Talks on the Sacramentals, by Msgr Arthur Tonne - Rosary

"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee." St. Luke, 1:28.

Dr. Recamier was a celebrated surgeon and society leader, who died in 1849. One day he called upon the Count Malet, a cavalry officer who had become a priest. The Abbé Malet was slightly ill and the doctor prescribed for him. As Recamier was about to leave he suddenly replaced his hat and cane on the table and exclaimed:

"I almost forgot something important."

"What is that?" asked the priest.

"I met with a misfortune," answered the doctor, "a misfortune that you can remedy."

"Well, let us hear it," said the sick priest.

"It is a fracture," exclaimed Recamier, "that you will know perfectly how to mend--a slight operation I beg you to perform."

With that the illustrious physician drew from his pocket a Rosary. A young medical student present at the time could not conceal his consternation at this proof of Recamier's piety. Recamier--the trusted physician of kings and princes, Recamier--whose reputation reached every corner of Europe--did he say the Rosary?

The doctor noticed the youth's amazement. He turned to the young man, smiled, and explained:

"Why, of course I say the Rosary. The Pope recites it. When I am uneasy about one of my cases, when I find that drugs are powerless, I address myself to Him who can cure anything and everything. Only I have recourse to diplomacy. The number of my occupations leaves me no time to pray as I should, so I take the Blessed Virgin for my intercessor. On my way to my patients I say a decade or two of the beads. There's nothing more easy, you see. I'm seated quietly in my carriage, I slip my hand into my pocket and I begin a conversation. The beads are my interpreter. Now, as I employ this interpreter somewhat often, he is weak and worn; so I have requested the Abbe Malet here to examine him, to diagnose his case, to perform an operation--in a word to cure him for me."

The priest laughed and took charge of the broken beads.

The practice of counting prayers on beads is as old as Christianity. St. Paul, the first hermit, who lived in the fourth century, recited three hundred "Our Fathers" daily, using little pebbles to count them. In time these counters were strung on a cord for convenience, and were called Pater Nosters.

The Rosary is also called the beads. The word "bead" is from the Anglo-Saxon word "bead" which means prayer. Beads are of different color, material, shape and size. The variety of Rosaries is almost without limit. Can we not see in this a spiritual significance? Just as the graces and blessings won through devotion to this powerful and popular sacramental are practically unlimited, so the form of the Rosary is greatly varied.

May we tell you again how to say this prayer. Strictly speaking, all that is essential is to say an Our Father and ten Hail Marys for each decade. In the full Rosary that would mean fifteen decades; in the five-decade, which is more common, the Our Father and ten Hail Marys are to be said five times.

In our country the more common method is to make the sign of the cross over oneself with the crucifix of the Rosary. After the Apostles' Creed, one recites an Our Father and three Hail Marys, usually announcing: "For an increase of faith, hope and charity."

These preliminaries are not essential. And now for the essentials and a word about various methods:

1. After the first mystery is announced, pray one Our Father and ten Hail Marys, thinking about that scene from the life of our Blessed Mother. Often 'Glory be to the Father, etc.' is added; it is not essential.

2. Instead of the mere names of the mysteries, many use books with prayers before and after each mystery. This little meditation at the announcement of each mystery is helpful to those who have difficulty in getting a clear picture of the scene from Scripture, or in keeping it in mind.

3. In some countries, especially among the Germans, there is the custom of adding a few words to explain the mystery after the Holy Name of Jesus in the Hail Mary. Thus they will add after the word Jesus in each Hail Mary: "Whom thou, O Virgin, didst conceive of the Holy Ghost." "Who didst rise from the dead."

To gain the Rosary indulgences the prayers must be said on a blessed set of beads, held in the hand, in the usual way. When said by a group, with some saying one part of each prayer and others answering, it is sufficient if one person, the leader, hold a Rosary. Those saying the Rosary together may perform light handwork in the meantime. Religious often do this.

I recall one woman asking whether she could say the Rosary while milking cows. We know it is impossible to hold the beads while milking. Rome answered that problem by declaring:

"If on account of manual labor or any other reasonable cause the faithful are hindered from holding the Rosary in their hand according to the prescribed form, they can gain the indulgences attached to it provided that when saying the prescribed prayer they carry the Rosary in any manner on their person."

Accordingly, you can say your Rosary while driving or washing the dishes or cleaning house. In fact, you can and should say the beads anywhere and everywhere.

This rich sacramental of Mother Church, this favorite devotion to our Blessed Mother, is the source of many spiritual favors. Mary has promised that the Rosary will save the world. Pray it alone; pray it in groups; pray it as a family. Wear out your beads by frequent use of them, as did the famous Dr. Recamier. Amen.