In the 19th and 20th centuries, there occurred more reported Marian apparitions than any other era in the history of the Church. Many of these apparitions have been approved, either by the local bishop or the Vatican. When studying these apparitions, there can be no doubt that one of the most prominent themes in these apparitions is the Rosary.
Starting with Lourdes, France, in 1858, when Our Lady appeared to Saint Bernadette Soubirous holding rosary beads in her hand—and even praying part of the Rosary with Bernadette—the Queen of Heaven began to appear all over the world in a plethora of Rosary-themed apparitions:
Champion, Wisconsin (1859); (Fatima, Portugal (1917); Beauraing, Belgium (1932-1933); Banneux, Belgium (1933); Akita, Japan (1973); Cuapa, Nicaragua (1980); Kibeho, Rwanda (1981-1989); and San Nicolas, Argentina (1983-1990).
In December 2014, Jesus himself appeared to Bishop Oliver Doeme in Nigeria and handed him a sword that miraculously transformed into a rosary! To his bishop, Jesus emphatically stated that the rosary-sword was to be used to defeat radical Islam. Heaven is trying to tell us something!
Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC
Adapted from Catholic Exchange