31ème Rose — L'excellence du saint rosaire dans les merveilles que dieu a opérées en sa faveur
The Royal Gift of Children
Saint Dominic guides Queen Blanche of Castile to the Rosary, resulting in the birth of Saint Louis.
98. When Saint Dominic visited Queen Blanche of France—who was deeply distressed after twelve years of marriage because she had no children—he advised her to pray the Rosary daily to obtain this grace from heaven. She did so, and in 1213 she gave birth to her eldest son, Philip. But when death took him from her in his cradle, the devout queen turned more than ever to the Blessed Virgin, and she had a great many rosaries distributed throughout the whole court and in several towns of the kingdom, so that God would fill her with a complete blessing. And so it happened, for in the year 1215 Saint Louis came into the world, the glory of France and the model of Christian kings” (Mystical Rosebush, 7th decade, ch.1 1).
The King's Restoration
King Alfonso of Castile finds forgiveness and physical healing through his faithful practice of the Rosary.
99. Alfonso VIII, King of Aragon and Castile, was punished by God in various ways for his sins and was forced to retreat to a town belonging to one of his allies. Saint Dominic, finding himself in that same town on Christmas Day, preached there as usual on the Rosary and the graces one obtains from God through this devotion, and said among other things that those who would recite it devoutly would win victory over their enemies and recover everything they had lost. The king took careful note of these words, sent for Saint Dominic, and asked him if what he had preached about the holy Rosary was true. The saint replied that there was no room for doubt and promised him that if he were willing to practice this devotion and join the confraternity, he would see its effects. The king resolved to recite the Rosary every day and kept it up for a year. On that same Christmas Day, after he had finished his Rosary, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him and said, "Alfonso, for a year now you have served me devoutly through my Rosary; I have come to reward you." Know that I have obtained from my Son the forgiveness of all your sins. Here is a rosary I give you; wear it, and none of your enemies will ever be able to harm you." She disappeared, leaving the king deeply consoled. He went back holding that rosary in his hand, and when he reached the queen, he joyfully told her of the favor he had just received from the Blessed Virgin. He touched her eyes with the rosary, and she recovered the sight she had lost.
Victory Through Devotion
King Alfonso and his court experience military success and spiritual growth through their commitment to the Rosary.
Some time later, the king, having gathered a few troops with the help of his allies, boldly attacked his enemies, forced them to give back his lands and make good his losses, drove them out completely, and became so successful in war that soldiers came to him from every side to fight under his banners, because victories seemed to follow his battles everywhere. It’s no wonder: he never went into battle without first saying his Rosary on his knees. He had his entire court enrolled in the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, and he required his officers and household servants to be devoted to it. The queen took up the devotion as well, and both of them persevered in the service of the Blessed Virgin and lived in great piety (Mystical Rosebush, 7th decade, ch.2 8).3
Read the original Latin
98. «Saint Dominique étant allé visiter sainte Blanche, reine de France, qui, depuis 12 ans qu'elle était mariée, n'avait point eu d'enfants, et donc elle était fort affligée, lui conseilla de dire son Rosaire tous les jours, pour obtenir cette grâce du ciel, ce qu'elle fit, et elle accoucha, l'an 1213, de son aîné qui fut appelé Philippe. Mais la mort l'ayant ravi en son berceau, la dévote reine eut plus que jamais recours à la Sainte Vierge et elle fit distribuer quantité de rosaires à toute la cour et dans plusieurs villes du royaume, afin que Dieu la comblât d'une entière bénédiction. Ce qui arriva ainsi, car l'an 1215 saint Louis vint au monde, la gloire de la France et le modèle des rois chrétiens» (Rosier mystique, 7ème dizaine, ch. 1).
99. «Alphonse huitième, roi d'Aragon et de Castille, fut, à cause de ses péchés, châtié de Dieu en plusieurs manières et il fut contraint de se retirer dans une ville de l'un de ses alliés. Saint Dominique, se rencontrant en cette même ville le jour de Noël, y prêcha à son ordinaire le Rosaire et les grâces que l'on obtient de Dieu par cette dévotion et dit, entre autres choses, que ceux qui le réciteraient dévotement obtiendraient la victoire de leurs ennemis et recouvreraient tout ce qu'ils avaient perdu. Le roi remarque bien ces paroles, envoie quérir saint Dominique et lui demande si ce qu'il avait prêché du saint Rosaire était véritable. Le saint répondit qu'il n'en fallait point douter et lui promit que s'il voulait pratiquer cette dévotion et s'enrôler en la confrérie, il en verrait les effets. Le roi se résolut à réciter tous les jours le Rosaire, et il continua pendant un an, et le même jour de Noël, ayant récité son Rosaire, la Sainte Vierge lui apparut et lui dit: "Alphonse, il y a un an que tu me sers dévotement par mon Rosaire, je viens te récompenser. Sache que j'ai obtenu de mon Fils le pardon de tous tes péchés; voilà un rosaire que je te donne; porte-le sur toi, et jamais aucun de tes ennemis ne te pourra nuire." Elle disparut et laissa le roi fort consolé; il s'en retourna, tenant ce rosaire à la main et, abordant la reine, il lui raconta tout joyeux la faveur qu'il venait de recevoir de la Sainte Vierge; il lui toucha les yeux de ce rosaire, elle recouvra la vue qu'elle avait perdue.
Quelque temps après, le roi, ayant ramassé quelques troupes, avec l'aide de ses alliés, attaqua hardiment ses ennemis, les obligea de rendre ses terres, de réparer ses dommages, les chassa entièrement et devint si heureux en guerre que de tous côtés il lui venait des soldats pour combattre sous ses enseignes, parce que les victoires semblaient suivre partout ses batailles. Il ne s'en faut pas étonner, car il ne livrait jamais de combats qu'après avoir récité son Rosaire à genoux; il faisait recevoir dans la confrérie du saint Rosaire toute sa cour et il obligeait ses officiers et domestiques d'y être dévots. La reine s'y engagea aussi, et tous deux persévérèrent au service de la Sainte Vierge et vécurent en grande piété» (Rosier mystique, 7ème dizaine, ch. 8).
Notes
- 1 ↩Source citation title 'Rosier mystique' rendered as 'Mystical Rosebush'; 'dizaine' as rosary 'decade' (group of ten).
- 2 ↩Closing quote and parenthetical source citation continue into s4: Rosier mystique, 7ème dizaine, ch. 8).
- 3 ↩Completes the source citation begun in s3: (Rosier mystique, 7ème dizaine, ch. 8).
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