ON THE ROSARY IN HONOUR OF MARY

To our Vénérable Brethren, ail Patriarchs, PrimaleSy

Archbishops, and Bishops of the Calholic World^ in

Grâce and Communion with Ihe Aposiolic See.

POPE LEO XIII

Vénérable Biethren,

Health and Apostolic Bénédiction.

Whenever the occasion has risen for stimulating amongst the Christian people an increasing love and dévotion towards the great Mother of Grod, We hâve avaih^d Ourselves of it with extraordinary pleasure and joy, feeiing that We were dealing with a subject which is not only most excellent in itself, and in many ways most productive of good, but which also harmonises most happily with the deepest feelingfe of Our heart. For this sacred dévotion to Mary, which We drank in almost with Our mother's milk, increased with increasing years and became more lively and more firmly planted in Our soûl ; since it appeared more évident to Our mind how worthy of love and honor she was w^hom God first loved and

prized and so prized that, raised higher than others as she was, and adorned with the most glorious endowments, He chose her from ail the world to be His mother. The varions and manifest proofs ofher goodness and kindness to Us, which We recall with the most profound gratitude, and not without tears, hâve greatly fostered our dévotion, and ardently inilaine it. For on many and différent dangerous occasions which hâve risen We hâve always had reconrse to her, hâve always looked up to her with eager and wistful eyes ; and having laid in her heart ail Our hopes and fears, Our joys and troubles, hâve assiduously besought her to favor us as a tender mother at ail times, and hâve begged the boon ot being to her a most devoted son. Whenaccordingly, by the secret counsel of G-od's Providence it happened that We were placed in this chair of Blessed Peter, that is to say, chosen as the représentative of Christ to govern His Church, then disquieted by the mighty burden of the office, and distrustiiigOur own strength, We endeavored to pray for Divine aid with increased fervour, relying on the maternai care of the Blessed Yirgin. And We are pleased to confess that, as results hâve proved, not only throughout ail Our life, but especially in discharging the Apostolic office, Our hope has never been without the gratification of fruit and comfort. Therefore, the same hope impels Us now more pow^erfully to beg, under the auspices and through her intercession, for more and greater favors which may serve to further the salvation of the Christian people and the glory of the Church It is, then, right and opportune, vénérable brethren, that We should address to ail the children of the Church certain exhortations which will be renewed through your words, so that they may strive to observe the coming October, dedicated by the Eosary to Our Lady and august Queen, with the

more lively piety which Our growing necessities demand.

The many and varions methods of depravity by which the wickedness of the âge treacherously endeavors to weakeu and destroy in huraan soûls the Christian faith, and the observance of the Divine Law, which nourishes that faith and renders it fruitfùi, is already too well known ; and now the field of the Lord is almost i-very where a wilderness as if through the breath a horrid pestilence, through ignorance of the faith and through error and vice. The thought of this is made more bitter by the fact that those who can and ought to do so, place no limits and impose no penalties on such arrogant wickedness and evil ; nay rather the spirit by which this state of things is created very often appears to be promoted by their indolence or patronage. Hence it is when such is the case, that We hâve to déplore the establishment of schools for the training of the mind and the study of the arts, in which the name o.^^Tod is not mentioned or is vituperated ; We hâve to déplore the license — ^daily growing bolder — of laying everything whatsoever before the populace by means of publication, of raising every sort of cry offensive to G-od and the Church ; nor is it less lo be deplored that amongst many Catholics there is a remission oi duty and an apathy, which if not équivalent to any open abandonment of the faith, tend to terminate in it since the practices of life are nowisc consonant w^th the faith. To him who considers this confusion and destruction of the hi;;hest interests it will not certainly be a source of wonder that nations are groaning beneath the weight of Divine punishment and are kept in a state of alarm through the fear of greater calamities,

Now, to appease the ofFended majesty of Grod and to bring about the cure which is needed by those who ?ire so sadly sufFering, nothing could be more effee-

tive than pious and persevering prayer, provided it be combined with Christian zeal and attention to duty ; in both respects Oui desires can be realized in the fullest measure throus-h dévotion to the Eosary of the Blessed Yirgin. From the date oi its origin, which is sufficiently known, its powert'ul eJSicacy has been praised and We, Ourselves, hâve more than once commemorated the remarkable results attributable to it. At the time when the sect of the Albigenses, which pretended to be in lavor of the integrity of faith and morals but which was in reality a most mischievous disturber 'and corruptor, brought ruin to many people, the Church fought against it and against wicked factions, not with worldly resourses and arms, but priiicipally by having recourse to the power of the Most Holy Eosary, which the Mother of Grod entrusted to St. Dominic for the purpose of defence, and so splendidly victorious over ail, she provided for the safety of her children by a glorious issue, both on that occasion and on others which occuried afterw^ards Whereof in the condition ol afFairs of which We complain, which is lamentable lor religion and most pernicious for the State, ail should, with equal dévotion, together implore the Mother of Grod, so that, experiencing the same power of the Eosary, We may rejoice in the fulfilment of Dur desires. For when We hâve recourse in prayer to Mary, We appeal to the Mother of Mercy, so well disposed tow^rds Us that whatever be Our need, especially if We are earnestly désirons of eternal salvation she is ever ready. even of her own accord to render Us the necessary succour and more, and she gives liberally from the treasury of that grâce which was so copiously bestowed upon her by God from the beginning, since she was worthy to be the Mother of Grod. By that abundance of arace which is made most renowned by many who hâve voiced her

praises, she far excels ail orders of men and angels, being above ail others iiearest to Christ " For it is a great thing in any saint when he bas as much grâce as suflices for the savation of many ; but if he had as mch grâce as would snffice for the salvation of ail men in the world, this would be the greatest ; and this is in Christ and in the Blessed Virgin." (St. Th. op. VIII. super salut angelica). When, thereiore, We address her in the wordsof the angelic salutation as full of grâce, and rightly weave that repeated praise into décades, we do that which is acceptable and désirable almost beyond expression, for so often do We, as it were, recall her exalted dignity and the rédemption of the human lace accomplished by Grod through her ; and hère, also, is commemorated the Divine and perpétuai tie by which she is united wath the joys and sorrows of Christ, His opprobriums and His triumphs in ruling men and aiding them to attain eternal life, But if it graciously pleased Christ to bear in His own person such a likeness to us and to call and prove Himself the Sou of Man, and therefore Our brother, in order that His mercy towards us might be more évident, " it behoved Him in ail things to be made like unto His brethren that He might become merciful" (Heb. ii., 17); so from the fact of Mary being chosen as the Mother of this our Brother, the sing lar privilège was conferred upon her above ail» mothers of pou ring forth her mercy to us. Moreover, if We are indebted to Christ Tor communicating to us in some measure the right which belongs be Him of calling and having Grod as our Father,^ in like manner we owe to Him the right most lovingly communicated, of caliing and having Mary as our Mother. And since nature itsidf bas made the nanie of mother most sweet, and has as ii were established it as the exemplar of tender and thoughtful love, tongue canuot fully tell, but the minds of pions

Christians truly conceive how great is the flame of benevolent and active charity that burns in the breast of Mary — of her who is to us a mother not humanly speaking, but by Christ. She knows well, and keeps in view ail our afFairs — the safeguards we need in lii'e, the dangers which are impending publicly and privately : the difficulties by which we are beset, especially how hard is the struggle with most bitter ennemies for the salvation of the soûl ; in thèse and other trials of life she can do far more for us, and she ardently desires to alFord solace, strength and aid of every kind to her beloved children. Therefore, let us approach Mary, beseeching her by those maternai ties by which she is united to Jésus and also to us : let us most religiously invoke her présent aid by that mode of prayer which she herself has pointed out ar:d regards as specially acceptable : then we can justly rest under the protection of our most propitious mother with secure and joyfui minds.

Besides the commendation of the E-osary from the nature of the prayer itself, it is also an easy means of iaculcating upon soûls the chief points of Christian Faith, and this is a much nobler commendation. For it is chiefiy through faith that man makes straight and sure progress to God, and learns to révérence in his mind and soûl the great majesty of Grod, His dominion over ail things, His suprême power, wisdom and prudence : " He w^ho approaches to God must, believe thaï He exiéits and is the rewarder of those who seek Him." ("Hebrews. — XI. 6.) And because the eternal Son of God assumed human nature, and shone before us, and is présent as the way, the truth and the life, therefore is it necessary that our faith should embrace the sublime mysteries and highest Trinity of Divine persons and of the only begotten Son of the Father made man. " This is eternal life, that they should know^ Thee, the only

true God, and Him whom Thou has sent Jesus- Christ." (John XXII. 3.)

For Grod granted us a great gift when He gave us this holy faith, through which not only we are lifted above human things, since we are made the beholders and participators of the Divine nature, but we hâve this in addition, the cause of exceeding merit of heavenly rewards. "Whereupon our hope is nourished and strengthened that one day, not through the shadowy images of things, but in the full light we shall see Grod Himself and enjoy Him, our highest good, forever.

But the Christian man is so torn assunder by the varions cares of life, and so easily wanders aside after trifles, that unless aided by fréquent remindings, he allows to slip into graduai oblivion those things that are of the highest importance and necessity, and for that reason his faith ianguishes and even whoUy perishes.

The Church, that she may préserve her children from such great dangers of ignorance, omits no counsels of vigilance and diligence, and among the aids of faith the Rosary of the Blessed Yirgin is not the last to which she resorts. For in it, with a most beautiful and fervent prayer continued in a fixed order, the principal mysteries of our religion are brought to mind lor remembrance and méditation: — those first in which the Word was made flesh, and Mary, a pure Virgin ond Mother performs for Him with holy joy her maternai duties ; — then the sorrows of Christ, His sufFering, His tortures and His death, the price by which the salvation of our race was gained : — then follow the mysteries full of glbry, and the triumph over death, — His ascension into heaven, the sending of the Holy Spirit, and the splendor of the glory of Mary received into the Heavens, and finally the everlasting glory of ail the

heavenly beings joined with the glory of the Mother and the Son.

This interwoven séries of admirable events is earnestly and frequentîy recalled to mind, and almost unfolded to view, so that those who devoutly recite the Eosavy, hâve their minds filled with an ever new sweetness of piety, touching and soothing them as if they heard the voice of their most loving Mother, unfolding to them those mysteries and speaking of many things helpful to their salvation. This seems to be not less confirmed by the fact, that in the places, families and nations where the custom of reciting the Rosary exists no loss of Faith is to be feared irom ignorance or deadly errors.

But there is another évident advantajxe to be derived from the Rosary which the Church eagerly seeks for her children, and it is that they should regulate their lives and their morals more perfectly according to the rule and precepts of holy faith. For if, according to the Divine saying. " Faith without work is dead " (James 11, 20.) because faith draws its life from charity, and charity is manifested in the fruitfulness of holy actions, certainly the Christian man will dérive no profit lor eternity from his faith, unless he irovern his life according to it. " What wili it profit my brethren, if a man says he has faith if he hâve not the Works ? Will faith save him ?" (James II, 14 )

That class of raen would incur a more grave rebuke from Christ the Judge, than those wholly ignorant of Christian faith and teaching. The latter act not as perverse men living differentl)^ from what they believe, for not having the liglit of Grospel, they hâve some excuse, oi' certainly are to be deemed less guilty.

The faith We possess will produce more fruit, by méditation on the mysteries, for by it the soûl becomes fired by the ^irtues set before it. The salu-

tary example of Christ Our Lord shines before us promineiitly in everything.

The great ail powerful Grod, through His exceediiig great charity lor us, lessens himseli' to the condition ol" the lowliest of men. lie cornes among us as an ordinary person, talks to us as a iriend, i.eaches the iiidividuai as well as the multitude ail justice, excelling as a master He excels in His teaching, in authority He is Grod. Heis a beneiaclor to ail, he heals the sick of disease of the body, and to the greater diseases of the soûl he ministers with a paternal compassion. Those who are tortured by bitterness or overwhelmed by the weight of care, ihese above ali, He secretly addresses and invites by the words '* corne to me ail you who labor and are heavy burthened and I will refresh you.'' (Maih. XL 28.) Then while we are reposing in his embrace He whispers of that mystical lire which He had brought to men, and sweetly suggests His meekness of soûl and submission, by the practice of which virtues He wishes us to be sharers of the true and solid peace of which he is the author. " Learn of me, because I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest to vour soûl." (Mat. 11, 29.)

Nevertheless in return for tho light of heavenly wisdom, and the wondrous abundance of benefits by which men should merit, He sufFers hatred and the most cruel injuries from men, and pours forth His blood and life upon the Cross, desiring nothing more eagerly than to gain life for them by His death. No one who considers attentively and ponders over thèse dear pledges of Our Most Loving Redeemer could fail to hâve his will roused to grateful love The strength of tried faith will produce such an effect more truly when with mind illuminated and soûl deeply moved, it will wholly learn to foUow the footsteps of Christ through every

it is true, but to her and splendor of her

trial, according to the protest of Paul. " What will separate us irom the charity of Christ? Tribulation or need, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or persécution, or the sword?" (Rom YIII, 35.) " 1 live, now not I but Christ liveth in me." (Gral. II.)

But lest the high example which Christ, man and God, gives should terrify our weakness together with the mysteries or His life we contemplate those of the life of His mother. She was descended from the Royal line of David, naught is left of the wealth ancestors. She lived in obscurity in an humble town, in a still more lowly dwelling, in solitude and destitution the more contented, as she could the more freely raise her heart to (xod and cling unreservedly to the highest and most longed-for good. And the Lord is with her, and blesses her and fills her with His grâce ; and she at the invitation of the heavenly messenger is announced as the one from whom, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the expected Saviour of nations is to come forth clothed in our humanity And the more she wonders at the exalied degree of dignity and attributes it to the gift of the power and mercy of God, by so much the more does she humble herself and conscious to herself of no virtue, and with ready soûl calls herself, and dévotes herself as the handmaid of the Lord while she is made His mother.

What in holiness she promised, in holiness she exécutes, while in joy and in tears she begins that life of perpétuai communion with her 8on Jésus. Thus at a pinnacle of glory to w^hich no other, either man or angel will reach, because with her no other will be compared in point of virtue, thus she remains the crown of heaven and ot earth, as she is to be the triumphant queen of martyrs, and so in the heavenly city of Grod, she will be crowned through ail eternity, seated by that Son, because constantly through

life, most constantly on Calvary, in sadness she was to drain the chalice with Him.

But behold, in Mary, a truly good and provident God has i'urnished us a most suitable example of every virtue. Looking- upon her with the eyes of the body and of the mind, let us not lose courage, as il stricken with the splendor of the divinity, but drawn by the very nearness of the same nature, iet us strive more faithfully to imitate her. If we give ourselves up entirely to this study, especially with her help, we shall be able to express at least the outlines of her great virtue and holiness,.and remembering how she referred ail the counsels of Grod to eveness of life we shall follow her to heaven.

Let us go forward on the pilgrimage thither, already begun, although the journey be hard and strewn with many difhculties, and press onward bravely and with spirit, and in trials and labor cease not to stretch ont our hands to Mary with those words of the Church. " To thee do we ery mourning and w^eeping in this valley of tears. Turn unto us thine eyes of mercy : grant us a pure life, prépare for us a sale journey, that seeing Jésus, we may rejoice forever."

But this best and most loving of Mothers, w^ell acquainted with the w^eakness and corruption of our nature, although she w^as free from it herself, how timely and complète will be her help, with what charity she wiU refresh us and with what power strengthen us ! To us going on our journey, consecrated by the divine blood of Christ and the tears of Mary, the end will be sure and easy too, and we shall enter into their society enjoying them forever in the blessedness of glory,

Therefore in the Ilosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary are suitably and usefully combined an excellent form of prayer, a suitable means of preserving faith, and an illustrious example of perfect virtue.

Therefore it is indeed worthy ot true Christian» to hâve the Eosary frequeiitly in their minds, to devoutly recite it and piousîy meditate upon it.

But We recommend it particulariy to the Conf'raternity of the Holy Family which We hâve latelv praised and iegitimately approved called. That mystery of the life of Christ Our Lord, His living- a siient and hidden lite so long within the walls of the house of Nazareth, was the origin of the association so that Christian families should strive to conform themselves to the model ot that divinely constituted Holy Family, and hence its connection with the holy Rosary is évident. What relates especially to the joyful mysteries is included in the fact that Jésus, aiter manifesting his wisdom in the temple, went to Nazareth with Joseph and Mary and was subject to them, as it were teaching the others mysteries which more directly concerned teaching and the rédemption of man. Hence the associate;? may see how properly it behooves them to be diligent in dévotions of the Rosary.

And in propagating the same. So far as in us lies, We ratiiy the grants of indulgence made in former years in favor of those who pass the month o[ October according to the prescribed conditions. To your authority and solicitude, Vénérable Brethren, We entrust it, that the dévotion towards the Blessed Virgin may glow with a fervour, equal to the dévotion of former days among Catholic nations toward her who is the help of Christians and who is to be honored by the prayer of the Rosaiy.

But that w^here our exhortation began there it may also end, We, again and openly, testify Our great love towards the Mother of Grod, Our remembrance of her kindness and a heart full of most joyful hope. The prayers of the Christian people piously praying at her altars We beg alike for the Church tossed about in adverse and turbulent times, and for

Ourselves, while advanced in years, worn out with labors, hemmed in by the distressinp: state of affairs, supported by no help from men, We guide the helm of the Church, Our hope namely is in Mary Our powerful and kind Mother, Our hope daily increases, and grows more encouraging. -To her prayers if We refer the many benefits received from God, We give thanks with greater fervour now because it has been granted to Us to reach the fiftieth anniversary of Our Episcopal Consécration.

This is truly a long space of time devoted to Pastoral duty, and one especially replète with daily care, which We consecrate to the ruling of the whole Christian flock. During this space of time for Us, as it is the life of men, as it was in the mysteries of the life of Christ and His Mother, there were not wanting cause of joy, and many and bitter causes of sorrow, and causes of glorying in Christ for the rewards gained. And ail thèse things, We with mind and heart equally humble and grateful to Grod, hâve endeavored to turn to the good and honor of the Church.

And, henceforth, not unlike this, will be the rest of Our life, for w^hether new joys shall corne to Us or sorrows threaten, if any splendor of glory is to be added thereunto, with the same mind and heart, constantly desiring only heavenly glory from Grod thèse words of liavid will help us : " Blessed be the name of the Lord : Not to us O Lord, not to us, but to thv name give glory" (Ps CXTI, 2, CXIII,

Indeed from Our clildren, whose good will We behold so kindly manifested towards Us, rather than congratulation and praise We expect most eagerly the most earnest and fervent prayers and supplications to the Almighty. We shall rejoice greatly if We obtaiii this grâce, that whatever of strength or life rnay be left to Us, whatever authoritv or influ-

ence We hâve, it may be for the welfare of the Church, and first of ail to reconcile and bring back, those who are hostile and the wanderers whom for so long a time Dur voice has been calling. But to ail Our most beloved sons may Grod grant, through Onr coming festivity of the gifts of justice, peace, prosperity, holiness and every good. We beg this of the paternal charity of Grod, We remind Him of this in thèse words. " Hear me — bud forth as the rose planted by the brink of waters ; give ye a sweet odor as Irankincense ; send forth flowers as the lily, and yield a smell, and bring iorth leaves in grâce, and praise with caniicles and bless the Lord in His Works. Magnify His name, and give glory to Him with the voice of your lips, and with the canticles of your mouths and with harps. with the whole heart and mouth praise ye Him, and bless the name oi' the Lord."

(Eccli. XXXIX 17, 20, 4L)

Should thèse counsels and wishes be scofîed at by^ irréligions men who '' blasphème whatsoever they kno\v not " may Grod mercifully pardon them. That He may be propitious though the prayers of the Queen of the Most Holy E.osary,receive as a guerdon. Vénérable brethren, and as a pledge o{ our good will, the xlpostolic Bénédiction which to each of you, and to the clergy and your people we lovingly impart in the Lord.

Given at Rome at St. Peter's the VIII dav oï September, MDCCCXCII, in the fifteenth yeaV of Our Pontificate.

LEO XIII. Pope.

CIRCULAIRE AU CLERGE

Archevêché d'Ottawa, le 4 novembre 1892.

!.. — Actions de grâces pour avoir échappé au choléra.