The Rosary: A heavenly sword

The Rosary was forged in an age of chivalry. It is a spiritual weapon, a heavenly sword, fashioned by the hands of a Divine Craftsman. All swords take time and skill to make, but this heavenly sword required the greatest of efforts—centuries—to produce. It is a weapon unlike any other. It has the power to slay dragons (demons), converts sinners, and conquer hearts. The blade of this sword was forged in the living Word of God, shaped by the hammer of divine inspiration, and entrusted to the Queen of Heaven and her chosen servants.

When the weapon was finally battle-ready and the time set for the Divine Craftsman to unsheathe its power, the Queen of Heaven revealed it to the world and chose a zealous preacher to be its founder. She knighted him with the divine weapon and commissioned him to preach it far and wide.

From this holy man an Order of Preachers would be formed to champion the weapon with its mysteries and hand on the sword to all who desire to wield it. These chosen souls are known throughout history as champions of the Rosary.

At the beginning of the 13^th century, the Church was experiencing violent opposition from a group known as the Albigensians, a heretical sect named after the town of Albi in southern France where it originated. During the spread of this heresy, a Spaniard named Dominic Guzman established himself as a dynamic orator against their errors. In preparing for his efforts to correct the errors of the Albigensians, St Dominic had reasoned that since he was gifted with great oratorical ability and theological acumen, he would be able to win souls back to Christ rather easily. However, after having spent several years ardently preaching in town after town, he realized that his methods were not as effective as he had hoped and came to the conclusion that he needed something more. He knew he was up against a formidable spiritual power and needed something strong enough to overcome the enemy.

According to tradition, St Dominic retreated into the silence of the Prouille forest near the town of Toulouse, France, to pray, begging heaven to come to his aid and give him what he needed to overcome the Albigensians. After three days of intense prayer, the Queen of Heaven came to his assistance. She informed him that his efforts in preaching had been noble, but it was the Ave Maria that would give his preaching power. The Queen of Heaven said to him: “Wonder not that until now you [St Dominic] have obtained so little fruit by your labors; you have spent them on a barren soil, not yet watered with the dew of divine grace. When God willed to renew the face of the earth, he began by sending down on it the fertilizing rain of the Angelic Salutation. Therefore, preach my Psalter.” This was the founding moment of the Holy Rosary of Mary. It was the moment the sword was unsheathed.

Father Donald Calloway, MIC (1) Catholic Exchange

(1) Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, has been a priest for 15 years and currently serves as Vicar Provincial and Vocation Director for the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception.