The rosary is a mysterious prayer because of its simplicity, but also because of its depth. It has been prayed and loved consistently by faithful Catholics since the beginning of the second millennium. It is a prayer beginners can learn, and it can lead us into the depth of the Christian life. It is loved by the simplest souls and some of the greatest mystics of the Church.
– Bishop Andrew Cozzens
Our Lady herself, most especially in her appearance at Fatima, but also in other apparitions, has begged us to pray the rosary daily. She said that it was essential to bring peace to our families and to our world, and she asked us to pray the rosary to bring an end to war.
The 15 Promises of the Rosary
As Given by Mary, the Mother of God, to Saint Dominic. The 15 promises fall under the category of private revelation, and as such are a pious tradition, which a person is free to believe or not believe.
- Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.
- I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
- The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
- It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the heart 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.
- The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.
- Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered and never overwhelmed by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death (unprepared for heaven). The sinner shall convert the just shall grow in grace and become worthy of eternal life.
- Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
- 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.
- I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
- The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven.
- You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
- All those who propagate the holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
- 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.
- All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only son Jesus Christ.
- Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.
Gain Indulgences
What is an indulgence? (external link)
Plenary Indulgence*
- May be gained (under the usual conditions) when the Rosary is prayed in Church, in a family group or in a religious community.
- Five (5) decades of the Rosary must be prayed continuously.
- The prayers of the Rosary must be prayed vocally and one must meditate upon the Mysteries of the Rosary.
- If the recitation of the Rosary is public, the Mysteries of the Rosary must be announced.
Partial Indulgence
One may gain a partial indulgence for the Rosary’s recitation in whole or in part in other circumstances.
*Notes re: Plenary Indulgence
Can be gained only once a day (except by those who are in danger of death.)
To gain a plenary indulgence one must perform the indulgenced act and three other conditions must be fulfilled:
- A sacramental confession
- Eucharistic Communion
- Prayers for the Pope’s intentions
In addition, one must be free of all attachments to sin, even venial sin. If this complete integrity is not present or if the above conditions are not fulfilled the indulgence is only partial. Both a plenary and partial indulgence may be applied to the dead.
The Enchiridion Of Indulgences – Issued by the Sacred Apostolic Penitentiary, 1968 (External Link)