By its very nature, origin, and history, the Rosary was propagated for the purpose of the defense of the Faith. The associations of the Rosary are the battalions which, under the banner of the Immaculate Mother of God, fight the battle of Christ. These armies, of poor and learned alike, are mightier then the cannon and the sword and produce great fruit, miracles, and extraordinary graces for each individual and the whole Mystical Body of Christ. The Rosary is a prayer which will never be outmoded or supplanted by newer forms of devotion; it has come to us from Heaven!
The Living Rosary is a method adopted for the praying of the Rosary which consists in dividing the prayers among fifteen people; one mystery to each member. In this way, the precious devotion should be practiced everyday entirely and through all fifteen people. The members, united spiritually, form with their hearts a ‘Living Rose’ in the flourishing field of Our Lady’s Rosary Garden.
No matter what your age or situation, any soul willing to pray a decade of the Living Rosary faithfully may enroll. The association has no other standard but the Cross and no other spirit but the Gospel. You may pray your decade, while working or walking, at any time of the night or day. The soul who has happiness of praying daily the entire fifteen mysteries need not ‘add’ and extra decade, but simply arrange for the meditation of the mystery he is assigned and unite with all the common intentions.
The Association of the Living Rosary was founded in Lyon, France by Venerable Pauline-Marie Jaricot in 1826. From the beginning, the association had clerical approval; the Archbishop of Lyon gave approval, the Living Rosary was orally blessed by Pope Leo XII, in 1832 the Holy See selected two general ecclesiastical directors for the Living Rosary, the bishops highly recommended it by Pope Gregory XVI richly blessed it with many indulgences. Many priests have committed themselves to welcoming the Association of the Living Rosary into their diocese and recommend it to the faithful as second only to the Sacraments. It is a powerful means to elevate the piety of the faithful and draw down abundant graces and benedictions on all. Saint Philomena was named the Patroness and Protectress of the Living Rosary by Pope Gregory XVI and this devotion is principally dedicated to her honor. Many singular and striking miracles have been attributed to her powerful intercession; she who also bears the title: Patroness of the Children of Mary!
The purpose of this association is to appease the wrath of God through the intercession of Our Lady, to inflame the zeal and courage of the faithful, to bring about the conversion of sinners and the exaltation of Holy Mother the Church. The lifetime prayer of our holy foundress, Pauline Jaricot --- The preservation of the Faith in all its purity --- shall be realized as this ‘army’ spreads and sets fire to the hearts and souls of men to bring about the fulfilment of the promise made by Our lady of Fatima: In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph! St. Louis de Monfort describes the battle of the ‘Last Days’: “The Children of Mary against the children of Satan.” The association, the foundress, and the patroness all bear the unmistakable mark of the Cross. The greatest evil in the world today is SIN, the most distressing poverty, the crippling spiritual poverty which seeks to consume the whole world.
“One day, through the Rosary and Scapular, I will save the world!”