Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 40, 2 October 1902, Page 7

Friends at Court

October 5, Sunday.— Rosary Sunday. October 6, Monday. — St. Bruno, Confessor. October 7, Tuesday. — St. Mark, Pope and Confessor. October 8, Wednesday. — St. Bridget, Widow. October 9, Thursday. — St. Dionysius and Companions, Marytrs. October 10, Fniday. — St. Francis Borgia, Confessor. October 11, Saturday. — St. Canice, Abbot.

The Rosary

The method by which Catholics moat generally manifest a particular devotion toward the Blessed Virgin is the holy Rosary, a religious exercise consisting chiefly of tho prayer most acceptable to tho Mother of God. It is related that tho Blessed Virgin he/self made known the Rosary to St. Dominic in the thirteenth century, since which time it has been generally accepted and honored by the Church. The Rosary was also in prominence in the apparitiions) of the Blessed Virgin to Bernadette at Lourdes in the year 1858. Many indulgences have been attached to the reciting of it, provided that the Rosary used is blessed for the person who possesses it, and has the indulgences attached to it by a Dominican, or other priest who has the authority to communicate them.

The Rosary is composed of 15 mysteries ; all, with the exception of the last two, expressly spoken of in Scripture, and referring to the fundamental truths and principal mysteries of our, religtion. It i& divided into 15 decades , tho mysteries being arranged in three sets of five each, corresponding to the three great divis ons of Our Lord's life — His infancy and youth, His passion and death, and His resurrection and glory. Tho words of the rosary are nearly all inspired, being made up of tho Creed, tho Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary and the Doxology : ' Glory be to the Father, etc'

To say tho Rosary, we make tho Sign of the Cross in the name of tho Father, and of the Son, and of tho Holy Ghost. Many then recito the Creed and three Hail Majrys nn honor of the Most Holy Trinity , afterwards, the Lord's Prayer is said at tho beginning of each mystery, followed by 10 Hail Marys recited during or after meditation upon thorn At the end of eveny decade we repeat ' Glory be to the Father, etc '

In the joyful mysteries, the Annunciation teaches us humility and abliegation of self ; the Visitation, charity toward our neighbor , tho Nativity, jeletachment from tho luxuries and vanity of this world ; tho Presentation, purity and the spirit of obedience ; the Finding in tho Temple, a desiro to kpow God and serve Him. ttn tho sorrowful mysteries, the Agony and Prayer in tho Garden of Olives teach us prayer and resignation to tho will of God,, the Scourging, practice of physical mortification, and patience in bodily sufferings ; tho Crowning with Thorns, humbling of our pride and indifference fon worldly praise . tho Carrying of the Cross, courage, fortitude, and endurance in bearing all the trials of life ; the Crucifixion, self-sacrifice, prayer for the conversion of sinners, the perseverance of tho just, and help and consolation to souls in pxirgatory. In the glorious mysteries, the Resurrection teaches us to have faith and hope and lovo, and to arise from sin with a firm purpose of leading a better life ; the Ascension, hope and desiro of hoaven and lovo for heavenly things ; tho Descent of the Holy Ghost, tho lovo of God above all things and advance in grace by the

practice of Christian virtues ; the Assumption, devotion to the Blessed Virgin and to live in readiness for death i the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin, perseverance in good and the hope of eternal happiness, where tho Mother of God reigna, Queen of heaven.