The Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary is an
international association of the faithful that exists “to praise and honour the
Blessed Virgin Mary and to secure her patronage by the recitation of the Rosary
for the mutual spiritual benefit of all the members throughout the world.” Each
week, countless thousands of members pray the Holy Rosary and include each
other’s intentions in their prayers.
The history of both the Confraternity of the Most Holy
Rosary and the Rosary itself are bound up with the early history of the Order
of Preachers (the Dominicans). According to a longstanding and well-known
tradition, St. Dominic first received the Holy Rosary from Our Lady in the 13th
century. Since then the Dominican friars have zealously promoted this devotion
to Christ and His Blessed Mother.
The first Rosary Confraternity was established in the 1470s
through the zealous preaching of the Rosary by Blessed Alan de la Roche, O.P. A
few years later, another local Rosary Confraternity was established in Cologne
by Fr. Joseph Sprenger, O.P. After this, Rosary Confraternities began to be
established in still other cities. In no small part, it was due to the spread
of the Confraternity that devotion to Our Lady’s Rosary likewise flourished and
a more uniform system of reciting the Rosary developed. From the beginning,
Rosary Confraternities were erected under the direction of the Dominican Friars
and the establishment of all Rosary Confraternities eventually became a
privilege reserved to the Dominican Order.
Today, members of the Rosary Confraternity promise the
recitation of a weekly Rosary as their sole obligation. Although this
obligation is very minimal—and does not bind under pain of sin—the spiritual
benefits are extensive. Along with several plenary and partial indulgences that
are granted to members of the Confraternity, members also benefit from the
countless Rosaries that are offered for their intentions by the other members
throughout the world. The Rosary Confraternity is probably the largest
organization of this type within the Catholic Church. In addition, enrolled
members also participate in all the prayers and good works performed by the
friars, nuns, sisters, and laity of the Dominican Order.
Obligations of Membership
As a requirement of membership, each member of the
Confraternity promises to pray fifteen decades of the Rosary each week and to
include the other members of the Confraternity in their intentions. This is
sole obligation of membership in Rosary Confraternity. It does not bind under
pain of sin.
Details of the Obligation
I.
The fifteen decades of the Rosary do not need to
be said all at once; they may be said throughout the course of the week,
typically in three groups of five decades.
II.
Meditation on the Mysteries of the Christ is
necessary as part of praying the Rosary.
III.
The intentions of the other members are to be
included in one’s prayers. This can be done by making a “general intention” to
always include their intentions and this does not need to be explicitly
repeated every time one prays the Rosary.
IV.
The obligation to pray the Rosary does not bind
under pain of sin.
Spiritual Benefits of Membership
I.
A share in the prayers and the good works of
countless thousands of Rosary Confraternity members throughout the world and in
heaven.
II.
A share in the good works and prayers of the
Order of Preachers (Dominican Order).
III.
Various plenary and partial indulgences
IV.
For members of the Confraternity, a plenary
indulgence is granted under the usual conditions on the day of enrolment (the
day indicated on the register/certificate) as well as the feast days of
Christmas, Easter, the Annunciation, the Assumption of Our Lady, the feast of
Our Lady of the Rosary, the Immaculate Conception, and Our Lord’s Presentation in
the Temple.
V.
A plenary indulgence is also granted, under the
usual conditions, to all who pray the rosary in a Church or oratory, in a
family (family rosary), religious community, or in a pious association of the
faithful. Otherwise, the indulgence is partial.
VI.
And most importantly, the intercession and
special protection of Our Lady, the Mother of God.
FIFTEEN PROMISES OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN
TO CHRISTIANS WHO
FAITHFULLY PRAY THE ROSARY
1. To all those who shall pray my Rosary devoutly, I promise
my special protection and great graces.
2. Those who shall persevere in the recitation of my Rosary
will receive some special grace.
3. The Rosary will be a very powerful armour against hell;
it will destroy vice, deliver from sin and dispel heresy.
4. The rosary will make virtue and good works flourish, and
will obtain for souls the most abundant divine mercies. It will draw the hearts
of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the
desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this
means.
5. Those who trust themselves to me through the Rosary will
not perish.
6. Whoever recites my Rosary devoutly reflecting on the
mysteries, shall never be overwhelmed by misfortune. He will not experience the
anger of God nor will he perish by an unprovided death. The sinner will be
converted; the just will persevere in grace and merit eternal life.
7. Those truly devoted to my Rosary shall not die without
the sacraments of the Church.
8.Those who are faithful to recite my Rosary shall have
during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His
graces and will share in the merits of the blessed.
9. I will deliver promptly from purgatory souls devoted to
my Rosary.
10.True children of my Rosary will enjoy great glory in
heaven.
11.What you shall ask through my Rosary you shall obtain.
12.To those who propagate my Rosary I promise aid in all
their necessities.
13.I have obtained from my Son that all the members of the
Rosary Confraternity shall have as their intercessors, in life and in death,
the entire celestial court.
14.Those who recite my Rosary faithfully are my beloved
children, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.
15.Devotion to my Rosary is a special sign of
predestination.
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