The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-09-27
THE MONTH OF THE ROSARY.
Extracts from Pope Leo's First En-
cyclical on the Rosary. List of
Later Encyclicals on this
Devotion.

The devotion of the Rosary
Month" began in the year 1863 in
Spain, by the daily and public recita-
ton of the Rosary in honor of the
ever-blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother
of God. Thirty-three Spanish bishops
approved of it, and propagated it
throughout their dioceses, and Pope
Plus TX, in the year 1868, enriched
this pious practice with considerable
indulgences. In September, 1883,
Pope Leo, XIII extended the Rosary
Month of October" to the whole
Church, in his Encyclical Letter "Su-
premi Apostolatus" The following
indulgences were granted: Seven
years and guarantees each time for
being present and joining in this pub
lie devotion. This indulgence can be
mately prevented from being present
in church, and who perform it pri-
vately, and pray for the intention of
the Supreme Pontiff. A plenary in
diligence is granted to those who as
sist at it at least ten times in the
month of October Cor say it privately
as above), and receive the Sacrament
of Penance and the Holy Eucharist.
A pIenary indulgence is likewise
granted to those who confess and
communicate on Rosary Sunday, that
is, the first Sunday in October, or
during the Octave. These privileges
the Holy Father renewed the follow
ing year, and in 1885 he established
the Rosary Month";" with all the
indulgences until the peace and liber-
ty of the Church be restored.
In his first memorable Encyclical
on the Rosary, issued September l.,
1883, Pope Leo XIII says:
The Catholic Church has always,
and rightly, put her hope and trust in
the Mother of God. 1t has always been
the habit of Catholics, in dangers, and
in times of trouble, to flee for refuge
to Mary, and to seek for peace in
her maternal goodness. The Immacu-
late Virgin, chosen to be the Mother
of God, and thereby associated with
Him in the work of mans salvation,
has a favor and power with her Divine
Son greater than any creature, human
or angelic, has ever obtained or can
ever gain. AS it is her happiness to
grant her help and succor to those
who ask it, we cannot doubt that she
would deign and even be eager to re
ceive the aspirations of the Universal
Church.
This great and hope-inspiring devo-
ton to the august Queen of Heaven
has never been shown forth with
greater brilliancy than when the
militant Church of God has seemed to
be endangered by the violence OF
widespread heresy, by intolerable
moral corruption, or by the assaults
of powerful enemies. Ancient and
modern history, and the sacred annals
of the Church, alike bear witness to
public and private applications ad
dressed to the Mother of God, to the
help which she has given in return
and to the peace and tranquility
which she had obtained from God
Hence her illustrious titles of He'll
of Christians, CONSIDER of the
Afflicted, Mighty in War, Victorious
and Peacegiver.
Amongst these is specially to be
enumerated that familiar title derived
from the Rosary, through which the
signal benefits she has gained for the
whole of Christendom have beer
solemnly and perpetually common
grated.
Venerable Brethren, you have be
fore your eyes the severe trials tC
which the Church is daily exposed
Christian piety, public morality, nay
even faith itself, our highest good anC
the foundation of all other virtues, are
threatened with the greatest per1ls
You are not only aware of the diff
Guilty of Our position, and of Oul
griefs, but by sympathy and com
munion your charity makes you fee
with Us. 1t is indeed a most affecting
and painful sight to witness so many
souls who have been redeemed by the
Blood of Christ carried away, as i
were, by the whirlwind of error, ant
hurled headlong into evil and eterna
ruin. Our need of divine help is no
less today than when the grea
Dominic preached the Rosary o
Mary, as a remedy to heal the wounds
of Christendom. Divinely enlightened
he saw that no remedy could be bette
adapted to the evils of his time, thai
that men should, by frequent media
ton on the salvation obtained for u
bv Christ, return to Him who is eth
wav. the truth, and the life" and tina
thew should seek the intercession wit
God of that Virgin to whom it /
given ito destroy all heres1es.
To effect this he so composed tn
Rosary as to recall to mind tn
mysteries of our salvation in ordel
He combined and, as it were, intel
laced the subjects to be mediate
with the angelical salutation and wit
the prayer ito God and the Father {
Our Lord Jesus Christ"
We, who seek remedy for Tx
evils. do not doubt that the praye
introduced by that most holy maj
with so much benefit to the Cathoh
world, will have the greatest poWe
against the calamities of our time
also.
For this reason we do exhort a
Christians to give themselves to tn
daily recital of this pious devotion
either in public or privately in tn
homo mr. family of each, and we ais