[smvoice]

My question is, how did the children know it was Mary? By paintings, or statues, because she said that's who she was? It's a legitimate question.

Secondly, why would she tell everyone to pray the rosary everyday? Shouldn't she be leading them to her Son? Shouldn't she be giving them the gospel of the grace of God? We are told, in God's Word, to preach His word. To be ambassadors for Christ, to be reconciled to God by the finished work of Christ, that God made Christ to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. We are not ambassadors for Mary, nor are we given instructions by God to pray a rosary for ANYTHING.

[mtg]

The Rosary is more than just a bunch of Hail Mary's. It includes saying the Lords Prayer several times as well as several other prayers. Each decade is a reflection of either 'Joy' (the Birth of Jesus); 'Sorrow' (the Passion and crucifixion of Jesus); or 'Glory' ( the Resurrection of Jesus and the Descent of the Holy Spirit [Pentecost]).

You also stated God didn't give us instructions to pray the Rosary. You couldn't be more wrong. God tells us to pray often. He doesn't tell us not to pray the Rosary. Mary did tell us to pray the Rosary and I don't think God would have allowed her to say that (or even make the visitations) if He did not permit it.