Maria	The blood he shed and the wounds he received.
		10	Ave Maria	His collapse through weakness into a pool of his own blood.
	9		Pater Noster	Unspeakable beauty of God.
	The Crowning with Thorns of Jesus Christ
24.		1	Ave Maria	To honour his being stripped a third time.
		2	Ave Maria	To honour His crown of thorns.
		3	Ave Maria	The veil with which they blindfolded him.
		4	Ave Maria	The blows and the spittle rained upon his face.
		5	Ave Maria	The old robe they put over his shoulders.
		6	Ave Maria	The reed they put into his hand.
		7	Ave Maria	The rough stone upon which he was made to sit.
		8	Ave Maria	The abuse and insults that were hurled at him.
		9	Ave Maria	The blood which poured from his adorable head.
		10	Ave Maria	His hair and beard which they tore at.
	10		Pater Noster	Limitless omnipotence of God.
	The Carrying of the Cross
25.		1	Ave Maria	To honour Our Lord being presented to the people at the “Ecce Homo.”
		2	Ave Maria	The preferring of Barabbas to Jesus.
		3	Ave Maria	The false testimonies given against him.
		4	Ave Maria	His being condemned to death.
		5	Ave Maria	The love with which he embraced and kissed the Cross.
		6	Ave Maria	The dreadful sufferings he endured in carrying it.
		7	Ave Maria	His falling through weakness under its weight.
		8	Ave Maria	His sorrow on meeting his Mother.
		9	Ave Maria	The veil of Veronica on which his face was imprinted.
		10	Ave Maria	His tears and those of his Mother and the pious women who followed him to Calvary.
	11		Pater Noster	Fearful Justice of God.
	The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
26.		1	Ave Maria	To honour the five wounds of Jesus Christ and the shedding of his blood on the Cross.
		2	Ave Maria	His pierced heart and the Cross upon which he was crucified.
		3	Ave Maria	The nails and the lance which pierced him, the sponge, the gall and the vinegar which he was given to drink.
		4	Ave Maria	The shame and the ignominy he endured in being crucified naked between two thieves.
		5	Ave Maria	The compassion of his Blessed Mother.
		6	Ave Maria	His seven last words.
		7	Ave Maria	His abandonment and his silence.
		8	Ave Maria	The distress of the whole universe.
		9	Ave Maria	His painful and shameful death.
		10	Ave Maria	His being taken down from the Cross and his burial.
	12		Pater Noster	The eternity of God without a beginning.
	The Resurrection
27.		1	Ave Maria	To honour the descent of the soul of Our Lord into hell.
		2	Ave Maria	The joy and the release of the ancient fathers who were in limbo.
		3	Ave Maria	The re-uniting of his body and soul in the tomb.
		4	Ave Maria	His miraculous emergence from the tomb.
		5	Ave Maria	His victories over death and sin, the world and the devil.
		6	Ave Maria	The four qualities of his glorious body.
		7	Ave Maria	The power that he received from his Father in heaven and on earth.
		8	Ave Maria	His appearances to his Mother, his apostles and disciples.
		9	Ave Maria	His discourses on heaven and the meal that he had with his disciples.
		10	Ave Maria	The peace, the authority and the mission he gave them to go out into the whole world.
	13		Pater Noster	The unlimited omnipresence of God.
	The Ascension of Jesus Christ
28.		1	Ave Maria	To honour the promise that Jesus Christ made to his apostles to send them the Holy Spirit and the command he gave them to prepare to receive him.
		2	Ave Maria	The gathering of all his disciples on the Mount of Olives.
		3	Ave Maria	The blessings he gave them as he rose from the earth towards heaven.
		4	Ave Maria	His glorious ascension by his own power into heaven.
		5	Ave Maria	The welcome and triumphant acclaim which he received from God, his Father and from all the heavenly court.
		6	Ave Maria	The triumphant power with which he opened the gates of heaven through which no mortal had passed.
		7	Ave Maria	His being seated at the right hand of his Father as his beloved Son equal to his Father.
		8	Ave Maria	The power he received to judge the living and the dead.
		9	Ave Maria	His last coming upon earth when his power and majesty will appear in all their magnificence.
		10	Ave Maria	The justice he will mete out at the last judgment when he rewards the just and punishes the wicked for all eternity.
	14		Pater Noster	The all-embracing Providence of God.
	Pentecost
29.		1	Ave Maria	To honour the truth of God the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son and who is the love of the Godhead.
		2	Ave Maria	The sending of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles by the Father and the Son.
		3	Ave Maria	His descent accompanied by the sound of a great wind which shows his might and power.
		4	Ave Maria	The tongues of fire he sent to the apostles giving them an understanding of the scriptures and love of God and neighbour
		5	Ave Maria	The fullness of grace which the heart of Mary, his faithful spouse, was privileged to receive.
		6	Ave Maria	The marvellous guidance he gave to all the saints and even to the person of Jesus Christ during all his life.
		7	Ave Maria	The twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit.
		8	Ave Maria	The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
		9	Ave Maria	To ask especially for the gift of wisdom and the coming of his kingdom into men’s hearts.
		10	Ave Maria	To be victorious over the three evil spirits that are opposed to him, namely the spirit of the flesh, of the world and of the devil.
	15		Pater Noster	The unspeakable generosity of God.
	The Assumption of Mary
30.		1	Ave Maria	To honour the eternal predestination of Mary to be the masterpiece of God’s hands.
		2	Ave Maria	Her Immaculate Conception and her fullness of grace and reason in the very womb of St. Anne.
		3	Ave Maria	Her birth which gladdened the whole world.
		4	Ave Maria	Her presentation and her abode in the temple.
		5	Ave Maria	Her wonderful life and her exemption from all sin.
		6	Ave Maria	Her fullness of pre-eminent virtue.
		7	Ave Maria	Her fruitful virginity and her painless childbearing.
		8	Ave Maria	Her divine Motherhood and her relationship with the three persons of the most holy Trinity.
		9	Ave Maria	Her precious and loving death.
		10	Ave Maria	Her resurrection and triumphant Assumption.
	16		Pater Noster	The unattainable glory of God.
	The Crowning of Mary
31.		1	Ave Maria	To honour the triple crown which Mary received from the Holy Trinity.
		2	Ave Maria	The joy and the added glory that heaven received through her triumphant entry.
		3	Ave Maria	To acknowledge her as queen of heaven and earth, of angels and men.
		4	Ave Maria	As treasurer and dispenser of the graces of God, the merits of Jesus Christ and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
		5	Ave Maria	Mediatrix and advocate of men.
		6	Ave Maria	Exterminator and destroyer of the devil and of heresies.
		7	Ave Maria	Safe refuge of sinners.
		8	Ave Maria	Nurturing Mother of sinners.
		9	Ave Maria	The joy and delight of the just.
		10	Ave Maria	Refuge for all the living, all-powerful relief for the afflicted, for the dying and for the souls in purgatory.
	God alone.

Fifth Method:

150 Motives Impelling us to say the Rosary

32.		Creed: Definition and essence of the Rosary
	1		Pater Noster	Eminence of the Rosary
		1	Ave Maria	the daily Rosary
		2	Ave Maria	the ordinary Rosary
		3	Ave Maria	perpetual Rosary
33.	2		Pater Noster	excellence of the holy Rosary as prefigured in the Old Testament and the parables of the New.
		1	Ave Maria	the strength of the holy Rosary against the world, as prefigured by that small stone, which, thrown by no hand of man, fell upon the statue of Nebuchadnezzar and broke it into pieces.
		2	Ave Maria	its strength against the devil, as prefigured by the sling of David with which he overcame Goliath.
		3	Ave Maria	its power against all sorts of enemies of salvation, as prefigured by the power of David which contained innumerable kinds of defensive and offensive arms.
		4	Ave Maria	its miracles as prefigured in the rod of Moses which caused water to flow from the rock, calmed the waters, divided the seas and performed miracles.
		5	Ave Maria	its holiness as prefigured by the Ark of the Covenant which contained the law, the manna and the rod and also by the psalter of David which prefigured the Rosary.
		6	Ave Maria	its light as shown in the columns of fire during the night and the shining cloud during the day which guided the Israelites.
		7	Ave Maria	its sweetness as shown in the honey found in the mouth of the lion.
		8	Ave Maria	its fruitfulness as shown in the net that St. Peter by order of Our Lord threw into the sea and which though filled with 153 fish did not break.
		9	Ave Maria	its marvellous fruitfulness as shown in the parable of the mustard seed which, although so small in appearance, becomes a great tree in which the birds of the air make their nests.
		10	Ave Maria	its richness as shown in the parable of the treasure hidden in a field for which a wise man must give up all he has to possess it.
34.	3		Pater Noster	It is a gift come down from heaven; a great present that God gives to his most faithful servants.
		1	Ave Maria	God is the author of the prayers of which it is composed and of the mysteries which it contains.
		2	Ave Maria	it is the Blessed Virgin who gave the Rosary its form.
		3	Ave Maria	St. Dominic preached and although he was a saint he converted hardly any sinners.
		4	Ave Maria	he was accompanied in his missions by several holy bishops and still his efforts were without fruit.
		5	Ave Maria	by the power of prayer and mortification, he received the holy Rosary in the forest of Toulouse.
		6	Ave Maria	he entered Toulouse and preached the Rosary and great wonders and great blessings accompanied his preaching.
		7	Ave Maria	he continued all his life preaching the Rosary with results never seen before.
		8	Ave Maria	the marvellous effects the Rosary has had wherever it was preached.
		9	Ave Maria	the decline of the Rosary.
		10	Ave Maria	the restoration of the Rosary by Blessed Alan de la Roche.
35.	4		Pater Noster	The Rosary is the triple crown that we place on the heads of Jesus and Mary and he who recites it every day will receive the same crown.
		1	Ave Maria	Mary possesses three kinds of crown.
		2	Ave Maria	The daily Rosary is her great crown.
		3	Ave Maria	The reprobate crown themselves with faded roses.
		4	Ave Maria	The predestinate crown Jesus and Mary with eternal roses.
		5	Ave Maria	The Jews crown Jesus with piercing crowns.
		6	Ave Maria	True Christians crown him with fragrant roses.
		7	Ave Maria	The first is the bridal crown or crown of excellence which we place on Mary’s head by the joyful mysteries.
		8	Ave Maria	The second is the crown of triumph or of power that we give her by the sorrowful mysteries.
		9	Ave Maria	The third is the royal crown or crown of goodness that we give her by the glorious mysteries.
		10	Ave Maria	There are three crowns for the one who recites the Holy Rosary every day: 1 crown of graces during life 2 crown of peace at death 3 crown of glory in eternity
36.	5		Pater Noster	The Rosary is a mystical summary of all the most beautiful prayers of the Church.
		1	Ave Maria	The Creed is a summary of the gospel.
		2	Ave Maria	It is the prayer of believers.
		3	Ave Maria	The shield of the soldiers of Jesus Christ.
		4	Ave Maria	The Pater Noster - prayer of which Jesus Christ is the sole author.
		5	Ave Maria	Prayer he used when praying to his Father and through which he obtained what he desired.
		6	Ave Maria	Prayer which expresses as many mysteries as there are words.
		7	Ave Maria	Prayer in which are found all our duties towards God.
		8	Ave Maria	Prayer which contains a summary of all we must ask of God.
		9	Ave Maria	Prayer whose value is unknown and which is said very badly by the majority of Christians.
		10	Ave Maria	Paraphrase of the Pater Noster.
37.	6		Pater Noster	The Rosary contains the angelic greeting which is the most pleasing prayer we can offer our Blessed Lady.
		1	Ave Maria	The Ave Maria is a divine compliment which wins over the heart of the Blessed Virgin.
		2	Ave Maria	It is the new song of the New Testament which the faithful sing as they escape from the captivity of the devil.
		3	Ave Maria	It is the hymn of the angels and saints in heaven.
		4	Ave Maria	It is the prayer of the predestinate and of Catholics.
		5	Ave Maria	It is a mysterious rose which is a source of joy to the Blessed Virgin and to the soul.
		6	Ave Maria	It is a precious stone which embellishes and sanctifies the soul.
		7	Ave Maria	It is a valuable piece of money with which to purchase heaven.
		8	Ave Maria	It is the prayer which distinguishes the predestinate from the reprobate.
		9	Ave Maria	It is the terror of the devil, the blow which crushes him, the nail of Sisera which pierces his head.
		10	Ave Maria	Paraphrase of the Ave Maria.
38.	7		Pater Noster	The Rosary is a divine Summary of the mysteries of Jesus and Mary in which we proclaim and commemorate their life, passion and glory.
		1	Ave Maria	Men’s misfortune and ruin come from ignorance and neglect of the mysteries of Jesus Christ.
		2	Ave Maria	The Rosary provides the knowledge of the mysteries of Jesus and Mary and recalls them to mind in view of applying them to one’s life.
		3	Ave Maria	The greatest desire of Jesus Christ was and still is that we remember him. With this in mind he instituted the sacrifice of the Mass.
		4	Ave Maria	After holy Mass the Rosary is the holiest action and prayer that we can offer because it is a remembrance and a celebration of what Jesus Christ has done and suffered for us.
		5	Ave Maria	The Rosary is the prayer of the angels and saints in heaven because they are engaged in celebrating the life, death and glory of Jesus Christ.
		6	Ave Maria	When we say the Rosary we celebrate in one day or one week all the mysteries that the Church celebrates in a year for the sanctification of her children.
		7	Ave Maria	Those who say the holy Rosary every day have a share in what the saints are doing in heaven which is the same as they were doing upon earth meritoriously, for they who are on earth are doing what the saints are doing in heaven.
		8	Ave Maria	The mysteries of the Holy Rosary are like mirrors for the predestinate in which they see their faults and like torches which guide them in this world of darkness.
		9	Ave Maria	They see springs of living water from the Saviour to whom one may go with joy to draw the saving waters of grace.
		10	Ave Maria	They are the 15 steps of the temple of Solomon and the 15 rungs of the ladder of Jacob by which the angels descend to them and return to heaven and by which they ascend to heaven.
39.	8		Pater Noster	The Rosary is the tree of life which bears marvellous fruits all the year round.
		1	Ave Maria	The Rosary enlightens blind and hardened sinners.
		2	Ave Maria	It brings back obstinate heretics.
		3	Ave Maria	It sets prisoners free.
		4	Ave Maria	It heals the incurable.
		5	Ave Maria	It enriches the poor.
		6	Ave Maria	It supports the weak.
		7	Ave Maria	It consoles the afflicted and the dying.
		8	Ave Maria	It reforms lax religious orders.
		9	Ave Maria	It checks the effects of God’s anger.
		10	Ave Maria	It makes good people better.
40.	9		Pater Noster	The Rosary is a practice that God has sanctioned by many miracles.
		1	Ave Maria	Miracles in the conversion of sinners.
		2	Ave Maria	In the conversion of heretics.
		3	Ave Maria	In the cure of all sorts of diseases.
		4	Ave Maria	In favour of the dying brethren.
		5	Ave Maria	In the sanctification of devout people.
		6	Ave Maria	In the release of souls from purgatory.
		7	Ave Maria	In the reception into the Confraternity.
		8	Ave Maria	For the procession of the holy Rosary and the oil lamp of the holy Rosary.
		9	Ave Maria	For its devout recitation.
		10	Ave Maria	To carry it on one’s person with devotion.
41.	10		Pater Noster	The holy Rosary is most excellent because it was established for very noble ends which give great glory to God and are very salutary for the soul.
		1	Ave Maria	By being enrolled in this Confraternity we are strengthened in a wonderful way by joining millions of brothers and sisters.
		2	Ave Maria	We thus preserve a continuous remembrance of the mysteries of Jesus and Mary.
		3	Ave Maria	We are able to praise God at every moment of the day and night and in every place on earth, which one could not do on one’s own.
		4	Ave Maria	To thank Our Lord for all the graces he is giving us at every moment.
		5	Ave Maria	To be ever asking pardon for our daily sins.
		6	Ave Maria	To make our prayers more powerful by being united with others.
		7	Ave Maria	For mutual help at the hour of death which is so difficult and so important.
		8	Ave Maria	To be supported at the hour of judgment by as many intercessors as there are members of the confraternity of the Rosary.
		9	Ave Maria	To be given relief after death and speedily released from the pains of purgatory by the Masses and prayers which are offered up.
		10	Ave Maria	To form an army arrayed as for battle to destroy the empire of the devil and establish that of Jesus Christ.
42.	11		Pater Noster	The Rosary is a great store of indulgence accorded by popes outdoing one another.
		1	Ave Maria	Plenary indulgences of the stations of Rome and Jerusalem by going to Communion on certain days.
		2	Ave Maria	Plenary indulgence on enrolment in the confraternity.
		3	Ave Maria	Plenary indulgence at the hour of death.
		4	Ave Maria	Indulgence for the recitation of the Rosary.
		5	Ave Maria	Indulgence for those who organize the saying of the Rosary.
		6	Ave Maria	Indulgence for those who receive communion in the church of the Rosary on the first Sunday of the month.
		7	Ave Maria	Indulgence on the occasion of the procession.
		8	Ave Maria	Indulgence for those who say the Mass of the Rosary.
		9	Ave Maria	Indulgence for certain good works.
		10	Ave Maria	Indulgence for those who are unable to visit the church of the Rosary, or receive Communion, or take part in a procession.
43.	12		Pater Noster	The Rosary is sanctioned by the example given to us by the saints.
		1	Ave Maria	St. Dominic, its origination.
		2	Ave Maria	Blessed Alan de la Roche who restored it.
		3	Ave Maria	The saintly Dominicans who propagated it.
		4	Ave Maria	Among the popes: Pius V, Innocent III, and Boniface VIII who had it embroidered in satin.
		5	Ave Maria	Among the cardinals: St. Charles Borromeo.
		6	Ave Maria	Among the bishops: St. Francis de Sales.
		7	Ave Maria	Among religious: St. Ignatius, St. Philip Neri, St. Felix of Cantalice.
		8	Ave Maria	Among kings and queens: St. Louis, Philip I, King of Spain, Queen Blanche.
		9	Ave Maria	Among the learned: Albert the Great, Navarre, etc.
		10	Ave Maria	Among saintly people: the famous holy women of Rome, Sister Mary of the Incarnation.
44.	13		Pater Noster	The vanquished enemies of the Rosary prove its fame to us.
		1	Ave Maria	Those who neglect it.
		2	Ave Maria	Those who say it with indifference and without attention.
		3	Ave Maria	Those who say it in haste and to get it over with.
		4	Ave Maria	Those who say it with unrepentant mortal sin.
		5	Ave Maria	Those who say it out of hypocrisy, lacking any devotion.
		6	Ave Maria	Critics who strive ingeniously to do away with it.
		7	Ave Maria	The impious who speak against it.
		8	Ave Maria	The cowardly who accept it and then abandon it.
		9	Ave Maria	Heretics who attack it and run it down.
		10	Ave Maria	The devils who hate it and strive to destroy it by numerous tricks.
45.	14		Pater Noster	The overcoming of objections that heretics, critics, libertines and those who neglect and ignore the Rosary generally make either to do away with it or to avoid saying it.
		1	Ave Maria	It is a new religious practice.
		2	Ave Maria	It is an invention of Religious to make money.
		3	Ave Maria	It is a devotion of ignorant women who do not know how to read.
		4	Ave Maria	It is superstitious being based on counting prayers.
		5	Ave Maria	It is preferable to say the penitential psalms.
		6	Ave Maria	It is preferable to make a meditation.
		7	Ave Maria	It is too long and too tiresome a prayer.
		8	Ave Maria	One can be saved without saying the Rosary.
		9	Ave Maria	We don’t sin if we fail to say it.
		10	Ave Maria	It is good, but I have not the time to say it.
46.	15		Pater Noster	Manner of saying the Rosary well.
		1	Ave Maria	It must be said with a pure heart without attachment to grave sin.
		2	Ave Maria	In a worthy manner with good intentions.
		3	Ave Maria	With attention avoiding voluntary distractions.
		4	Ave Maria	Slowly and calmly with pauses in the prayers.
		5	Ave Maria	Devout whilst meditating on the mysteries.
		6	Ave Maria	Modestly and in a respectful attitude whether standing or kneeling.
		7	Ave Maria	Wholeheartedly and every day.
		8	Ave Maria	Secretly, when one says it alone.
		9	Ave Maria	Publicly and in two responding groups.
		10	Ave Maria	Perseveringly until death.
47.	16		Pater Noster	Different methods of saying the holy Rosary.
		1	Ave Maria	The holy Rosary can be said in a straightforward manner, saying only the Pater Nosters and Ave Marias with the intentions of the mysteries.
		2	Ave Maria	We can add a word to each mystery of the decade.
		3	Ave Maria	We can make a little offering at each decade.
		4	Ave Maria	We can make a more important offering at each decade.
		5	Ave Maria	We can have a special intention for each Ave Maria.
		6	Ave Maria	We can recite it inwardly without speaking.
		7	Ave Maria	We can genuflect at each Ave Maria.
		8	Ave Maria	We can prostrate at each Ave Maria.
		9	Ave Maria	We can give ourselves a stroke of the discipline.
		10	Ave Maria	We can commemorate the saints at each decade and blend with one of the above-mentioned methods as the Holy Spirit inspires.

Appendix

The Principal Rules Of The Confraternity of the Holy Rosary

48. Members should:

	1	Have their names written in the register of the confraternity and, if possible, go to Confession and Communion and say the Rosary on the day they are enrolled.
	2	Possess a blessed rosary.
	3	Say the Rosary every day or at least once a week.
	4	Whenever possible, go to Confession and Communion on the first Sunday of every month and take part in the Rosary processions.

Remember that none of these rules binds under pain of sin.

On the Power and Dignity of the Rosary

49. Through the Rosary, hardened sinners of both sexes became converted and began to lead a holy life, regretting their past sins with genuine tears of sorrow. Even children performed unbelievable penances, and devotion to my Son and to me spread so much that it seemed almost as though angels were living on earth. Faith was increasing and many of the faithful longed to shed their blood for it and fight against heretics….

50. “Thus, through the sermons of my very dear Dominic and through the power of the Rosary the heretical regions became submissive to the Church. Almsgiving became widespread; churches and hospitals were built; people led pure and honourable lives; real wonders were accomplished. Holiness and unworldliness were seen everywhere; the church was seen as honourable; princes were just; people lived at peace with one another and justice and equity reigned in the guilds and in the home. More impressive still, workmen did not take up their tools until after they had greeted me by saying my Rosary and they did not retire at night without again praying to me on their knees. If they remembered in the middle of the night that they had not offered me this tribute, they would immediately rise from their bed and greet me with even greater respect, and with sorrow for their lapse. The Rosary became so well known that people who were devout were considered by others as being obviously confraternity members. If a man lived openly in sin or blasphemed, it was commonly said: “This man cannot possibly be a brother of St. Dominic.” I must not fail to mention the signs and wonders that I have wrought and put in different lands through the holy Rosary.

“I have stopped pestilences and put an end to horrible wars and averted bloodshed, besides strengthening those who said the Rosary in order to avoid sin. When you say the Rosary the angels rejoice in it, the holy Trinity delights in it, my son finds joy in it and I myself am happier than you can possibly imagine. After the holy Sacrifice of the Mass there is nothing that I love so much as the holy Rosary.” (Cf. Blessed Alan de la Roche)….

51. “Having been strongly urged to do so by St. Dominic, all the brothers and sisters of his Order honoured my Son and me unceasingly and in an indescribably beautiful way by saying this psalter of the Holy Trinity. Every day each one of them said at least one complete Rosary. If anybody failed to say it he felt that the whole of his day was spoiled. The brothers of St. Dominic had so great a love for this holy devotion that it made them hurry to church or choir more willingly. If one of them was seen to carry out his duties carelessly the others would say with assurance, “Dear brother, you must not be saying Mary’s psalter any more or else you are saying it badly.”

52. On the Dignity of the Ave Maria

The holy angels in heaven salute the most Blessed Virgin with the Ave Maria not audibly but with their angelic mind. For they are fully aware that through it reparation was made for the fallen angels’ sin, God became man and the world was renewed” (Blessed Alan). “I myself, knowing the power of this greeting by the Lord, repeated it with great fervour. Indeed, realizing my own human nature, I begged Mary for a share in her divine life of grace and glory” (Blessed Alan). “One night when a woman member of the Confraternity had retired, Our Lady appeared to her and said, ‘My daughter, do not be afraid of me. I am your loving Mother whom you praise so faithfully every day. Be steadfast and persevere. I want you to know that the Ave Maria gives me so much joy that no man could ever really describe it”‘ (Guillaume Pepin, In Rosario aureo, Sermon 47).

53. “This was corroborated by a vision of St. Gertrude. In her revelations, Book IV, chapter XI, we find this story:
“On the morning of the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary while the Ave Maria was being sung in Gertrude’s monastery, she had a vision in which three streams gushed forth from the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and gently flowed into the heart of the Virgin Mary. From this heart these streams flowed back impetuously to their source. From this, Gertrude learned that the Blessed Trinity has allowed Our Lady to be the most powerful after God the Father, the wisest after God the Son and the most loving after God the Holy Spirit. She also learned that every time the Ave Maria is said by the faithful the three mysterious streams surround Our Lady in a mighty current rush to her heart. After they have completely bathed her in happiness they gush back into the bosom of God. The saints and angels share in this abundance of joy, as do the faithful on earth who say this prayer, for the Ave Maria is the source of all good for God’s children.

54. “Listen to what Our Lady herself said to Saint Mechtilde: ‘Never has any man composed anything more beautiful than the Ave Maria. No greeting could be dearer to my heart than those beautiful and dignified words that God the Father addressed to me himself.’ Our Lady one day said to Saint Mechtilde, ‘All the Ave Marias you have given me are blazoned on my cloak. She then held out a portion of her mantle, saying, ‘When this part of my cloak is full of Ave Marias I shall gather you up and take you into the Kingdom of my beloved Son.”‘ Denis the Carthusian, speaking of a vision of Our Lady to one of her clients, said, “We should greet the Blessed Virgin with our hearts, our lips and our deeds, so that she will not be able to say to us, ‘These people honour me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.”

55. Richard of St. Laurence lists the reasons why it is good to say a Ave Maria at the beginning of a sermon:

	1	The Church militant should follow the example of Saint Gabriel who saluted Mary with great respect saying “Ave Maria,” before he told her the joyous news: “Behold you shall conceive and bear a Son….” Thus the Church greets the Virgin before announcing the gospel.
	2	The congregation will derive more fruit from a sermon that is prefaced by the Ave Maria. The priest who gives the sermon has the angel’s role. But in order that the congregation may give birth to Christ in their souls (by faith) they must first obtain this grace from the Blessed Virgin who gave birth to him the first time, and so together with her, they will become mothers of the Son of God. For without Mary they cannot produce Jesus in their souls.
	3	The gospel shows us the effectiveness of the Ave Maria and people will receive help from Our Lady through this prayer.
	4	Through the Ave Maria, priests avoid pitfalls in their preaching, for Mary gives enlightenment to preachers.
	5	The congregation, following Our Lady’s example, listens more attentively and is more apt to remember the Word of God.
	6	The devil, who is the enemy of the human race and of the preaching of the gospel, is driven off by the Ave Maria. This is most necessary because, to quote Our Lord’s words, there is a danger of his coming to take the Word of God out of people’s hearts, “lest believing they might be saved.”

56. In his first sermon on the holy Rosary Clement Losow says: After St. Dominic had gone to heaven, devotion to the Rosary waned and it was nearly extinct, when a terrible pestilence broke out in several parts of the country. The afflicted people sought the advice of a saintly hermit who lived a very austere life in the desert. They besought him to pray to God for them. The holy man called upon the Mother of the Saviour, imploring her as advocate of sinners to come to the aid of the people. Mary appeared and said, ‘These people have stopped singing my praises; that is why these misfortunes have come upon them. Let them return to the devotion of the Rosary and they will again enjoy my protection. I shall obtain the graces of salvation for them if they honour me by saying the Rosary for this psalter is very pleasing to me.’ So the people did what Mary asked and made themselves rosaries which they said with all their heart.”