Messages From FatherSonSpirit - Pray The Most Perfect Prayer Meditation: Page 1

	*HOMEPAGE: Messages From FatherSonSpirit*
	*1998 ARCHIVES: Jan. 1998--Sing Along to "Mighty Is Our God"*
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	*June 1998--Sing Along to "We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise"*
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	*Aug. 1998--Sing Along to "Jesus Paid It All"*
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	*Oct. 1998--Sing Along to "Awesome God"*
	*Nov. 1998--Sing Along to "I Love to Tell the Story"*
	*Dec. 1998--Sing Along to "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming"*
	*"The Warning" (A soon-coming event from God)*
	*1999 ARCHIVES: Jan. 1999--Sing Along to "Where Could I Go?"*
	*Feb. 1999--Sing Along to "I Will Call Upon the Lord"*
	*Mar. 1999--Sing Along to "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High"*
	*Apr. 1999--Sing Along to "Our God Reigns"*
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	*June 1999--Sing Along to "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"*
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	*Aug 1999--Sing Along to "Through It All"*
	*Sept. 1999--Sing Along to "Jesus Loves Me"*
	*Oct. 1999--Sing Along to "Jesus Loves the Little Children"*
	*Nov. 1999--Sing Along to "Blessed Be the Name"*
	*Dec. 1999--Sing Along to "The Birthday of a King"*
	*"Examination of Conscience"--Sing Along to "Change My Heart"*
	*2000 ARCHIVES: Jan. 2000--Sing Along to "Alleluia"*
	*Feb. 2000--Sing Along to "Fill My Cup, Lord"*
	*Mar. 2000--Sing Along to "The Servant King"*
	*Apr. 2000--Sing Along to "Christ Arose!"*
	*May 2000--Sing Along to "Shepherd of Love"*
	*June 2000--Sing Along to "How Majestic Is Your Name"*
	*July 2000--Sing Along to "In Moments Like These"*
	*Aug. 2000--Sing Along to "It Is Well With My Soul"*
	*Sept. 2000--Sing Along to "Over the Sunset Mountains"*
	*Oct. 2000--Sing Along to "Stand Up and Give Him the Praise"*
	*Nov. 2000--Sing Along to "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us"*
	*Dec. 2000--Sing Along to "Silent Night"*
	*VIDEOS: "Chaplet of Divine Mercy" "Jesus, I Trust in U"*
	*2001 ARCHIVES: Jan. 2001--Sing Along to "Be Not Afraid"*
	*Feb. 2001--Sing Along to "Majesty"*
	*Mar. 2001--Sing Along to "Great Is The Lord"*
	*April 2001--Sing Along to "The Old Rugged Cross"*
	*May 2001--Sing Along to "Fairest Lord Jesus"*
	*June 2001--Sing Along to "I Exalt Thee!"*
	*July 2001--Sing Along to "Give Thanks!"*
	*Aug. 2001--Sing Along to "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind"*
	*Sept. 2001--Sing Along to "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms"*
	*Oct. 2001--Sing Along to "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"*
	*Nov. 2001--Sing Along to "As the Deer"*
	*Dec. 2001--Sing Along to "The Little Drummer Boy"*
	*VIDEOS: "The Way of the Cross" (Stations Prayers)*
	*2002 ARCHIVES: Jan. 2002-Sing Along to "The Ninety and Nine"*
	*Feb. 2002--Sing Along to "Spirit of the Living God Medley"*
	*Mar. 2002--Sing Along to "There's Room at the Cross for You"*
	*Apr. 2002--Sing Along to "And Can It Be"*
	*May 2002--Sing Along to "Now I Belong to Jesus"*
	*June 2002--Sing Along to "The Lord's Prayer"*
	*July 2002--Sing Along to "Open Our Eyes, Lord"*
	*Aug. 2002--Sing Along to "He Touched Me"*
	*Sept. 2002--Sing Along to "In the Garden"*
	*Oct. 2002--Sing Along to "Majesty"*
	*Nov. 2002--Sing Along to "Unto Thee, O Lord"*
	*Dec. 2002--Sing Along to "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"*
	*VIDEO: "The Beatitudes--Jesus' Sermon on the Mountain"*
	*"Abortion"*
	ABORTION VIDEO: "The Silent Scream"
	*"This Is My Body" (MUSIC VIDEO About Abortion)*
	*2003 ARCHIVES: Jan. 2003:--Sing Along to "I Worship You"*
	*Feb. 2003--Sing Along to "Shine, Jesus, Shine"*
	*Mar. 2003--Sing Along to "The Holy City"*
	*April 2003--Sing Along to "On Eagle's Wings"*
	*May 2003--Sing Along to "Let the River Flow"*
	*June 2003--Sing Along to "Thy Word"*
	*July 2003--Sing Along to "A Patriotic Medley"*
	*Aug. 2003--Sing Along to "No Other Name"*
	*Sept. 2003--Sing Along to "I Love You, Lord"*
	*Oct. 2003--Sing Along to "Friends"*
	*Nov. 2003--Sing Along to "What a Friend I've Found"*
	*Dec. 2003--Sing Along to "Emmanuel"*
	*VIDEOS: Pray the Most: Perfect Prayer Meditation: Page 1*
	*VIDEOS: Pray the Most Perfect Prayer Meditation: Page 2*
	VIDEOS: Pray the Most Perfect Prayer Meditation: Page 3
	VIDEOS: Pray the Most Perfect Prayer Meditation: Page 4
	*2004 ARCHIVES: Jan.2004--Sing to "Love You So Much, Jesus"*
	*Feb. 2004--Sing Along to "O Lord, You're Beautiful"*
	*Mar. 2004--Sing Along to "Jesus, Draw Me Close"*
	*April 2004--Sing Along to "Celebrate Jesus"*
	*May 2004--Sing Along to "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever"*
	*June 2004--Sing Along to "How Great Thou Art"*
	*July 2004--Sing Along to "God of Our Fathers"*
	*Aug. 2004--Sing Along to "Shout to the Lord"*
	*Sept. 2004--Sing Along to "Morning Hath Broken"*
	*Oct. 2004--Sing Along to "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"*
	*Nov. 2004--Sing Along to "For All the Saints"*
	*Dec. 2004--Sing Along to "Mary, Did You Know?"*
	*"Bible Education Needed"*
	*Homosexual Marriage" Commentaries*
	*2005 ARCHIVES: Jan. 2005--Sing to "In Christ There Is No East"*
	*Feb. 2005--Sing Along to "The Worship Song"*
	*Mar. 2005--Sing Along to "God Will Make a Way"*
	*April 2005--Sing to "In His Time"*
	*May 2005--Sing to "Come, Now is the Time to Worship"*
	*June 2005--Sing Along to "Above All"*
	*July 2005--Sing Along to "God Bless America"*
	*Aug. 2005--Sing Along to "He Knows My Name"*
	*Sept. 2005--Sing Along to "He Who Began a Good Work in You"*
	*Oct. 2005--Sing Along to "Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)"*
	*Nov. 2005--Sing Along to "Rise Again"*
	*Dec. 2005--Sing Along to "Mary's Boy Child"*
	*"Padre Pio and the Three Days of Darkness" (PLUS VIDEO)*
	*2006 ARCHIVES: Jan. 2006--Sing to "We Three Kings of Orient Are"*
	*Feb. 2006--Sing Along to "Isn't He Beautiful"*
	*Mar. 2006--Sing Along to "Father, I Adore You!*
	*Apr. 2006--Sing Along to "Knowing You, Jesus"*
	*May 2006--Sing Along to "Jesus, Lover of My Soul"*
	*June 2006--Sing Along to "The Lord's My Shepherd"*
	*July 2006--Sing Along to "Wings of a Dove"*
	*Aug. 2006--Sing Along to "Ancient of Days"*
	*Sept. 2006--Sing Along to "The Church in the Wildwood"*
	*Oct. 2006--Sing Along to "When You Pray"*
	*Nov. 2006--Sing Along to "Gentle Shepherd"*
	*Dec. 2006--Sing Along to "The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy"*
	*VIDEO: "Purgatory Explained"*
	VIDEO: The Rapture Is "Anti-Biblical"
	*2007 MESSAGES: Jan. 2007--Sing to "As With Gladness Men of Old"*
	*Feb. 2007--Sing Along to "Lord of the Dance"*
	*March 2007--Sing Along to "Lord, When You Came to the Seashore"*
	*April 2007--Sing Along to "The Power of Your Love"*
	*May 2007--Sing Along to "Days of Elijah"*
	*June 2007--Sing Along to "How Long Has It Been?"*
	*July 2007--Sing Along to "Make Me A Blessing"*
	*Aug. 2007--Sing Along to "The Trees of the Field"*
	Sept. 2007--Sing Along to "The Happy Song"
	*Oct. 2007--Sing Along to "You Are My All In All"*
	*Nov. 2007--Sing Along to "More Precious Than Silver"*
	*Dec. 2007--Sing Along to "Still, Still, Still"*
	*GRAPHIC FILE #1*
	*GRAPHIC FILE #2*
	*GRAPHIC FILE #3*
	*GRAPHIC FILE #4*
	*GRAPHIC FILE #5*
	GRAPHIC FILE #6
	*GRAPHIC FILE #7*
	Jan. 2008--Sing Along to "Though The Mountains May Fall"
	Feb. 2008--Sing Along to "The Canticle of the Sun"
	March 2008--Sing Along to "Earthen Vessels"
	April 2008--Sing Along to "We Have Been Told"
	May 2008--Sing Along to "You Are Near"
	June 2008--Sing Along to "How Can I Keep From Singing"
	July 2008--MUSIC VIDEO: "Hosea" (Come Back to Me)
	August 2008 --MUSIC VIDEO: "Ave Maria" (Shubert)
	*September 2008--MUSIC VIDEO: "As The Deer"*
	October 2008--MUSIC VIDEO: "Only a Shadow"
	November 2008--MUSIC VIDEO: "Jesus, I Trust In You" (Angelina)
	December 2008-- (MUSIC VIDEO) "What Child ls This?"
	January 2009--(MUSIC VIDEO) "Here I Am, Lord"
	February 2009 --(MUSIC VIDEO) "The Power of Your Love"
	March 2009--(MUSIC VIDEO) "How Great Is Our God"
	April 2009--(MUSIC VIDEO) "I Give You My Heart"
	*May 2009--(MUSIC VIDEO) "My Forever Friend"*
	*June 2009--(MUSIC VIDEO) "On Eagle's Wings"*
	*July 2009--(MUSIC VIDEO) "Shout to the Lord"*
	*August 2009--(MUSIC VIDEO) "Shine, Jesus, Shine"*
	*September 2009--(MUSIC VIDEO) "Above All"*
	*October 2009--(MUSIC VIDEO) "The Heart of Worship"*
	*Nov. 2009 (MUSIC VIDEO) "Only A God Like You"*
	*Dec. 2009 (MUSIC VIDEO) "O Holy Night" Josh Groban*
	*Jan. 2010 (MUSIC VIDEO) "Who Am I?" (Casting Crowns:Black Light)*
	*Feb. 2010 (MUSIC VIDEO) "God of Wonders" (Lyrics)*
	*March 2010--(MUSIC VIDEO) "Blessed Be the Name" (Lyrics)*
	*April 2010--(MUSIC VIDEO) "Shout to the Lord" (Lyrics)*
	*May 2010--(MUSIC VIDEO) "Revelation Song" (Kari Jobe--Lyrics)*
	*June 2010 (MUSIC VIDEO) "Find Us Faithful" (Steve Green: Lyrics)*
	*July 2010 (MUSIC VIDEO) "People Need the Lord" (Steve Green)*
	*August 2010 (MUSIC VIDEO) "Shine, Jesus, Shine" (with lyrics)*
	*September 2010 (MUSIC VIDEO) "Fountain of Mercy" (Angelina)*
	*10/10 (MUSIC VIDEO) "Find Us Faithful" (Steve Green--LIVE)
	*11/10 (MUSIC VIDEO) "Saviour's Day" (Cliff Richard)
	*12/10 (MUSIC VIDEO) "The Little Drummer Boy"
	*1/11 (MUSIC VIDEO) "Prayer of St. Francis" (Angelina)
	*2/11 (MUSIC VIDEO) "You Are Mine (with lyrics)
	*3/11 (MUSIC VIDEO) "Ave Maria" (Seraphim) (Gregorian)
	*4/11 (MUSIC VIDEO) "Days of Elijah" (iWorship with lyrics)
	*5/11 ( MUSIC VIDEO) "You Are My All In All" (With Lyrics)
	*6/11 (MUSIC VIDEO) "Be Unto Your Name" (with lyrics) (iWorship)
	*7/11 (MUSIC VIDEO) "God of Wonders" (With Lyrics)
	*8/11 (MUSIC VIDEO) "Indescribable" (With Lyrics) (Chris Tomlin)
	*9/11 (MUSIC VIDEO) "I Want to Know You More"
	10/11 (MUSIC VIDEO) "Ave Maria" (Charlotte Church)
	Large Divine Mercy Picture
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	*Jesus Calming Storm Picture
	*"The Lord's Prayer" Picture
	*"The Ten Commandments" Picture
	"Shepherd Sheep Framed" Picture
	MUSIC VIDEO: "He Made a Way in a Manger/Away in a Manger"
	MUSIC VIDEO: "Adore Him/O Come Let Us Adore Him"

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Messages From FatherSonSpirit
Pray The Most Perfect Prayer Meditation: Page 1

Repeated From a Message given on March 8, 2003:

Dear child, through the years since My Son Jesus walked the earth, His church has unfolded before man with new revelations in worship. Wait on Me for all revealing through My church on earth. Many things man has rejected which are acceptable to Me... have been revealed and encouraged by Me, are thrown away by those within the Body of Christ and the church suffers for the loss of graces and blessings because lack of knowledge of Me hinders their coming to Me in all the many prayers and devotions which have been cast away as time consuming, but are excellent for keeping one's mind upon Me and not wasted by the diversions of this day of My Day. FatherSonSpirit

MEDITATING ON GOD'S MYSTERIES:

"THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES" Part 1:

1st - The Annunciation of the Angel to Mary
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said: "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women". And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.And the angel said unto her:" Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest"... And Mary said:" Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word". And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1,26-38)

MEDITATION: Let us contemplate in this Mystery how the angel Gabriel saluted the Virgin Mary with the title "Full of grace," and declared unto her the incarnation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

"THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES" Part 2:

2nd - The Visitation of Mary to Saint Elizabeth
Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda. And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost and she spake out with a loud voice, and said: "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb". ... And Mary said: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name"...(Luke 1,39-49)

MEDITATION: Let us contemplate in this Mystery how the blessed Virgin Mary, understanding from the angel that her cousin, St. Elizabeth, had conceived, went with haste into the mountains of Judea to visit her, and remained with her three months.

3rd - The Nativity of Jesus in Bethlehem
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them: "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger". (Luke 2,6-12)

MEDITATION: Let us contemplate in this Mystery how the blessed Virgin Mary, when the time of her delivery was come, brought forth our Redeemer, Christ Jesus, at midnight, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for Him in the inns at Bethlehem.

4th - The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. ...When the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation... A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother: "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."(Luke 2,22-35)

MEDITATION: Let us contemplate in this Mystery how the most blessed Virgin Mary, on the day of her purification, presented the Child Jesus in the Temple, where holy Simeon, giving thanks to God with great devotion, received Him into his arms.

"THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES" Part 3:

5th - The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him: "Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing". And he said unto them: "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. (Luke 2,41-51)

MEDITATION: Let us contemplate in this Mystery how the blessed Virgin Mary, having lost her beloved Son in Jerusalem, sought Him for the space of three days, and at length found Him in the Temple, in the midst of the doctors, disputing with them, being but twelve years old.

Click here to go to: Pray the Most Perfect Prayer Meditation--Page 2

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"A Perfect Prayer Meditation: "The Story of Our Salvation"

"THE HOLY ROSARY"

Note: For a FREE ROSARY with instructions, click on "E-mail Us" at the upper left and send us your mailing address.

"THE PRAYERS OF THE ROSARY"

"The Sign of the Cross"

In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"The Apostle's Creed":

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He decended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven,and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgivness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

"The Our Father"

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil. Amen.

"The Hail Mary" (From Luke 1:28-31)

Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

"The Glory Be"

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

"The Fatima Prayer" (Given to us at Fatima, Portugal on July 13, 1917)

"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Your Mercy".

"The Hail, Holy Queen" Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley, of tears. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus; O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

"HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY"

1.While holding the crucifix make the Sign of the Cross. and then recite the Apostles Creed.

2. Recite the Our Father on the first large bead.

3. Recite a Hail Mary for an increase of faith, hope and charity on each of the three small beads.

4. Recite the Glory Be to the Father on the next large bead.

5. Recite the Fatima Prayer "O my Jesus" on the large bead.

6. Recall the first Rosary Mystery(First Joyful, then Light, Sorrowful, Glorious. See Meditations above.) and recite the Our Father on the large bead.

7. On each of the adjacent ten small beads (also refered to as a decade) recite a Hail Mary while reflecting on the mystery.

8. On the next large bead, recite the Glory Be to the Father, the Fatima prayer.

9. Each succeeding decade is prayed in a similar manner by recalling the appropriate mystery, reciting the Our Father, ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father, and the Fatima prayer while reflecting on the mystery.

10. When the fifth mystery is completed, the Rosary is customarily concluded with the Hail Holy Queen, and the Sign of the Cross.

"THE HISTORY OF THE ROSARY"

by Saint Louis Marie Grignion De Montfort

Since the Rosary is composed, principally and in substance, of the prayer of Christ and the Angelic Salutation, that is, the Our Father and the Hail Mary, it was without doubt the first prayer and the principal devotion of the faithful and has been in use all through the centuries, from the time of the apostles and disciples down to the present. It was only in the year 1214, however, that the Church received the Rosary in its present form and according to the method we use today. It was given to the Church by St. Dominic, who had received it from the Blessed Virgin as a means of converting the Albigensians and other sinners. I will tell you the story of how he received it, which is found in the very well-known book De Dignitate Psalterii, by Blessed Alan de la Roche. Saint Dominic, seeing that the gravity of people's sins was hindering the conversion of the Albigensians, withdrew into a forest near Toulouse, where he prayed continuously for three days and three nights. During this time he did nothing but weep and do harsh penances in order to appease the anger of God. He used his discipline so much that his body was lacerated, and finally he fell into a coma. At this point our Lady appeared to him, accompanied by three angels, and she said, "Dear Dominic, do you know which weapon the Blessed Trinity wants to use to reform the world?" "Oh, my Lady," answered Saint Dominic, "you know far better than I do, because next to your Son Jesus Christ you have always been the chief instrument of our salvation." Then our Lady replied, "I want you to know that, in this kind of warfare, the principal weapon has always been the Angelic Psalter, which is the foundation-stone of the New Testament. Therefore, if you want to reach these hardened souls and win them over to God, preach my Psalter." So he arose, comforted, and burning with zeal for the conversion of the people in that district, he made straight for the cathedral. At once unseen angels rang the bells to gather the people together, and Saint Dominic began to preach. At the very beginning of his sermon, an appalling storm broke out, the earth shook, the sun was darkened, and there was so much thunder and lightning that all were very much afraid. Even greater was their fear when, looking at a picture of our Lady exposed in a prominent place, they saw her raise her arms to heaven three times to call down God's vengeance upon them if they failed to be converted, to amend their lives, and seek the protection of the holy Mother of God. God wished, by means of these supernatural phenomena, to spread the new devotion of the holy Rosary and to make it more widely known. At last, at the prayer of Saint Dominic, the storm came to an end, and he went on preaching. So fervently and compellingly did he explain the importance and value of the Rosary that almost all the people of Toulouse embraced it and renounced their false beliefs. In a very short time a great improvement was seen in the town; people began leading Christian lives and gave up their former bad habits.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, instructed by the Blessed Virgin as well as by his own experience, Saint Dominic preached the Rosary for the rest of his life. He preached it by his example as well as by his sermons, in cities and in country places, to people of high station and low, before scholars and the uneducated, to Catholics and to heretics. The Rosary, which he said every day, was his preparation for every sermon and his little tryst with our Lady immediately after preaching. One day he had to preach at Notre Dame in Paris, and it happened to be the feast of St. John the Evangelist. He was in a little chapel behind the high altar prayerfully preparing his sermon by saying the Rosary, as he always did, when our Lady appeared to him and said: "Dominic, even though what you have planned to say may be very good, I am bringing you a much better sermon." Saint Dominic took in his hands the book our Lady proffered, read the sermon carefully and, when he had understood it and meditated on it, he gave thanks to her. When the time came, he went up into the pulpit and, in spite of the feast day, made no mention of Saint John other than to say that he had been found worthy to be the guardian of the Queen of Heaven. The congregation was made up of theologians and other eminent people, who were used to hearing unusual and polished discourses; but Saint Dominic told them that it was not his desire to give them a learned discourse, wise in the eyes of the world, but that he would speak in the simplicity of the Holy Spirit and with his forcefulness. So he began preaching the Rosary and explained the Hail Mary word by word as he would to a group of children, and used the very simple illustrations which were in the book given him by our Lady. Blessed Alan, according to Carthagena, mentioned several other occasions when our Lord and our Lady appeared to Saint Dominic to urge him and inspire him to preach the Rosary more and more in order to wipe out sin and convert sinners and heretics. In another passage Carthagena says, "Blessed Alan said our Lady revealed to him that, after she had appeared to Saint Dominic, her blessed Son appeared to him and said, 'Dominic, I rejoice to see that you are not relying on your own wisdom and that, rather than seek the empty praise of men, you are working with great humility for the salvation of souls. "'But many priests want to preach thunderously against the worst kinds of sin at the very outset, failing to realize that before a sick person is given bitter medicine, he needs to be prepared by being put into the right frame of mind to really benefit by it. "'That is why, before doing anything else, priests should try to kindle a love of prayer in people's hearts and especially a love of my Angelic Psalter. If only they would all start saying it and would really persevere, God in his mercy could hardly refuse to give them his grace. So I want you to preach my Rosary."'

All things, even the holiest, are subject to change, especially when they are dependent on man's free will. It is hardly to be wondered at, then, that the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary only retained its first fervour for a century after it was instituted by Saint Dominic. After this it was like a thing buried and forgotten. Doubtless, too, the wicked scheming and jealousy of the devil were largely responsible for getting people to neglect the Rosary, and thus block the flow of God's grace which it had drawn upon the world. Thus, in 1349 God punished the whole of Europe with the most terrible plague that had ever been known. Starting in the east, it spread throughout Italy, Germany, France, Poland and Hungary, bringing desolation wherever it went, for out of a hundred men hardly one lived to tell the tale. Big cities, towns, villages and monasteries were almost completely deserted during the three years that the epidemic lasted. This scourge of God was quickly followed by two others, the heresy of the Flagellants and a tragic schism in 1376. Later on, when these trials were over, thanks to the mercy of God, our Lady told Blessed Alan to revive the former Confraternity of the Holy Rosary. Blessed Alan was one of the Dominican Fathers at the monastery at Dinan, in Brittany. He was an eminent theologian and a famous preacher. Our Lady chose him because, since the Confraternity had originally been started in that province, it was fitting that a Dominican from the same province should have the honour of re-establishing it. Blessed Alan began this great work in 1460, after a special warning from our Lord. This is how he received that urgent message, as he himself tells it: One day when he was offering Mass, our Lord, who wished to spur him on to preach the holy Rosary, spoke to him in the Sacred Host. "How can you crucify me again so soon?" Jesus said. "What did you say, Lord?" asked Blessed Alan, horrified. "You crucified me once before by your sins," answered Jesus, "and I would willingly be crucified again rather than have my Father offended by the sins you used to commit. You are crucifying me again now because you have all the learning and understanding that you need to preach my Mother's Rosary, and you are not doing it. If you only did that, you could teach many souls the right path and lead them away from sin. But you are not doing it, and so you yourself are guilty of the sins that they commit." This terrible reproach made Blessed Alan solemnly resolve to preach the Rosary unceasingly. Our Lady also said to him one day to inspire him to preach the Rosary more and more, "You were a great sinner in your youth, but I obtained the grace of your conversion from my Son. Had such a thing been possible, I would have liked to have gone through all kinds of suffering to save you, because converted sinners are a glory to me. And I would have done that also to make you worthy of preaching my Rosary far and wide." Saint Dominic appeared to Blessed Alan as well and told him of the great results of his ministry: he had preached the Rosary unceasingly, his sermons had borne great fruit and many people had been converted during his missions. He said to Blessed Alan, "See what wonderful results I have had through preaching the Rosary. You and all who love our Lady ought to do the same so that, by means of this holy practice of the Rosary, you may draw all people to the real science of the virtues." Briefly, then, this is the history of how Saint Dominic established the holy Rosary and of how Blessed Alan de la Roche restored it. From the time Saint Dominic established the devotion to the holy Rosary up to the time when Blessed Alan de la Roche reestablished it in 1460, it has always been called the Psalter of Jesus and Mary. This is because it has the same number of Hail Marys as there are psalms in the Book of the Psalms of David. Since simple and uneducated people are not able to say the Psalms of David, the Rosary is held to be just as fruitful for them as David's Psalter is for others.

Ever since Blessed Alan de la Roche re-established this devotion, the voice of the people, which is the voice of God, gave it the name of the Rosary, which means "crown of roses." That is to say that every time people say the Rosary devoutly they place on the heads of Jesus and Mary 153 white roses and sixteen red roses. Being heavenly flowers, these roses will never fade or lose their beauty. Our Lady has approved and confirmed this name of the Rosary; she has revealed to several people that each time they say a Hail Mary they are giving her a beautiful rose, and that each complete Rosary makes her a crown of roses. So the complete Rosary is a large crown of roses and each chaplet of five decades is a little wreath of flowers or a little crown of heavenly roses which we place on the heads of Jesus and Mary. The rose is the queen of flowers, and so the Rosary is the rose of devotions and the most important one.

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