A Blessing in Disguise

Just reading a lovely little book by Immaculee Ilibagiza :

'This long-awaited book from New York Times best-selling author Immaculée Ilibagiza teaches readers how to pray the rosary of the seven sorrows for greater wisdom, strength, and forgiveness.

In this new book by New York Times best-selling author Immaculée Ilibagiza, readers will rediscover this important message from Mary. Mary wanted the whole world to know the seven sorrows rosary, and Immaculée not only shares it but explains Mary’s specific teachings for how to pray it, as well as offers the promises attached to the prayers.

The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows dates back to the Middle Ages, but it gained new popularity following the sightings of the Blessed Virgin Mary that occurred in the 1980s in Kibeho, Rwanda. During these sightings, which were validated by the Vatican, Mary asked that this special rosary be introduced to the world. It was spread widely to thousands of people, who then taught it to thousands of others.

Immaculée also reveals incredible real-life stories from people who have been healed through this prayer. These miracles include healing of addictions, healing of “incurable” illnesses, including stage 4 pancreatic cancer and infertility, and more. Besides those miracles, there are many other everyday blessings to be had, including inner peace, healthier marriages, happier careers, and more.'

Mary said, “Help me, my children, to spread this blessing, this prayer. I will reward those who do.”

 

I didn't know that when Our Lady appeared at the Church approved Marian Apparitions at Kibeho in Rwanda she asked that all 15 Mysteries of the Traditional Rosary be said every day. This has fired me up. I manages usually to say five or ten most days but am now aiming for a moon shot to do all 15

However I have had a yen recently to do other rosaries as well including the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Mary and the Chaplet of the Angels. But one step at time..

At Kibeho Our Blessed Lady pointed out that the Seven Sorrows Rosary had fallen into disuse and she gave directions that it should be said especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays .

The original rosary was given to Saint Bridget of Sweden and was encouraged by several saints including St Elizabeth and St Alphonsus Ligouri and comes with seven promises:

 

So I have ordered the rosary beads and hope they will come this week. I also ordered several bookmarks for the old Family Bible so I can go to the Scripture for each Sorrow. Also I am going to light a candle in front of the Bible as I pray. I also ordered some Catholic bookmarks so I can go to each Scripture quickly.

I intend to do this rosary at home in the evening before bed time as I am unfamiliar with this kind of rosary so I can learn how to do it.

It seems to be a rosary of healing and for the hard times. Very good indeed for mothers.

I am excited and happy to give it a shot. We'll see how it goes.

 

Sounds wonderful, I will also order these and join you Padraig.

 

DO. There are the most incredible reports of healing miracles even from terminal cancer.

It also seems like a good safeguard in preparation for hard times. Like a squirrel hoarding nuts for the winter.

 

I may have mentioned this before on forum but worth repeating imo. My wife and I met Immaculee many many years ago at a Divine Mercy conference where she spoke with among others Frs. Groeschel, Gaitley, and Carroway. She is the real deal! Het story about true and complete forgiveness of the people who killed her entire family in Rwhandan genocide is amazing. I recommend reading her book Left To Tell. I think it was will add to your wonderful commitment to recite the 7 sorrows rosary.

 

Yes this rosary of the seven sorrows is a blessing.

I started to recite the seven sorrows rosary daily around 4 years ago, even though I had been given the grace (for more than 35 years) to say the Dominican rosary daily, which I continue.

However during these 30 to 40 years of daily praying the Dominican rosary, the Lord saw fit to allow crosses (through trauma and suffering to continue to escalate in my life), so regardless of the 15 promises of the Dominican rosary, I learnt two things

1) I was a sinner and deserved these crosses. A great blessing because I learnt to say.....I deserve this pain as I have offended your infinite goodness Lord
2) No matter how many rosaries I say hoping to elevate or negate pain, these crosses will continue.

Then the Lord introduced me to the seven sorrows rosary!

When I discovered the seven sorrows rosary, I could not imagine that I would be asked to suffer more intently, but even though the sufferings increased, the seven sorrows rosary became a shield to the sorrow. That sounds like a paradox. But....

The seven sorrows rosary was an armour and a shield or though I did not see this at the time.

This is how the Lord worked in my experience...

I pray the seven sorrows before praying the Dominican rosary (which I try to pray 20 decades a day)

When praying the seven sorrows I am immersed in Our Lady's sorrows, which are painful, I cry throughout, with brief spells; some days are different and I only feel a small portion (of the portion of her immense pains) , however the amazing thing is;

I feel Our Lady crying for my sorrows!

This destroys me. I feel such love and compassion from Our Heavenly Mother, that I can be dissolved in tears and contemplation in her great concern for me!

In the seven sorrows Rosary its like Our Lady immerses herself in our life, as we attempt to immerse ourselves in her life. As a consequence, the secrets and jewels contained within the Dominican rosary are revealed in a deeper depth. Insights are given that cannot be explained.

I believe that through the seven sorrows rosary we are drawn deeper into the mystery of the incarnation and His saving mission and we sort of get a glimpse of the beatific vision.

That's my estimation.

Please pray the seven sorrows rosary, as well as the Dominican rosary, as Our Lady has requested this prayer especially for these times

God Bless us all. Amen

 

Wonderful post.

 

The first section of the book is superbly written by a professional with a Masterly grasp of the English language. I don't really think it could have been written by someone whose first language was not English, no matter how well she had enbibed it. So I suppose this section was Ghost written.

She is very holy and full of forgiveness. Which is an extraordinary work of grace.

She mentions being in New York during the Lock Downs. It seems to have been doing this rosary during the lock downs that helped her through. She had a a very very large prayer group which did and still does this rosary, she mentions it often goes on for three hours..I can't imagine.

 

I received my rosary this morning in a little plastic box with a clear top which reminded me of my First Holy Communion beads. I have heard of people who kept their first beads into old age unopened. But what good are beads you never actually use?

So of course I had them out tonight and used them according to the books instructions, a delight. My favourite Sorrow is Jesus and Mary Meeting on the way to the Cross. Just as it is in the Stations of the Cross when they stared in each others eyes. There was never a meeting in all Human History like this.

Why? Because no couple in all human history ever loved each other as they did. They drowned in each others sorrows. Drowned. My own heart is very,very hard indeed. But it melts every time I want to think about it. This is a great, great blessing for me for if ever a hard, hard heart needed melting it is mine.

 

It is only through our own suffering , through our own hearts being pierced that we can only ever begin to enter into the sufferings of others. But since no one loved Jesus like Mary we will always only be at the entrance way looking on at her pain.

I think for men this is an especially great blessing for it teaches us compassion and to be gentle and kind and to be more at home with our emotions, our vulnerabilities and pains, to become little again and to feel our Mothers arms around us. Not to be afraid of suffering. Not to be afraid of being afraid.

To learn that there is more to being a man than refusing to cry.

 

I also had the privilege of meeting Immaculee twice when she spoke at our Church. 12 years ago, I got to pick her up from NYC and drive her to Long Island. She is humble, very faithful and sweet. When I saw her last year, she brought her daughter. Something she said to me when I drove back to NYC was that although she writes & speaks about the apparitions of the Blessed Mother to the girls in Kibeho….sometimes she wishes that the Blessed Mother would visit her.

 

My favorite picture of the fourth sorrow is this one. The only two that matter are there. No distractions for my wandering eyes.

 

I pray the 7 sorrows rosary. I used to pray it every day but lately I have slacked. I need to pick it up again.
I prayed it in Medjugorje every day I was there last year with a special request to Our Lady for my daughter and her husband that they would be blessed with a baby. She will be 40 this year. She is now expecting twins. My seven sorrows rosary also turned to gold while I was in Medjugorje.
I certainly need to get back on track.
Josephite I'm assuming the Dominican Rosary is the regular rosary traditionally 15 decades now 20.

 

I think its meant for times of great suffering.

These present times.

The Storm Coming.

 

Not apart from the Traditional Rosary but in addition to it. A Princess and a Queen.

 

I started to pray this rosary around 2 years ago when I first heard about it here (probably not long after joining this forum)…
After discovering it, I figured that I should probably pray this rosary regularly for these times, since I am born on September 15th which is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows AND in my country (Slovakia) she is officially titled Our Lady of Seven Sorrows AND under this specific title she is the patron Saint of our country

And what a great gift it has been… I feel I can really unite my pains and struggles with Our Lady and Our Lord each time I pray it, while in this way it seems to goe by faster than other prayers for me. I am convinced that It has been a source of innumerable blessings in my spiritual life (and life in general), so I cannot recommend it enough

 

Please include my husband with cancer. Name is Gerald
I say it sometimes but should make sure I say it every day. I usually say 2 but better up it. I will include those asking for prayers on here and you Padraig. Prayed at mass and Adoration for you all.

 

I am expecting my Rosary Thursday. So excited to start.