Hello, my dear friends, you might have come a long way from reciting rosaries in families, churches, convents, schools, grottoes, and within your private rooms. I have a question for you, ”Are you aware of the real meaning of the Rosary and the graces it brings, or are you simply following the age-old traditions of reciting it?  If you know what Rosary is that is just awesome and good for you, but if you aren’t sure then you are in the right place to discover the beautifully carved hidden meanings, blessings and graces on reciting the Rosary. Do not delay yourself to explore the hidden treasures that the Catholic church has preserved for you.

What is The Rosary?

In the Catholic Church, the Rosary is one of the most influential instruments that keep our faith strong, unites us with God, and encourages us to live a life of righteousness and holiness. It is the most fervently uttered prayer in the lives of almost every Catholic. Generally, the Rosary is usually understood as a bead on a string that has five decades. But it is beyond just a bead that is used for counting prayers. In fact, the verbal meaning of the Rosary is ” Crown of Roses”. It is because Mary, in her apparitions to several people had said that each time they say a Hail Mary devoutly, they are giving her a beautiful rose (rose is considered being “queen of flowers”) and that each complete Rosary makes her a crown of roses.

 Holy Rosary, the Story of Salvation

The Rosary is meant to help keep in memory certain important and main events in the history of the salvation of mankind. The Catholic Church has considered the Holy Rosary a perfect prayer because in it lies the awesome story of our salvation. In fact, we contemplate and meditate on the mysteries of joy, sorrow, glory, and of light of Jesus and Mary. It is to be remembered that it’s a simple prayer we can all say together with the Mother of God. We ask her to pray for us in each Hail Mary we utter.  She never denies our request. She prays for us unceasingly. It becomes even more beautiful because whatever Mary asks, she always receives because Jesus never denies his mother’s requests.

The Mysteries of Rosary

In the Rosary, twenty important mysteries of Christ and Mary are reflected upon. These mysteries are classified into the five Joyful Mysteries, the five Sorrowful Mysteries,  the five Glorious Mysteries, and the five Luminous Mysteries. The first 15 mysteries are established by Pope Pius V while the latter was added by St John Paul II in 2002.

Joyful Mysteries ( Monday and Saturday)

• The Annunciation
• The Visitation
• The Nativity
• The Presentation
• The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

Sorrowful Mysteries ( Tuesday and Friday)

• The Agony of Christ in the Garden.
• The Scourging at the Pillar.
• The Crowning with Thorns.
• The Carrying of the Cross.
• The Crucifixion.

Glorious Mysteries ( Wednesday and Sunday)

• The Resurrection
• The Ascension
• The descent of the Holy Spirit
• The Assumption
• The coronation of Mary in Heaven

Luminous Mysteries ( Thursday)

• The Baptism of Christ
• The Wedding Feast at Cana
• A call to Conversion
• The Transfiguration
• The Institution of Eucharist

The incidents in the life of Jesus and His Mother that are celebrated in the Liturgical Year and are completely enacted within these twenty mysteries of the  Rosary. Therefore, anyone who recites all mysteries in a day is believed to have been reflected upon the principal events of Jesus and Mary’s lives of a whole liturgical cycle that the Catholic Church commemorates during the course of a year.  That is why the Rosary is often called the Collection of the Gospel.

The Fifteen Promises of Mother Mary on Saying the Rosary

In recent times, our Lady has appeared in various parts of the world like Lourdes in France, Fatima in Portugal, etc., and asked to pray the  Rosary for the conversion of sinners. She continually pleaded to recite the Rosary for the world. It is her favorite prayer because it is completely a meditative path on the life of her Divine Son.

Mary the Mother of God promised through Saint Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche that anyone who faithfully prays the Rosary will be granted the fifteen promises. The fifteen promises that our Virgin Mary offers range from protection from adversity to receiving a high degree of glory in eternal life.

The Fifteen Promises of the Rosary

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.

The first promise of Mother Mary refers to any people who will recite the Rosary and will be rewarded with signal graces as a sign of faithfulness. Signal graces are like a pathfinder that whispers in our ears, ” this is the right way, move ahead.” It not only keeps us on the right track but also builds up our trust in the Almighty Lord and prepares us for a new phase of life. Faithful reciting the Rosary leads to the faithful devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.

The second promise of Mary reassures the special protection and the greatest graces to those people, who recite the Rosary. Anyone who dedicates their piece of time and prays the Rosary will be blessed with more love, care, and protection from Mary. The believers will directly benefit the God’s grace through the advocate, Virgin Mary. The divine power of her will be focused on those who pray the Rosary. Again, faithful devotion is completely rewarded.

3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.

The third promise inculcates in our mind that Rosary is the powerful weapon against hell. Many times, we fear death and the place we reach afterward but if we recite the Rosary devoutly, She can help sail through towards heaven. It has the power to destroy all the evil aspects of vice, heresies, and reduces sins. Those who truly pray will be protected against these and will receive the new way towards Christ.

4. The Rosary will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire for eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.

The fourth promise encourages the people to carry on with their lives, by welcoming and receiving the mercy of God. Even though we have weaknesses, and we are being attracted by vanities, if we truly see and understand the meanings of the Rosary, we’ll enter into sanctification and develop an appetite for eternal things, thus rising in virtue.

5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.

The Virgin Mother has assured in the fifth promise that those men and women who respect and pray the Rosary will not be left behind. They will not perish. They will be under the cover of our Lady’s Protection.

6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he is just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.

Whoever are devoted to reciting the Rosary will not have to face any misfortune for they will find the protection of our Virgin Mary. This sixth promise is closely associated with the first ones. They will bring God’s Mercy upon them and are not being punished at times of Justice. If they remain in the grace of God, they become worthy of everlasting life.

7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.

The Catholic Church has seven Sacraments which are believed to be the gateway towards our heavenly life. Mother Mary has promised that, no matter what, that those devoted to Rosary will have a chance to repent. It saves them from deprivation of Salvation through receiving the Sacraments of the Church.

8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death, they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.

The eighth promise confirms that those who are faithful towards Rosary prayer will have the upper hand to enjoy the life of God even after death. They will have access to a tremendous quantity of graces, significantly, they will enjoy and participate in the merits of the saints in heavenly paradise. Those who recite Rosary will have a holy death. She has promised.

9. I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.

Our Virgin Lady has promised that she will fight for those who prayed the Rosary in their lives while they wait in the Purgatory. According to the Catholic Church, Purgatory is a waiting place of the state where all the souls who die in God’s friendship, assured of their salvation but who still have need of sanctification to enter into heavenly bliss. She has promised to direct all her efforts towards getting those souls out and deliver them towards the afterlife of holiness.

10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.

The tenth promise is a beautiful calling towards the recitation of Rosary in order to come closer and live next to Him. She promises to those who pray the Rosary, will be forever appreciated in God’s Kingdom.  When they pray, they become closer to God and can sit by him while enjoying eternal life.

11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.

The eleventh promise talks about the wishes of those who recite the Rosary and will be granted provided they must respect God’s will. It depicts Mother Mary as the true mediator of God’s Grace. She will deliver the food of spiritual requests which nourish the soul when we pray the Rosary.

12. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.

She has promised that if you give your time to promote and propagate reciting the Holy Rosary a beautiful prayer, you will be assisted by Our Lady in times of need and necessities. If you teach your brothers and sisters how to pray Rosary and spread it to others, you will be the living example of those who our Lady protects.

13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.

 In this promise, Our Lady has spoken about her protection during both life and death to those who pray the Holy Rosary. In addition to that, She will assist in having all saints contribute to their wellbeing in the next life. Saints are part of the celestial court.

14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters of my only Son Jesus Christ.

 Those who pray the Holy Rosary will become a part of the history of Jesus Christ’s salvation.  When we pray to her, She becomes our Mother and we become the sons and daughters, brothers and sisters of  Her Son Jesus Christ.

15. The devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

If you dedicate your life to the Rosary prayer, you will receive God’s grace both before or afterlife. Devotion towards the Rosary helps to live a life of righteousness and holiness. Moreover, it brings people closer towards Him and helps in guiding souls to the roads of eternal Salvation. Therefore, you are predestined to encounter salvation when you faithfully pray the Rosary.

All the Fifteen Promises on reciting the Rosary have focused on devoting our lives faithfully towards a Christ-centric life. On praying the Rosary, you will have a clear direction in your earthly life and you will be eligible to enjoy innumerable graces.  These graces become your inspiration, guidance, and development of your true self. Those of you, who focus on the promises and pray the Rosary will not be left singlehanded and will always be protected.  You will live a holier life. She becomes intimate and guides you through any difficulties, hurdles, temptations as long as you believe and pray the Rosary. But make yourself fully understand each of them before you begin your journey along with Her.

Mother Mary is the very soul of the Catholic faith for she acts as the mediator between her Son and the world. It is through the steps of Mary to Christ, we walk in faith. She never abandons those who pray Rosary daily. So, my friends let’s start our new journey with her towards Christ and righteous life.

Author of this blog: Michael Lepcha

Michael is currently a third-year student and belongs to St. Augustine Church, Kangkebong,  Darjeeling Diocese.

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Contact: michaellepcha1997@gmail.com