The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-01-18

This boy will be a good child be-
cause he knows how to recite his Ros-
ary.' On such occasions had always
a word of praise and encouragement
for the child, and, after making him
a present of a new pair of Rosary
beads, would send him off, glowing
with smiles.
"But in China, be it remembered,
devotion to the Holy Rosary is not
one that grows cold with years. Not
only the children, but nearly all the
Catholic women and large majority
OF the men, recite the Rosary daily.
And to designate tepid and luke
warm person, Chinese Christians
know of no better OF more forcible
expression than Keuig.no-Nem-'He
does not say his Rosary
"How often, in the quiet of the
evening, when duty called me forth
amid those good people, have l stood
entranced by the sweet harmonies
that rose from distant houses where
the family had gathered together for
the nightly recitation of the Rosary
There could be no mistaking a Chris
tian house amid thousand pagan
ones. AS soon as the shadows began
to descent over the village, from
every Catholic cottage would well
forth the loud, sweet strains of the
Rosary; for in China it is not merely
recited as in European countries, but
is chanted in chorus.
"Neophytes, even when in the
midst of pagans, are proud to have
the Rosary about their necks; women
consider it among the most handsome
OF ornaments, and wear costly Rosary
beads suspended from their breasts,
while the 'Nem-kou, or sleeping
Rosary which is worn about the
neck and under the garments, is COM
mon to all Catholic Chinese. Not
satisfied with saying their beads in
church and at home, they occupy
their leasure moments when travelling
or when returning from the fields in
the recitation of the Rosary, believ-
ing that the Psalter of Mary should
not be interrupted.
$50 great is the generation of this
people for the Rosary that they fire.
quently accuse themselves of having
touched it with unwashed hands, or
of having let it drop upon the floor;
and their manner of saying the
Rosary will convince one that they
are at least as reverent as ourselves.
Frustrated upon the floor with their
faces to the ground, they recite in a
low tone the Confiteor and Miserea-
tur; then, kneeling upright, they
make double Sign of the Cross and
sing the Veni, Sancte Spiritus, and
the Oremus, in the Chinese language.
II it be the hour for the Angelus, that
prayer is said; otherwise the Litany
of Loreto or of the Saints is recited;
before or after which various inten-
tons are made, such as the intention
OF our holy mother the Church or of
the Sovereign Pontiff. The five mys-
teries Immediately follow, and the
devotion is usually terminated by the
Salve Regina, the Acts of Faith,
Hope, Charity and Contrition, and a
A"SANAS0NnAI III pave lOI IAC ld1Iulu1
departed.
1T is the custom in China OBJ
serves the Bishop, ito give the Holy
Rosary as penance after Confession
and was many times surprised at
the disappointment of penitents on
receiving only one Rosary as a pen
ance. Though they had committed
only venial sins, they thought they
should receive a penance of ten or
more Rosaries, and were very care
full not to substitute their daily
prayers of devotion as part of their
penance."
This, then, is the manner in which
the devotion of the Holy Rosary is
practiced in the heart of uncivilized
China. Might it not serve as an
example to many of us, who are so
neglectful of this devotion, and so
hasty in the recital of the Rosary
| when we do say it?