A Crown of Roses for Our Lady, Part II
*A LFFA Marian Series*
Many of the early Christians were put to death because they refused to give up Christ and their religon. Those marked out for death dressed in their best clothes, they wore costly jewels around their necks, because they considered that day a happy day on which they would die for our Lord Who died for their sins. Their friends came to the place of the persecution and while the sands were still wet with the blood of the martyrs they took their bodies to a place of burial. They removed the precious jewels from the necks of their loved ones and later strung them together to have them as souvenirs and to count their prayers on them. That was the beginning of the rosary…
Later St. Dominic was preaching against an enemy of the Church and the Blessed Mother told him to preach about this wonderful devotion of her rosary. He did this and the Catholic Church was saved again from serious harm. When all of Europe was beset by the wild Turks the Pope asked the people to say the rosary and Don Juan of Austria won a great battle over the terrible Turks and saved Western civilization….
There is a pious legend which explains the meaning of the word rosary. Rosary means a crown of roses. A young monk in a certain monastery was very devoted to the rosary and to Mary. Each day he said the beads many times. He was able almost at any time of the day to go to the chapel and say the rosary so devotedly that he would seem to be talking with Mary as if she were present there with him. The others followed him into the chapel one afterenoon to watch him that they might see what was the secret of his devotion. They stood back in amazement when they saw the Blessed Virgin Mary standing before him. As he spoke each Hail Mary, the prayer fell from his lips and became a rose. Mary took these roses, these Hail Marys and wove them into a crown. That is the true meaning of the rosary and that is what a well said rosary means to our heavenly Queen…
When it comes time for you to die, if you have been faithful to the rosary those beads placed in your hands stilled by death will be a sign of your devotion on earth and will be a sign of the glory that awaits you in heaven. Every day during this month say the rosary, gather flowers for Mary your Queen, your Mother who loves you.
Share here what you do to celebrate in this month of Our Lady?
**Excerpts taken from Catholic Talks for Children: Timely Topics.
Published by Little Flowers Family Press 2005. Still available in our webstore. Get it here!
Rita is a Catholic wife and mother of seven children. She reverted back to the faith when her oldest was making her First Communion. By then, she had completed degrees in Hairdressing and Make up artistry. She went on to receive a degree in Natural Health and another degree in Art. At age 26, Rita suffered a minor stroke. With no lasting effects, this dramatically changed her outlook on life. In 1996, Rita began ‘Little Flowers Family Apostolates’ to reach out to other families with her new found faith, by creating unique Catholic books and resources.. In 1999, she wrote the bestselling, ‘Immodesty; Satan’s Virtue’. She was editor of ‘The Catholic Health Letter’ for 7 years. She has been a homeschooling mom for 20+ years, and has written for various magazines. She is honored that families have trusted her with their questions, needs and concerns over the years. She continues to write and reach out to Catholic families with her husband, Mark and their 4 boys through http://www.LittleFlowersFamilyPress.com
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