ON THE ROSARY IN HONOUR OF MARY
To our Venerable Brethren, all Patriarchs, Primates, | Archbishops, and Bishops of the Catholic World, in Grace and Communion with the Apostolic See.
POPE LEO XIII
Venerable Brethren.
Health and Apostolic Benediction.
Whenever the occasion has risen for stimulating amongst the Christian people an increasing love and devotion towards the great Mother of God, We have availed Ourselves of it with extraordinary pleasure and joy, feeling 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 feelings of Our heart. For this sacred devotion 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 soul; since it appeared more evident to Our mind how worthy of love and honor she was whom God first loved and
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prized and so prized that, raised higher than others as she was, and adorned with the most glorious endowments, He chose her from ali the world to be His mother. The various and manifest proofs of her goodness and kindness to Us, which We recall with the most profound gratitude, and not without tears, have greatly fostered our devotion, and ardently inflame it. For on many and different dangerous oceasions which have risen We have always had recourse to her, have always looked up io her with eager and wistful eyes; and having laid in her heart all Our hopes and fears, Our joys and troubles, have assiduously besought her to favor us as a tender mother at all times, and have begged the boon ot being to her a mcst devoted son. When accordingly, by the secret counsel of God's Providence it happened that We were placed in this chair of Bless ! Peter, that is to say, chosen as the representative of Christ to govern His Church, then disquieted by the mighty burden of the oflice, and distrusting Our own strength, We endeavored to pray for Divine aid with increased fervour, relying on the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin. And We are pleased to confess that, as results have proved, not only throughout all 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 powerfully 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, venerable brethren, that We should address to all 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 Rosary to Our Lady and august (Queen, with the
more lively piety which Our growing necessities demand.
The many and various methods of depravity by Which the wickedness of the age treacherously endeavors to weaken and destroy in human souls the Christian faith, and the observance of the Divine Law, which nourishes that faith and renders it fruitful, is already too well known ; and now the field of the Lord is almost e 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 i is created very often appears to be promoted by. their indolence or patronage. Hence it is when such is the case, that We have to deplore the establishment of schools for the training of the mind and the study of the arts,in which the name o^ ^od is not mentioned or is vituperated ; We have to deplore the license—daily growing bolder—of laying everything whatsoever before the populace by ineans of publication, of raising every sort of cry offensive to God and the Church ; nor is it less to be deplored that amongst many Catholies there is à remission ol duty and an apathy, which if not equi-
valent to any open abandonment of the faith, tend to terminate in it since the practices of life are nowise consonant with the faith. To him who considers this confusion and destruction of the hi;hest interests it will aot certainly bea 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 Go ‘nd to bring about the eure which is needed by those who are so sadly suffering, nothing could be more effec-
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tive than pious and persevering prayer, provided it be combined with Christian zeal and attention to duty; in both respects Our desires ean be realized in the fullest measure through devotion to the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin. From the date of its origin, Which is sufficiently known, its powerful efficacy has been praised and We, Ourselves, have more than once commemorated the remarkable results attributable to it. At the time when the seet of the Albigenses, whieh pretended to be in favor ol the integrity of faith and morals but which was in reality a most mischievous disturber ‘and corruptor, brought ruin to many people, the Chureh fought against it and against wicked factions, not with worldly resourses and arms, but principaliy by having recourse to the power of the Most Holy Rosary, Which the Mother of God entrusted to Ss. Dominie for the purpose ol defence, and so splendidly victorious over all, she provided for the salety of her children by a glorious issue, both on that occasion and on others which occurred afterwards Whereof in the condition of affairs of which Ve complain, which is lamentable lor relieion and most pernicious for the State, all should, with equal devotion, together implore the Mother of God, so that, experiencing ihe same power ol the Rosary, We may rejoice in the fulfilment of Our dosires For when We have recourse in prayer to Mary, We appeal to the Mother of Mercy, so. well disposed towards Us that whatever be Our need, especially if We are earnestly desirous 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 erace which was so copiously bestowed upon her by God from the beginning, since she was worthy to be the Mother of God, By that abundance of grace which is made most renowned by many who have voiced her
praises, she far excels all orders of men and angels, being above all others nearest to Christ “For it is a great thing in any saint when he has as much grace as sullices for the savation of many; but if he had as mch grace as would suffice for the salvation of all men 1n the world, this would be the greatest : and this is in Christ and in the Blessed Virein.” (B Th. op. VIL. super salut angelica) When, thereiore, We address her in the words of the angelie salutation as full of grace, and rightly weave that repeated praise Into decades, we do that which is acceptable and desirable alinost heyond expression, lor so often do We, as it were, recall her exalted dignity and the redemption of the human race accomplished by God through her; and here, also, is commemorated the Divine and perpetual tie by which she is united with 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 eall and prove Himself the Sou of Man, and therefore Our brother, in order that His mercy towards us might be more evident, “it behoved Him in all 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 privilege was conferred upon her above all mothers of pouring forth her mercy to us, Moreover, if We are indebted to Christ for communicating to us in some measure the right which belongs be Him of calling and having God as ouv Father, in like manner we owe to Him the right most lovingly communicated, of calling and having Mary as our Mother. And since nature itself has made the name of mother most sweet, and has as it were established it as the exemplar of tender and thoughtful love, tongue cannot fully tell, but the minds of pions
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“hristians 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 all our affairs—the safeguards we need in life, the dangers which are impending public. ly and privately: the difficulties by which we are beset, especially how hard is the struggle with most bitter ennemies for the salvation of the soul; in these and other trials of life she can do far more for us, and she ardently desires to afford solace, strength and aid of every kind to her beloved children. Therefore, let us approach Mary, heseeching her by those maternal ties by which she is united to Jesus and also to us: let us most religiously invoke her present aid by that mode of prayer which she herself has pointed out and regards as specially
acceptable :
then we can justly rest under the pro-
tection of our most propitious mother with secure and joyful minds.
Besides the commendation of the Rosary from the nature of the prayer itself, it is also an easy means of iaculeating upon souls the chit” points of Christian Faith, and this is a much nov. commendation. For it is chiefly through faith that man makes straight and sure progress to God, and learns to reverence in his mind and soul the great majesty of God, His dominica over all things, His supreme power, wisdom and prudence: * He who approaches to God must, believe that He exists and is the rewarder of those who seek Him." (*Hebrews.—XI. 6.) Ànd because the eternal Son of God assumed human nature, and shone before us, and is present 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
ne ol true God, and Him whom Thou has sent Jesus- 1 the Christ.” (John XXII. 3.) ' not For God granted us a great gift when He gave us well, this holy faith, through which not only we are lifted Is we above human things e we are made the beholiblie- ders and participators of the Divine nature, but we ' are have this in addition, the cause of exceeding merit most of heavenly rewards. Whereupon our hope is |; in nourished and strengthened that one day, not
for through the shadowy iinages ol things, but in the ngth full light we shall see God Himself and enjoy Him, lren, our highest good, forever.
by But the Christian man is so torn assunder by the ests various cares of lile, and so easily wanders aside her after trifles, that unless aided by frequent remindshe ings, he allows to slip into graduai oblivion those jallv things that are ol the highest importance and necespro- sity, and for th.t reason his faith languishes and even cure wholly perishes.
The Church, that she may preserve her children
| the from such great dangers of ignorance, omits no enns | counsels of vigilance and diligence, and among the hris- aids of faith the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin is not tion. the last to which she resorts. For in it, with a most ikes beautiful and fervent prayer continued in a fixed s to order, the principal mysteries of our religion are y of brought to mind for remembrance and meditation:— eie those first in which the Word was made flesh, and ches | Mary, a pure Virgin ond Mother performs for Him wars with holy joy her maternal duties ;—then the sor- 0) rows of Christ, His suffering, His tortures and His man death, the price by which the salvation of our race the was gained :—then follow the mysteries full of glory, sal y , and the triumph over death,—His ascension into ries heaven, the sending of the Holy Spirit, and the the splendor of the glory of Mary re 'celved into the Heal'his vens, and finally the everlasting glory of all the
nly
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heavenly beings joined with the glory of the Mother and the Son.
This interwoven series of admirable eyents is earnestly and frequently recalled to mind, and almost unfolded to view, so that those who devoutly recite the Rosary, have 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 iheir 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 from ignorance or deadly errors.
But there is another evident advantage 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 derive no profit tor eternity from his faith, unless he govern his life according to it. * What will it profit ry brethren, if a man says he has faith if he have not the works? Will faith save him ?” (James II, 14)
That class ol incur a more grave rebuke from Christ the Judge, than those wholly ignorant of Christian faith and te ching. The latter act not as perverse men livine diffe ‘ently from what they believe, for not having the lieht of Gospel, they have some excuse, or certei ly are to be deemed less euilty
The faith We possess will produce more fruit, by meditation on the mysteries, for by it the soul becomes fired by the virtues set belore it. The salu-
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tary example of Christ Our Lord shines before us prominently in everything.
The great all powerful God, through His exceeding great.charity for us, lessens himsel! to the
condition o! the low lies! or men iie comes among a us as an ordinary person, talks to us as a friend, teaches the individual as well as the multitude all
justice, excelling’ as a master He excels in His teaching, in authority He is God. Heis a benelactor to all, he heals the sick of disease of the body, and to the greater diseases of the soul he ministers with a paternal compassion. Those who are tortured by bitterness or overwhelmed by the weight of care, ‘hese above all, He secretly addresses and invites by the words “come to me all you who labor and are heavy burthened and I will refresh you.” (Math, XI. 28.) Then while we are reposing in his embrace He whispers of that mystical fire which He had brought to men, and sweetly suggests His meekness of soul and submission, by the practice of which virtues He wishes us to be sharers of a 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 your soul." (Mat. 11, 29.)
Nevertheless in return [or the light of heavenly wisdom, and the wondrous abundance of benefits by whieh 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 these dear pledges of Our Most Loving Redeemer could fail to have his will roused to grateful love The strength of tried faith will produce such an effect more truly when with mind illuminated and soul deeply moved, it will wholly learn to follow the footsteps of Christ through every
trial, according to the protest of Paul. * What will separate us from the charity of Christ? Tribulation or need, or hunger, or n»kedness, or danger, or persecution, or.the sword ?" (Rom VIII, 98.) “ I live, now not I but Christ liveth in me.” (Gal. IT.)
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, it is true, but to her naught is left of the wealth and splendor of her 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 God 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 grace; 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 exalted degree of dignity and attributes it to the gilt of the power and merey of God, by so much the more does she humble herself and conscious to herself of no virtue, and with ready soul calls herself, and devotes herself as the handmaid of the Lord while she is made His mother.
What in holiness she promised, in holiness she executes, while in joy and in tears she begins that life of perpetual communion with her Non Jesus. Thus at a pinnacle of glory to which 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 God, she will be crowned through all eternity, seated by that Son, because constantly through
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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 furnished 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 ii stricken with the splendor of the divinity, but drawn by the very nearness of the same nature, let 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 all the counsels of God 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 difficulties, and press onward bravely and with spirit, and in trials and labor cease not to stretch out our hands to Mary with those words of the Church. “To thee do we cry mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn unto us thine eyes of mercy: grant us a pure life, prepare for us a sate journey, that seeing Jesus, we may rejoice forever."
Dut this best and most loving of Mothers, well acquainted with the weakness and corruption of our nature, although she was free from it herself, how timely and complete will be her help, with what charity she will refresh us and with what power strengthen us! To us going on our journey, conseerated by the divine blood of Christ and the tears ot Mary, tie 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 Rosary 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 ol! true Christians to have the Rosary frequently in their minds, to devoutly recite it and piously meditate upon it
But We recommend it particul: rly to ihe Contraternity of the Holy Family which We have latel praised and legitimately approved called That mystery of the life of Christ Our Lord, His living a
silent 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 eonform themselves to the model of that divinely constituted Holy Family, and hence its connection with the holy hosary is evident. What relates especiallv to the joyful mysteries is included in the fact that Jesus, alter manifesting his wisdom in the temple, went to Nazareth with Joseph and Mary and was subject to them, as it were teaching the others n iysteries which more directly concerned teaching and the redemption of man. Hence the associates may see how properly it behooves them to be diligent in devotions of the Rosary.
And in propagating the same. So far as in us hes, We ratily the grants of indulgence made in former years in favor of those who pass the month oi October according to the prescribed conditions. To your authority and solicitude, Venerable Brethren, We entrust it, that the devotion towards the Blessed Virgin may glow with a fervour, equal to the devotion 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 Rosary.
But that where oa exhortation began there it may also end, We, again and openly, testify Our great love tow ards the Mother of God, 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
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Ourselves, while advanced in years, worn out with labors, hemmed in by the distressing 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 1t has been granted to Us to reach the fiftieth anniversary of Our Episcopal Consecration.
This is truly a long space of time devoted to Pastoral duty, and one especially replete 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 all these things, We with mind and heart equally humble and grateful to God, have endeavored to turn to the good and honor of the Church.
And, henceforth, not unlike this, will be the rest of Our life, for whether new joys shall come 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 God these words of David will help us: ‘ Blessed be the name of the Lord: Not to us O Lord, not to us, but to thy name give glory." (Ps CXII, 2, CXIIT, 1.)
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 obtain this grace, that whatever of strength or life may be left to Us, whatever authority or influ-
dé Sag JI. NOR RANUC enl a A
ence We have, it may be for the welfare of the C deme and fret of all to reconcile and bring back, those who are hostile and the wanderers whom for
long a time Our voice has been calling. But to all Our most beloved sons may God grant, through Our coming festivity of the gifts of justice, peace, prosperity, holiuess and every good. We bee this ol the paternal charity ol f God, We remind Him of this in these words. * Hear me—bud forth as the rose planted by the brink of waters; give ye a sweet odor as frankincense ; send forth flowers as the lily, and yield a smell, and bring forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles 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 of the Lord.”
(Eccli; XXXIX 17, 20,41)
Should these counsels and wishes be scoffed at by irveligious men who * blaspheme whatsoever they know not” may God mercifully pardon them. That He may be propitious though the prayers of the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, receive as a guerdon, Venerable brethren, and as a pledge of our good will, the Apostolic Benediction which to each of you, and to the clergy and your people we lovingly impart in the Lord.
Given at Rome at St. Peters the VIII day of September, MDCCCXCII, in the fifteenth year of Our Pontificate,
LEO XIII. Pope
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4iéme Série- No. 63.
CIRCULAIRE AU OLERGE.
AncHEVÉCHÉ D'OTTAWA, le 4 novembre 1892.
