Father Pio once said to a young fellow friar who could not understand the value of the Holy Rosary: «You, who consider the rosary a prayer suitable only for little old ladies, take this crown and consider it, precisely because of its apparent, extraordinary uselessness, as a “little tool” for opening the gates of Heaven wide.» Let us learn more about this instrument so dear to our prayer.
A very ancient history
The Rosary crown has a very ancient history, dating back as far as the 5th century AD. Inspired by what hermits in the East did, people in the West, specifically in Ireland, also began using tools to facilitate counting the number of prayers. At first, they used small stones or beads tied together with a thread to form a cord. Soon, they began closing the cord, which thus took the shape of a crown. This practice of counting prayers quickly spread from Ireland to the rest of Europe. In monasteries, it was especially the lay brothers who used these cords. Instead of reciting the 150 psalms of the Psalter, they recited 150 Our Fathers. These cords or crowns were called Our Father cords.
A history passed down to us
In the 12th century, the prayer of the Hail Mary, which was called the Angelic Salutation and corresponded to the first part of the Hail Mary, became increasingly widespread. Thus, the Hail Marys were also counted with the Our Father cords (150 or 50). This was not yet the Rosary, since there were no mysteries.
It is known that in the time of Saint Dominic (the early 13th century), Christian people and the friars themselves widely used these cords. Saint Dominic is said to have used them to alternate moments of prayer with preaching, which could last for hours or even an entire day. This was the first form of the Rosary. Through preaching, he encouraged contemplation during the subsequent recitation of the Our Father and the Hail Mary.
In 1569, Saint Pius V established the number of mysteries: 15 divided into three groups (Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious). The second part of the current Hail Mary was also added.
John Paul II would appropriately also add the five Luminous Mysteries.
The Rosary is a deep bond with the Christian faith and Marian devotion. Its history reminds us of the importance of praying with our hearts and minds turned toward God, Jesus, and Mary. Do you make a habit of praying the Holy Rosary? Do you have any experiences to share? Write about them in the comments.
