The Franciscan crown: a devotion full of grace
The Franciscan Rosary, or more precisely the Franciscan Crown, dates back to the early fifteenth century. At that time a young man, who felt great spiritual joy in weaving wreaths of wild flowers for a beautiful statue of the Madonna, decided to enter the Franciscan Order. After joining the community, however, he was saddened, because he no longer had time to collect flowers for his personal devotion. One evening, while he felt tempted to abandon his vocation, he received a vision of the Virgin Mary. Our Lady encouraged the young novice to persevere, reminding him of the joy of the Franciscan spirit. In addition, he taught him to meditate seven joyful events in his life every day as a new form of rosary. Instead of a wreath, the novice could now have woven a wreath of prayers.
In a short time many other Franciscans began to pray the crown and quickly this practice spread throughout the Order becoming officially recognized in 1422.
CROWN OF THE SEVEN JOY OF MARY
O Holy Spirit, who chose the Virgin Mary to be the Mother of the Word of God, today we invoke all your special support to live in depth this moment of prayer during which we wish to meditate on the seven "joys" of Mary.
We therefore want this to truly become an encounter with her through whom God has shown us all his love and mercy. We are aware of our nothingness, our misery, our human frailty, but we are also sure that you can enter us and radically change our heart so that it is less unworthy to turn to the most pure Virgin Mary.
Behold, Spirit of God, we present our heart to you: purify it from every stain and any sinful tendency, free it from all worries, anxieties, torments and dissolve with the heat of your divine fire everything that can be an obstacle to ours prayer.
Enclosed in the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we now renew our show of faith in the triune God by saying together: I believe in God ...
FIRST JOY: Mary receives from the archangel Gabriel the announcement that she has been chosen by God as Mother of the Eternal Word
The angel said to Mary: "Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found grace with God. Behold you will conceive a son, you will give birth to him and you will call him Jesus. He will be great and called Son of the Most High; the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father and will reign forever over the house of Jacob and his kingdom will have no end. "
(Lc 1,30-32)
1 Our Father ... 10 Ave Maria ... Glory ...
May the Most Holy Trinity be praised and thanked for all the graces and privileges granted to Mary.
SECOND JOY: Mary is recognized and venerated by Elizabeth as Mother of the Lord
As soon as Elizabeth heard Maria's greeting, the baby jumped in her womb. Elizabeth was full of the Holy Spirit and exclaimed in a loud voice: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! To what must the mother of my Lord come to me? Behold, as soon as the voice of your greeting reached my ears, the child exulted with joy in my womb. And blessed is she who believed in the fulfillment of the words of the Lord ”. Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my savior, because he looked at the humility of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed. "
(Lc 1,39-48)
1 Our Father ... 10 Ave Maria ... Glory ...
May the Most Holy Trinity be praised and thanked for all the graces and privileges granted to Mary.
THIRD JOY: Mary gives birth to Jesus without any pain and preserving her complete virginity
Also Joseph, who was from the house and family of David, from the city of Nazareth and from Galilee went up to the city of David, called Bethlehem, in Judea to be registered together with Mary his wife, who was pregnant. Now, while they were in that place, the days of childbirth were fulfilled for her. He gave birth to his firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the hotel. (Lk 2,4-7)
1 Our Father ... 10 Ave Maria ... Glory ...
May the Most Holy Trinity be praised and thanked for all the graces and privileges granted to Mary.
FOURTH JOY: Mary receives the visit of the Magi who have come to Bethlehem to worship her Son Jesus.
And behold the star, which they had seen in its rising, preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. On seeing the star, they felt great joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and prostrated themselves and adored him. Then they opened their caskets and offered him gold, frankincense and myrrh as a gift. (Mt 2,9 -11)
1 Our Father ... 10 Ave Maria ... Glory ...
May the Most Holy Trinity be praised and thanked for all the graces and privileges granted to Mary.
FIFTH JOY: After having lost Jesus, Mary finds him in the Temple while discussing with the doctors of the Law
After three days they found him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them and questioning them. And everyone who heard it was full of amazement at its intelligence and responses. (Lk 2, 46-47)
1 Our Father ... 10 Ave Maria ... Glory ...
May the Most Holy Trinity be praised and thanked for all the graces and privileges granted to Mary.
SIXTH JOY: Mary first receives the apparition of Jesus risen gloriously from the dead.
May the sacrifice of praise rise to the paschal victim today. The lamb has redeemed his flock, the innocent has reconciled us sinners to the Father. Death and Life met in a prodigious duel. The Lord of life was dead; but now, alive, it triumphs. "Tell us, Maria: what did you see on the way?" . “The tomb of the living Christ, the glory of the risen Christ, and his angels witnesses, the shroud and his clothes. Christ, my hope, is risen; and precedes you in Galilee. " Yes, we are sure: Christ is truly risen. You, victorious King, bring us your salvation. (Easter sequence).
1 Our Father ... 10 Ave Maria ... Glory ...
May the Most Holy Trinity be praised and thanked for all the graces and privileges granted to Mary.
SEVENTH JOY: Mary is taken up into heaven and crowned Queen of earth and paradise in the glory of angels and saints
Listen, daughter, look, give your ear, the king will like your beauty. He is your Lord: speak to him. From Tire they are bringing gifts, the richest of the people seek your face. The king's daughter is all splendor, gems and golden fabric is her dress. It is presented to the king in precious embroidery; with her the virgin companions to you are led; guided in joy and exultation enter the king's palace together. I will remember your name for all generations, and peoples will praise you forever, forever.
(Ps 44, 11a.12-16.18)
1 Our Father ... 10 Ave Maria ... Glory ...
May the Most Holy Trinity be praised and thanked for all the graces and privileges granted to Mary.
Conclude with two other Ave Maria, to reach a total of 72, honoring each year of the life of Mary on earth, and a Pater, Ave, Glory for the needs of the Holy Church, according to the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff, in order to purchase the saints indulgences.
HELLO REGINA
O Mary, Mother of joy, we know that you incessantly intercede for us at the throne of the Most High: therefore, presenting all our spiritual and material needs, we beg you confidently repeating together: Pray for us!
Favorite daughter of the Father ... Mother of Christ King of the centuries ... Glory of the Holy Spirit ... Virgin daughter of Zion ... Poor and humble Virgin ... Gentle and docile Virgin ... Obedient servant in faith ... Mother of the Lord ... Cooperator of the Redeemer ... Full of grace ... Source of beauty ... Treasure of virtue and wisdom ... Perfect disciple of Christ ... Purest image of the Church ... Woman clothed with sun ... Woman crowned with stars ... Splendor of the holy Church ... Honor of mankind ... Advocate of grace ... Queen of peace ...
Holy Father, we adore you and bless you for having given us in the Virgin Mary a mother who knows and loves us and who you have placed as a luminous sign on our path. Please give us your paternal blessing so that it will enable us to listen to his words with the heart, to follow with docility the path he has indicated to us and to sing his praises. Accept, good Father, this prayer of ours that we address to you in communion with her.