We can thank St. Dominic, whose feast we celebrate today, for transmitting the rosary as we know it today. Although at an early date, it was a custom among monastic orders the practice of counting established itself not only of offering Masses, but of saying vocal prayers as a suffrage for their deceased brethren. For this purpose the private recitation of the 150 psalms, or of 50 psalms, the third part, was constantly enjoined.
While preaching to the Albigenses, St. Dominic at first obtained but scanty success: and that one day, complaining of this in pious prayer to our Blessed Lady, she deigned to reply to him, saying: "Wonder not that you have obtained so little fruit by your labors, you have spent them on barren soil, not yet watered with the dew of Divine grace. When God willed to renew the face of the earth, He began by sending down on it the fertilizing rain of the Angelic Salutation. Therefore preach my Psalter composed of 150 Angelic Salutations and 15 Our Fathers, and you will obtain an abundant harvest."
Today, when you pick up your rosary, say an extra prayer in thanksgiving for St. Dominic's mediation in bringing us the form we know and cherish today.
No comments:
Post a Comment