'Divine lightning' strikes Christ the Redeemer: caught on camera
In the year 1208, the 13th century, Our Lady appeared to St. Dominic (founder of the Dominican Order) in the church at Prouille (now The Monastery of Notre-Dame-de-Prouille) in Languedoc, France. Tradition holds that she handed St. Dominic a rosary and asked him for Christians to pray the Hail Mary, Our Father, and Glory Be prayers instead of the Psalms. She gave St. Dominic the original 15 decades to pray of the rosary. The additional 5 decades (additional mysteries) were added by Pope John Paul II in 2002. When the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Dominic, she also gave him 15 promises for those who would be devoted to praying the rosary. The promises are as follows:
1.) Whoever shall faithfully serve Me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.
2.) I promise My special protection and greatest graces to all who shall recite the Rosary.
3.) The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and other heresies.
4.) It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from love of the world and its vanities and will lift them to the desire of the eternal things. Oh, the souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5.) The soul which recommends itself to Me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.
6.) Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
7.) Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.
8.) Those who are faithful in reciting the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death, they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
9.) I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10.) The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
11.) You shall obtain all you ask of Me by the recitation of the Rosary.
12.) All those who propagate the holy Rosary shall be aided by Me in their necessities
13.) I have obtained from My Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court, during their life and at the hour of death.
14.) All who recite the Rosary are My sons, and brothers of My only Son, Jesus Christ.
15.) Devotion to My Rosary is a great sign of predestination.
If you have not made it part of your daily routine to pray the Rosary, perhaps you are unsure what mysteries to say on which days, or you’re not certain about what is contained in each set of mysteries, let me give you a general overview. The mysteries encompass the life and ministry of Jesus, as well as significant moments in the life of Mary, from the moment of the Annunciation to the Blessed Mother from the angel Gabriel to the crowning of the Blessed Mother in heaven as Queen. Each day of the week is assigned a specific set of mysteries, although any set of mysteries can be prayed any day. For many Catholics, all the mysteries are prayed each day.
Monday and Saturday: The Joyful Mysteries
· The Annunciation
· The Visitation
· The Nativity
· The Presentation
· The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
Tuesday and Friday: Sorrowful Mysteries
· The Agony in the Garden
· Scourging at the Pillar
· Crowning with Thorns
· Carrying of the Cross
· The Crucifixion
Wednesday and Sunday: Glorious Mysteries
· The Resurrection
· Ascension of Jesus
· Descent of the Holy Spirit
· Assumption of Mary
· Crowning of Mary as Queen
Thursday: Luminous Mysteries
· Jesus’ Baptism in the Jordan
· Jesus’ self-manifestation at the Wedding at Cana
· Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom of God
· The Transfiguration of Jesus
· Institution of the Eucharist
When prayed together, fervently, and devoutly, the life and ministry of Christ is traced for the Christian to remember the Savior’s work and teachings for us. It comes alive in our mind and heart. It is intended to always bring to forefront the life and times of Jesus so that we are always focused on Him. Everything Our Lady does, teaches, or promotes points us to Christ. Go ahead, pick up your rosary.