The Origin of the Holy Rosary



When St Dominic saw the gravity of people's sins are hindering the Albigensians' conversion, he retreated himself into a forest. For three days and nights he prayed, weep and flogged himself so much that eventually he fell unconsciousness. Then Our Lady came with three Angels and appeared to St Dominic, asking him whether he knows which weapon the Blessed Trinity has used to reform the world. Our Lady then told him the principal weapon has been the Angelic Psalter and he needs to preach her Psalter in order to win those hardened souls over to God. So the comforted Saint got up and went straight to the Cathedral full of burning zeal for those people's conversion. Unseen Angels immediately rang the bells to gather the people to the Church and the Saint started preaching. Initially, a horrible storm broke out, people were terrified because not only the sun darkened but the earth also got shaken. They were even more frightened when they saw a picture of Our Lady raised Her arms three times to heaven to call down God's retribution if they would not convert and seek Her protection. After St Dominic's prayers, the storm stopped and the Saint continued with his preaching so fervently and successfully explain the Holy Rosary's value that almost all the people in that city accepted it and give up their wrong beliefs. A great improvement was seen within a very short period and not only people broke their previous bad habits but they also began to live truly Christian lives. One thing worth noting is that only until 1214 that the Church received the Holy Rosary in the form and method that we use today.

(Reference: ‘The secret of the rosary’, by St Louis Marie de Montfort)