The six-decades Rosary, also known as the Brigittine Rosary, has been used by Carmelites for centuries, although its significance may now be fading in memory and overlooked as an important aspect of our spirituality.
Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858, holding six-decades of the Rosary to reinforce its spiritual importance.
Even though St. Bernadette was by drawn by the deep Marian devotion of the Carmelites, her frail health prompted her to join the Sisters of Charity instead.
| Joyful Mysteries (Reflecting Christ’s Early Life) The Immaculate Conception The Annunciation; The Visitation The Nativity The Presentation in the Temple The Finding of Jesus in the Temple | Sorrowful Mysteries (Meditating on Christ’s Passion) The Agony in the Garden The Scourging at the Pillar The Crowning with Thorns The Carrying of the Cross The Crucifixion Jesus taken down from the cross and placed in the arms of His Mother |
| Glorious Mysteries (Celebrating Christ’s Triumph and Mary’s Role) The Resurrection The Ascension The Descent of the Holy Spirit The Assumption of Mary The Coronation of Mary The patronage of Mary, Queen and Beauty of Carmel | Luminous Mysteries (Focusing on Christ’s Public Ministry) Jesus obedient to Mary and Joseph at Nazareth The Baptism of Jesus The Wedding at Cana The Proclamation of the Kingdom The Transfiguration The Institution of the Eucharist |
On 13 October 1917, when Our Lady appeared for the last time at Fatima, she manifested as Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Not only did She reinforce the significance of the Scapular, but she also identified Herself as the “Lady of the Rosary” and called for the Five First Saturdays’ Devotion to make reparation for offenses against her Immaculate Heart.
At her last public to Fr. Augustine Fuentes in 1957 in Coimbra, Portugal, Sr. Lucia, OCD (1907-2005) the last living visionary at Fatima, stated:
“..the most Holy Virgin is very sad … the good continue on their way but without giving any importance to her message. The bad, not seeing the punishment of God actually falling upon them, continue their life of sin without even caring about the message!
Russia will be the instrument of chastisement chosen by Heaven to punish the whole world, if we do not beforehand, obtain the conversion of that poor nation. … We must choose sides. … Either we are for God or we are for the devil. …
God is giving two last remedies to the world. These are the Holy Rosary and devotion to the immaculate Heart of Mary. That which afflicts the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Heart of Jesus is the fall of religious and priestly souls.
There is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, even of the life of peoples and nations, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary.”
By rediscovering this unique devotion, we honour the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Mount Carmel and enrich our prayer lives, allowing Her to lead us ever closer to Jesus through contemplation and love.
Image credit: Rosary photograph by Deb Thurston. Carmelite Quotes Blog.
References
Wear the Scapular, Pray the Rosary — Why Our Lady of Mount Carmel Appeared at Fatima| National Catholic Register. www.ncregister.com (National Catholic Register from EWTN)
Catholic Patron Saints: How To Pray The Brigittine and Carmelite Rosaries
SISTER LUCIA FROM FATIMA INTERVIEW 1957
