blank'/> SHARING THE REAL TRUTH: The Seven Rejoices of Mary

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The Seven Rejoices of Mary


The images do not exactly depict what is in the lyrics; rather, the form of the Seven Joys of Our Lady that is usually prayed:
i. The Annunciation by the Angel Gabriel
ii. The Visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth
iii. The Birth of Christ
iv. The Adoration of the Magi
v. The Finding of Jesus in the temple
vi. The Resurrection of Christ
vii. The Assumption of Mary into heaven

It was the Franciscans who encouraged the devotion to the Seven Joys or Seven Delights of Mary; thus, the Rosary (Chaplet) of the Seven Joys is also called the Franciscan Crown.

Additional info from Fr. Patrick Shaughnessy, OSB, STD:

"The use of this rosary was begun in the Order of St. Francis in 1422. It is said that a certain novice, before joining the Order, was accustomed to place a crown on a statue of the Blessed Virgin. When he was not allowed to continue this practice he resolved to leave the Order. Then Mary appeared to him and dissuaded him, telling him he could offer a much more pleasing crown by reciting a rosary of 7 decades in honor of her Seven Joys. This is the most highly indulgenced of all the types of rosaries.

The Franciscan Rosary of the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary is composed of seven decades of 1 Our Father and 10 Hail Marys each. At the end 2 Hail Marys are added, and is concluded with the Our Father and Hail Mary. The last Our Father and Hail Mary are said for the intention of the Pope in order to gain the indulgence. The 72 Hail Marys commemorate the seventy-two years the Blessed Virgin Mary is supposed to have lived on earth. The seven decades need not be recited at once, but the single decades may be separated provided that the whole Rosary is said on the same day. It is not necessary to meditate on the mysteries of this Rosary, it suffices to say the single decades in honor of the respective mystery."

Albeit it is said that that, "It is not necessary to meditate on the mysteries of this Rosary, it suffices to say the single decades in honor of the respective mystery", I think it would be more lovely if you do so otherwise.

More on the Seven Joys:
http://franciscan-sfo.org/sts/S0826sj...

Feast of the 7 Joys:
Aug. 26 (Traditional)
May 7