Colegio de San Pascual Baylon

History of the Holy Rosary

Middle Ages 1571
The use of "prayer beads" and the repeated Pope Pius V organized a fleet to protect Italy
recitation of prayer to aid meditation stem and its surrounding countries from the
from the earliest days of the Church and Moslem invaders. While preparation were
has roots in pre-Christian times. underway, the Holy Father asked all of the
Strings of beads were used to count Our faithful to say the rosary and implore our
Fathers and Hail Marys. Blessed Mother's prayers, under the title Our
Lady of Victory, that our Lord would grant
victory to the Christians. Although the Moslem
12th-15th Centuries fleet outnumbered that of the Christians in
both vessels and sailors, the forces were ready
50 Hail Marys were recited and linked
to meet in battle. The Christian flagship flew a
with verses of psalms or other phrases
blue banner depicting Christ crucified.
evoking the lives of Jesus and Mary
This prayer form became known as the
rosarium ("rose garden") October 7, 1571
Christians won over the Moslems

Around 1221 at the Battle of Lepanto.

Tradition holds that St. Dominic de

Guzman devised the rosary as we know it.
1572
Pope St. Pius V established the Feast of the Holy
Moved by a vision of our Blessed Mother, Rosary on October 7, where the faithful would not
he preached the use of the rosary in his only remember this victory, but also give thanks to
missionary work among the Albigensians the Lord for all of His benefits and remember the
who had denied the mystery of Christ. powerful intercession of our Blessed Mother.

16th Century 2002

Pope St. John Paul II, through his apostolic
The structure of the five-decade
letter "Rosarium Virginis Mariae," added
rosary based on the three sets of
the Luminous Mysteries to the sets of
mysteries prevailed.
mysteries we pray in the Rosary.

Source: "The History of the Rosary" by Fr. William Saunders (Catholic Education)
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