_Origin of the Rosary._
The Rosary of the B. V. M. in its present form was instituted by St.
Dominic. But as early as the year 1094 Peter the Hermit had invented a
kind of rosary of beads of wood, upon which the Crusaders, who were
generally uneducated men, recited a certain number of _Paters_ and
_Aves_, varied according to the solemnity of the feasts.
Historians also relate that even before that time pious persons were
in the habit of reciting a series of _Paters_ and _Aves_ upon knotted
cords. In the East it was the custom to present crowns of roses to
persons of distinction. St. Gregory Nazianzen, moved by ardent piety
towards the Mother of Our Redeemer, offered to her, instead of a
material crown of roses, a spiritual crown of prayers. It consisted of
a long string of the highest praises and most glorious titles and
excellent prerogatives of Mary.
St. Bridget, Patroness of Ireland, who lived in the fifth century,
developed this pious idea of St. Gregory by substituting for those
prayers which were unknown to the people the more popular and more
beautiful prayers of the _Credo_, the _Pater_, and the _Ave Maria_.
And to regulate the number of prayers to be recited, the Saint adopted
the method of the anchorets of threading beads of stone or of wood
together in the form of a crown or chaplet.
The word 'Rosary' signifies a crown of roses, and the prayers, the
expression of the heart's affections, of which it is composed, are
spiritual roses with which we adorn the head of our dear Blessed
Mother.
It is said that a holy solitary was watching one day a poor old woman
reciting her rosary with great devotion, when he observed an Angel by
her side holding a golden thread, upon which he strung a rose for
every _Ave_, and a lily for every _Pater_; afterwards he placed this
garland in the form of a crown upon the head of the old woman, and
disappeared, leaving behind him a sweet fragrance of roses. This
fragrance was often perceived in former days in churches, after the
recital of the Rosary.
_Prayer._--O Mary, my good Mother! obtain for me an ardent love for
your Divine Son, my Saviour Jesus Christ. From Him you can obtain all
that you desire; obtain, then, for me the grace to be always so united
to the Divine Will that I may never again be separated from it. I ask
you not, my Mother, for earthly goods, nor honours, nor riches; but I
ask of you that which you have much more at heart, the grace to love
my God. Is it possible that you should refuse to assist me in a work
which is so agreeable to you? No; you will help me, my good Mother--
you will pray for me. Pray then, O Sacred Virgin, and cease not to
pray for me, until you see me in heaven, out of danger of losing my
God, and certain of loving Him throughout eternity. May I be able to
thank Him for ever, with you, my good and charitable Mother, for so
great a mercy. Amen.
_Ejaculation._--Make me like unto you, O Mary, who were so sweet and
humble of heart.
_Practice._--Make an act of external humility in union with Mary.