[CATHOLIC CAUCUS] On the Rosary

Ingravescentibus Malis -- Encyclical of Pope Pius XI on the Rosary, 9-29-37

To the Venerable Brethren, Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, and other Ordinaries in Peace and Communion with the Holy See.

More than once have We asserted -- and We recently repeated this in the Encyclical Letter Divini Redemptoris (Acta Ap. Sedis, 1937, Vol. XXIX, p. 65) -- that there is no remedy for the ever-growing evils of our times except a return to Our Lord Jesus Christ and to His most holy precepts. Truly, only He "hath the words of eternal life" (Cf. John, vi, 69), and individuals and society can only fall into immediate and miserable ruin if they ignore the majesty of God and repudiate His Law.

2. However, anyone who studies with diligence the records of the Catholic Church will easily recognize that the true patronage of the Virgin Mother of God is linked with all the annals of the Christian name. When, in fact, errors everywhere diffused were bent upon rending the seamless robe of the Church and upon throwing the Catholic world into confusion, our fathers turned with confident soul to her "alone who destroys all heresies in the world" (Roman Breviary), and the victory won through her brought the return of tranquillity.

3. When the impious Mohammedan power, trusting in its powerful fleet and war-hardened armies, threatened the peoples of Europe with ruin and slavery, then -- upon the suggestion of the Sovereign Pontiff -- the protection of the heavenly Mother was fervently implored and the enemy was defeated and his ships sunk. Thus the Faithful of every age, both in public misfortune and in private need, turn in supplication to Mary, the benignant, so that she may come to their aid and grant help and remedy against sorrows of body and soul. And never was her most powerful aid hoped for in vain by those who besought it with pious and trustful prayer.

4. But also in our day, dangers no less grave than in the past beset civil and religious society. In fact, because the supreme and eternal authority of God, which commands and forbids, is despised and completely repudiated by men, the result is that the consciousness of Christian duty is weakened, and that faith becomes tepid in souls or entirely lost, and his afterward affects and ruins the very basis of human society.

I've been thinking a great deal about Mary today, and after finishing a novena with my husband to "The Little Flower" (her feast day is Friday) just a few minutes ago, I came upon this encyclical which coincidentally was written on this date in 1937, which also happens to be the Feast of St. Michael, the Archangel. So many coincidences, so little time.

And speaking of so little time, earlier today I read a post written by Mark Mallett which in part states ...

TIME IS SHORT

It is time to stop dismissing those beads as being that prayer which belongs to those "little ladies before Mass," and to recognize it as the sword of the saints, the mantra of the martyrs, the song of the angels. If you feel a spark of hope in you now, then blow it into flame by picking up your Rosary, and never putting it down. These are not the times for complacency, but for decisive action on our part, surrendering ourselves to all the means of grace available to us, starting with the Sacrament of Confession, culminating in the Eucharist, and strengthening those graces with the little sacramental called the Rosary. Do not cower in fear! Christ and His mother wish to hand you a victory!

Pray the Rosary every day. Pray it as a family. The temptation not to pray it should be a testimony in itself as to why you should.

There is no surer means of calling down God’s blessings upon the family . . . than the daily recitation of the Rosary. We do not hesitate to affirm again publicly that we put great confidence in the Holy Rosary for the healing of evils of our times. —PIUS XII

Even if you are on the brink of damnation, even if you have one foot in Hell, even if you have sold your soul to the devil… sooner or later you will be converted and will amend your life and save your soul, if—and mark well what I say—if you say the Holy Rosary devoutly every day until death for the purpose of knowing the truth and obtaining contrition and pardon for your sins. —St. Louis de Montfort, The Secret of the Rosary

And from Hallowed Ground:

The Holy Rosary is not a pious practice banished to the past, like prayers of other times thought of with nostalgia. Instead, the Rosary is experiencing a new Springtime. Without a doubt, this is one of the most eloquent signs of love that the young generation nourish for Jesus and his Mother, Mary. In the current world, so dispersive, this prayer helps to put Christ at the centre, as the Virgin did, who meditated within all that was said about her Son, and also what he did and said. When reciting the Rosary, the important and meaningful moments of salvation history are relived ... --Pope Benedict XVI.

Linda August, 29 2010 - Nebraska Last year, my 28 yr old son decided that the time was right to try and purchase his first home. After finding the perfect home in his price range, he went to the bank and applied for his loan, after going thru all of the paperwork, inspections, approvals, etc….. his loan was turned down because of a too high a debt ratio and not making enough money, needless to say his dreams were crushed and he was devastated.

A few weeks ago, I received a phone call from my son telling me that he had found another house that he wanted to buy and he was going to try for another loan from a different bank, he still had the same job, and the same debt ratio as the first time, nothing had really changed, and as a concerned parent, I didn’t want to see him get hurt again, so I began to pray the rosary every day that he would get approved for this house (which was much nicer than the first one) I would ask the Blessed Virgin MARY if she would help him get this house, day after day, week after week, I would say, MARY, MARY please hear my prayer and let his loan be approved.

One day I said please MARY, give me a sign that he will be able to get this house, a few days later, my son called to tell me that they just needed a few more documents before he got his loan. I was happy for my son, but still very nervous about the whole thing, I told my son that I was very happy for him and asked him what the address was of this house that he wanted to buy, he said mom, the address is 112 MARY St.!!!! I knew in that instant that, that was the sign I was asking for and things would be just fine. My son is now living in, and enjoying his new home.

Linda Teddy Cabardo Jr August, 26 2010 - Philippines I had a lot of experiences in praying the holy rosary. since i was little, me and my brothers along with my mom prayed the Rosary every night. Even at an early age we are taught how to pray the Rosary cause my mom is really devoted to the Holy Rosary. During that time we don't realize how important the prayer is until we have encountered a super typhoon.

we were so worried cause our house is really old and the roof is all broken and it even has big holes. During the night before the typhoon came we prayed and we were told by our mom not to worry cause we are protected. during the night of the typhoon we were sound asleep and the next morning we were shocked because almost every tree in the community was pulled off the ground and one of the houses were actually carried away by the typhoon. Our house was blessed nothing bad happened to it and everyone was safe.

John Wilson May, 13 2010 - Kota Kinabalu Just this year my job atmosphere has not been a good one. Feeling of insecure, depression and fear surrounds in my emotion. After eight years with this company, I decided then to look for another job. I have been devoted to rosary prayer before my first child was born. Things that happen in my life’s journey I always attribute to God’s will. Now I’m facing this rocky situation I turn to our blessed mother thru the rosary prayer. And yes! The thing you least expected whether of time or event, it happen to me. Yes! God’s signal graces.

The job which I accidentally applied, the owner called me for an interview. Surprised and overwhelming! After the 1st interviewed, the boss looks keen in me. He said he will call me again for a 2nd interview but by his partner. From that day onwards I waited, but no call. Every night my wife and I pray the rosary together. Come May 7, at noon time my wife called and told me that there is a heartbeat on the fetus. She is 10 weeks pregnant! Then on the same day, towards evening, the owner called me for the second interview for the job. The date was fixed on 11 may at 11 am.

The 15 promises of rosary stated that no 1. You will receive signal grace and no 11. You will obtain all you ask from me. After my second interview not only did I received the pay that I ask for but they give me more. Never underestimate the power of rosary. Trust God with all your heart and surrender to His divine will. Pray and pray the rosary. God is inscrutable in His decision and He works mysteriously. Never forget to offer thanksgiving all the time. Praise to God! Amen

Mary at the foot of the Cross

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
(Jn 19:25)
And your heart too a sword shall pierce
(Lk 3:35)
Stabat Mater

At the cross her station keeping
Stood the mournful Mother weeping
Close to Jesus to the last

Through her heart, his sorrow sharing
All his bitter anguish sharing
Now at length the sword has passed

Oh, how sad and sore distressed
Was that Mother highly blessed
of the sole begotten One!

Christ above in torment hangs
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of her dying, glorious Son

Is there one who would not weep
‘Whelmed in miseries so deep
Christ’s dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain
In that mother’s pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled
She beheld her tender Child
All with bloody scourges rent

For the sins of His own nation
Saw Him hang in desolation
Till His spirit forth He sent

O sweet Mother! fount of love
Touch my spirit from above
Make my heart with yours accord

Make me feel as you have felt;
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ, my Lord

Holy Mother, pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified

Let me share with you His pain,
Who for all our sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with you
Mourning Him Who mourned for me
All the days that I may live

By the Cross with you to stay
There with you to weep and pray
Is all I ask of you to give

Virgin of all virgins blest!
Listen to my fond request
Let me share your grief divine

Let me, to my latest breath
In my body bear the death
Of that dying Son of yours

Wounded with His every wound,
Steep my soul till it has swooned
In His very blood away

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh
Lest in flames I burn and die
In His awful judgment day

Christ, when You shall call me hence
Be Your Mother my defence
Be Your Cross my victory

While my body here decays,
May my soul Your goodness praise
Safe in heaven eternally.

"the address is 112 MARY St.!!!!"

How about you take 1 + 12 = 13. Which we know means 13 "apostle" of Christ. Who we know is the 1st original believer in him. His Mother.

Exodus 20:12 (New International Version)

Fourth commandment

12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Since Christ is sinless because he obeys commandments.

Paul equates this with obeying

Ephesians 6

Children and Parents

1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."[a]

How much more for our God man Jesus!

Born of the Virgin Mary his Mother = Our Mother!

"The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christocentric prayer. In the sobriety of its elements, it has all the depth of the Gospel message in its entirety, of which it can be said to be a compendium. It is an echo of the prayer of Mary, her perennial Magnificat for the work of the redemptive Incarnation which began in her virginal womb. With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love. Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer" (John Paul II: Rosary of the Virgin Mary).

Link (there are also some great pictures of JPII).

I've noticed some of our visitors on our Rosary for Peace site have clicked on over to this thread on Free Republic. Please feel free to join up (it's easy!), and comment. The threads marked [Catholic Caucus] in the title, provide an environment for Catholics to discourse without the negative aspect of anti-Catholic commentary.

Happy October, Virgin Mother. We love you!

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