Digital Marian Helper Winter_2016-2017

W HY PRAY THE R OSARY ? The Rosary is a spiritual sword made by the Divine Craftsman. Popes and saints have repeatedly emphasized this reality. Pope Leo XIII stated very clearly: “The origin of this form of prayer [the Rosary] is divine rather than human.” The genius of this spiritual sword is that it is easily memorized and can be prayed anywhere, anytime, and in almost all circumstances. It encapsulates the life- giving wonders of the Sacraments and the teachings of the Church, and brings them into your home and into every aspect of your life. The Rosary is mobile, portable, and greatly feared by the enemy. Saint Louis de Montfort once said: “The devils have an overwhelming fear of the Rosary. Saint Bernard says that the Angelic Salutation puts them to flight and makes all hell tremble.” To pray the Rosary is to pray the Word of God. What better devotional prayers could ever be said than the Our Father and the Hail Mary? The words of the Our Father came from the lips of Jesus Christ Himself. The words of the Angelic Salutation were uttered on God’s behalf by a holy angel (St. Gabriel). God has providentially arranged for the majority of the prayers recited in the Rosary to be directed to Mary, because it is through her that the world received the instrument of our salvation, the flesh of the God-Man. Through Mary’s cooperation with God, the sacred Flesh and holy mysteries of the God-Man were entrusted to the Church. Through Mary, the God-Man has conquered the darkness and vanquished the evil one forever. … The Rosary is an evangelical tool that brings the light of Christ into all situations. It has the power to bring about world peace because the mysteries focus on the Truth, that is, on Jesus Christ. The original purpose of the Rosary, as revealed to St. Dominic by Our Lady, was to combat heresy (false teachings). This clarification of truth was not just meant for the 13 th century, but for all time, since Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Heb 13:8). For this reason, Pope Leo XIII rightly stated, “Our need of divine help is as great today as when the great Dominic introduced the use of the Rosary of Mary as a balm for the wounds of his contemporaries.” In subsequent apparitions of Our Lady, as at Fatima, Mary reiterated that the Rosary should be prayed every day in order to help people return to Jesus Christ and have peace. She even noted that the Rosary has the power to stop wars. In light of that, it becomes plain that pray- ing the Rosary benefits individuals, families, and the entire world. Popes and saints have incessantly taught this reality. Pope Leo XIII emphasized the following in this regard: “The Rosary, if devoutly used, is bound to benefit not only the individual but soci- ety at large.” The Rosary was born in an age of chivalry. The world is once again in need of knights who are willing to fight for truth and peace. Only truth will bring about world peace. Today’s knight must use this spiritual weapon to win people back to the light of the Gospel. ... The forces of darkness in the world today threaten the very founda- tions of human civilization, but they are no match for the power of the Rosary. Historically, the Rosary has been proven to overcome all falsehoods. A Rosary crusade and a new Holy League are very much needed today to bring the light and peace of Christ back into souls. To order Champions of the Rosary, visit ShopMercy.org/champions or call 1-800-462- 7426. (Product code: B32-CRBK). T he following is an excerpt from the Marian Press title Champions of the Rosary: The History and Heroes of a Spiritual Weapon by Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC: MH BECOME A CHAMPION OF THE ROSARY! Let these two books from Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, help deepen your devotion to the Rosary. This special set contains Fr. Donald’s newest book, Champions of the Rosary, plus Rosary Gems , one of the largest collection of quotes on the Rosary to ever appear in print. Product code: B32-RGCR $24.95 To order, visit ShopMercy.org/b32 or call 1-800-462-7426. Books are also sold separately.