The Excellence of the Rosary | Page 5

priests, even tore open the
tabernacles and desecrated the most holy Sacrament. A messenger of
Pope Innocent III was murdered by one of these knaves, who then
found the protection of this depraved prince. Under these conditions the
Pope finally saw the necessity of preaching a crusade against these
heretics, who surpassed even the Saracens in the outrages committed. A
terrible war then ensued, in which these enemies of Church and State
were subdued, but not converted. For this there was necessary an
extraordinary spiritual effort, and divine Providence had already
prepared the instrument. St. Dominic was the tool in the hand of God to
introduce and apply an efficacious remedy, and this remedy was the
rosary.
Dominic had for many years taught the doctrines of the Catholic
Church to the heretics, and had converted a number of them, but not
enough to satisfy his holy zeal. He often turned with humility to God

and besought Him with tears, and deeds of penance, that He might let
him know how to accomplish better results. Since childhood he had
been a faithful servant of Mary, and had often said that the devotion to
her was a powerful means of converting heretics and sinners.
Finally his prayers were heard in a miraculous way. One day, while on
his way from Toulouse, Dominic threw himself down on his knees and
resolved not to cease praying until his prayers were heard. Then, so the
legend tells us, the glorious Queen of heaven appeared to him, spoke
words of encouragement, and taught him how to pray the rosary,
assuring him that this would be the right weapon to conquer error and
sin. With joy Dominic arose and returned to Toulouse, and began to
spread the use of the rosary, as Mary had taught him and in the way we
now recite it. He preached this devotion, explained it, and taught the
people how to pray it. It proved indeed a most efficacious means for the
conversion of apostates, heretics, and sinners. Since the lack of
knowledge in matters of faith had been the real cause why heresy so
quickly spread, the principal truths of faith and morals were now
communicated to the people through the rosary, and the principles of a
Christian life were taught them in this most sublime prayer of the
Church. This was bound to bring results, and we will give now some
thought to these results.
II. According to the historians of those ages the effects of the rosary
sermons of St. Dominic were truly wonderful. In all cities where he
preached, the people gathered in great numbers to hear his heaven-
inspired words and to pray the rosary with St. Dominic. Sinners were
converted, the faithful were strengthened and fortified, and many
thousands of those who had been led into heresy opened their hearts
again to the true faith and returned to the holy Church. The inspired
words of St. Dominic met with such splendid results that, even if the
tradition did not tell us so, the miraculous effects of this devotion
would prove its heavenly inspiration, and Pius IX, Leo XIII, as many
Popes before them, have publicly avowed their belief that St. Dominic
received the rosary from our blessed Mother.
The promise which Dominic received was fulfilled. Where all other

means had failed, the humble prayer of the rosary accomplished the
victory over heresy. Thus divine wisdom and infinite power make use
of humble things to effect great achievements. Of this the great work of
the redemption gives us an example. God made the Cross the
instrument of the redemption. The despised Cross, once a shame and
disgrace, was raised on the height of Calvary and became the
instrument of the redemption for all the world, the fountain of grace, a
blessing for time and eternity, the symbol of victory and glory.
St. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, writes: "And I, brethren,
when I came to you, came not in loftiness of speech or of wisdom,
declaring unto you the testimony of Christ. For I judge not myself to
know anything among you, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And
my speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of human
wisdom, but in the showing of the spirit and power. That your faith
might not stand on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. But
we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews indeed a stumbling block,
and unto the Gentiles foolishness: But unto them that are called, both
Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God; for
the foolishness of God is wiser than men; but the foolish things of the
world hath God chosen, that he may confound the strong. That no flesh
should glory