

In the 14th and 15th centuries the whole of Europe was devastated by the bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, which wiped out large portions of the population. There was widespread suffering and loss of life everywhere. It was within the context of this tragedy that Blessed Alan de la Roche, a Dominican friar, brought people to seek divine help through the intercession of Our Lady by praying the Rosary. He had visions of Jesus, Our Lady, and St. Dominic, all of whom impelled him to restore the Rosary to its former prominence. From 1460 he made the renewal of the Rosary devotion his mission in life. He established the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, and eloquently preached the Rosary as an effective means of drawing close to God, obtaining divine help in the struggles of life, and of praying for the Holy Souls in purgatory.
The Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary is an international association of the Catholic faithful to 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. It is promoted by the Dominican Order. Pope Leo XIII, who was one of the greatest promoters of the Rosary wrote, “Whenever a person fulfils his obligation of reciting the Rosary according to the rule of the Confraternity, he includes in his intentions all its members, and they in turn render him the same service many times over” (Ubi Primum). When a member of the confraternity dies, he or she is assisted by the prayers of all the surviving members of the confraternity. Members of the Confraternity share in the enormous spiritual wealth of all the numerous Dominican saints, as well as other saints who promoted the Confraternity. Similarly they benefit from the prayers and good works of the entire Dominican family consisting of the friars, nuns, sisters and lay associates of the Order.
Members of the Rosary Confraternity promise to pray all the mysteries of the Rosary at least once every week. 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, they also benefit from the countless Rosaries that are offered for their intentions by the other members throughout the world. Now that Pope John Paul II has added the Luminous Mysteries (also known as the Mysteries of Light) to the Rosary in his apostolic letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, October 16, 2002, members of the Confraternity are encouraged to include these luminous mysteries as well to their weekly Rosary.
It is amazing to note the number of saints who have promoted the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary. Saint Charles Borromeo esteemed the Confraternity so highly, that he ordered it to be erected in all the parishes of his large Archdiocese of Milan! Saint Alphonsus de Liguori said, “After Holy Mass the best means of relieving the souls in Purgatory is to join the Confraternity of the Rosary.” St John Mary Vianny, the Holy Curé d’Ars said, “If anyone has the happiness of being in the Confraternity of the Rosary, he has, in all corners of the globe, brothers and sisters who pray for him.” Pope Leo XIII wrote, “Among the different associations, we do not hesitate to give the place of honour to the Confraternity of the Rosary.”
Mother Mary said to Saint Dominic, “One day through the Rosary and the Scapular I will save the World.”
How to join the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary
The Confraternity is guided and promoted by the Dominican Friars, in accordance with the norms of the current Code of Canon Law (1983). Of particular relevance are Canons 298-329. There is no enrolment fee, and there is no need to renew the enrolment ever. Any Catholic faithful, who has received First Communion, may enrol in the Confraternity by filling an application form (given below), and submitting it at any Parish Church where the Confraternity has been established.
Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
I wish to become a member of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary. I agree to recite all the mysteries of the Holy Rosary once a week. |
Name and Surname:
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Address: |
Date of birth: |
Parish name: |
Mobile no: (optional) |
Email id: |
Date:
Signature:
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Parish priests who desire to have the confraternity in their parish may approach the Provincial Promoter of the Holy Rosary, Dominican Provincial House, Sathya Nilaya, 4M-512, HRBR II Block Extension, Kalyan Nagara Post, Bengaluru 560 043.
15 Promises of Mother Mary about the Holy Rosary
(Given to St. Dominic and Bl. Alan de la Roche)
- Those who 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 the Rosary.
- The Rosary shall be a powerful armour against hell. It will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
- The recitation of the Rosary will cause virtue and good works to flourish. It will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God. It will withdraw 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.
- The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.
- Those who recite my Rosary devoutly, applying themselves to the consideration of its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. In his justice, God will not chastise them; nor shall they perish by an unprovided death. Sinners shall convert. The just shall persevere in grace and become worthy of eternal life.
- Those who have a true devotion to the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
- Those who faithfully 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.
- By the recitation of the Rosary you shall obtain all that you ask of me.
- 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 their death.
- All who recite the Rosary are my beloved children and the brothers and sisters of my only Son, Jesus Christ.
- Devotion for my Rosary is a great sign of salvation.
How to Pray the Rosary
- Start with the Sign of the Cross and the Apostle’s Creed.
- Pray the Our Father on the first large bead.
- Pray three Hail Marys on the next three beads, for an increase in faith, hope, and charity.
- Pray the Glory Be on the single bead after the Hail Marys.
- Announce the first mystery of the Rosary (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, or Luminous).
- Pray the Our Father.
- Pray ten Hail Marys while meditating on the mystery.
- After the decade, pray the Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer (“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.”
- Repeat steps 5-8 for the remaining four decades, meditating on the different mysteries of the Rosary.
- After the five decades, Conclude with the Hail Holy Queen and Final Prayer.
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.
Concluding prayer
V: Pray for us O Holy Mother of God
R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
“O God whose only begotten Son by His Life has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, Grant we beseech Thee that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may both imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord, Amen.”
The following may be added:
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Christ hear us.
Christ graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of the Church,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Saviour,
Mother of mercy,
Mother of hope,
Solace of migrants,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honour,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the Covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comfort of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of Angels,
Queen of Patriarchs,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,
Queen of Martyrs,
Queen of Confessors,
Queen of Virgins,
Queen of all Saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of families,
Queen of peace.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
V: Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God, that we, your servants, may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; and by the intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sorrow, and obtain eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Memorare:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me, Amen.
Prayer to St. Joseph
(Ad te, beate Ioseph)
To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our afflictions, and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also.
Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.
O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness.
As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven, Amen.
Prayer to St. Michael
“Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.”
For the intentions of the Holy Father, one may recite at the end of the Rosary one “Our Father”, one “Hail Mary”, and one “Glory Be”, to gain the indulgences