Value of the Holy Rosary
Fifteen promises granted to those who recite the Rosary

Why Pray The Holy Rosary

In his encyclical “Laetitiae Sanctae,” Pope Leo XIII spoke of the healing power of the Rosary for three categories of social ills. His words apply even more so to the problems of the present day. These include:

• Domestic ills such as breakdown of the family, divorce, rights of the unborn, and much more.
• The second category belongs to the Repugnance to deal with suffering in life and the steadfast earnests to escape whatever is painful in
  life.
• And the third category, the last but certainly not the least, is the forgetfulness of the future life after death.

(1) Domestic Ills: There is the breakdown of the family, with so many marriages ending in divorce …. a growing lack of respect for authority …. a widespread disregard for the rights of the unborn …. a growing contempt for the vocation of motherhood and homemaking …. widespread rejection of the Christian concept of morality, etc. As a remedy for ills such as these, the Holy Father recommended the prayerful reflection of the JOYFUL MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY. “Let us take our stand,” he said, “in front of … that home of holiness, the House of Nazareth. How much we have to learn from the daily life that was led within its walls Here we behold simplicity and purity of conduct, perfect agreement and unbroken harmony, mutual love and respect … which finds both its life and its charm in devotedness of service. Here is the patient industry which provides what is required for food and raiment; which does so ‘in the sweat of the brow’; which is contented with liffle, and seeks rather to diminish the number of its wants than to multiply the sources of its wealth.

ii) Repugnance to deal with suffering in life:  Repugnance to deal with suffering, and an eagerness to escape whatever is hard and painful to endure. By an unbridled desire for living a life of pleasure, the minds of men are weakened. Millions of dollars are spent for painkillers, since suffering of all kinds is seen only as an evil to be rid of at all cost. In such an atmosphere, the Holy Father recommends the prayerful reflection on the SORROWFUL MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY – in which one is reminded of the redeeming value of suffering …. the fortitude and surrender of the Mother of Sorrows at the foot of the cross …. the necessity of bearing with patience and faith the trials of life … the importance of humble obedience in imitation of Him who become obedient even unto death.

iii) Forgetfulness of the future life after death: Modern man has lost sight of the fact that in this world he is but a pilgrim “on the way,” without a permanent dwelling. He has become so enamored of the pleasures and goods of this world that he easily loses sight of the eternal goal for which he was created. As a remedy for this spiritual blindness, the Holy Father recommends the frequent reflection on the GLORIOUS MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY – which remind us of Our Lord’s promise, “I go to prepare a place for you” (In. 14:2), and of the words of S1.Paul: “The sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared to the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us.” (Rom. 8:18) …. “Eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what things God has prepared for those who love Him.” (I Cor. 2:9) –

Article written by: FATHER PAUL A. DUFFNER, O.P., DIRECTOR
Archived: July 1990 “THE ROSARY AND THE ILLS OF SOCIETY”