THE FRANCISCAN CROWN OR ROSARY OF
THE SEVEN JOYS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
The Franciscan Crown, or the Rosary of the Seven
Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an ancient devotion of the Franciscans. Father Luke
Wadding, an Franciscan historian, dates the beginning of this chaplet in 1422, the
entrance date into the noviciate of the order of one pious young man. This young devoted
of Virgin Mary used to decorate a statue of the Virgin with crowns of fresh roses. This
practice was forbidden to him in the noviciate, an he determined to leave the order for
his devotion to his Blessed Virgin. In a vision, Our Lady appeared to him and told him,
"Do not be sad and cast down, my son, because you are no longer permitted to place
wreaths of flowers on my statue. I will teach you to change this pious practice into one
that will be far more pleasing to me and far more meritorious to your soul. In place of
the flowers that soon wither and cannot always be found, you can weave for me a crown from
the flowers of your prayers that will always remain fresh." The Virgin requested the
young friar to say ten Hail Mary's in honour of seven joyous occasions in Her life. As the
vision faded, the overjoyed novice began to recite the prayers as she had instructed him
to do. While he was devoutly praying, the Novice Master passed by and saw an angel weaving
a wreath of roses. After every tenth rose, he inserted a golden lily. When the wreath was
finished, the angel placed it on the head of the praying novice. The Novice Master asked
the novice explain to him the meaning of the vision. The novice complied, and the novice
master was so impressed with what he had heard that he immediately told his brother
friars. The practice of reciting the Crown of the Seven Joys soon spread to the entire
Order.
The plenary Indulgence attached to the
recitation of the Franciscan Crown, may be gained as often as the crown is recited. Is too
enriched the Franciscan Crown with several Indulgences that may be gained by all the
faithful, all the people that pray the Franciscan Crown.
FRANCISCAN CROWN
(Is a traditional crown, but the
meditations are new)
First Joy: The Announcement to Virgin Mary by Gabriel Angel.
We greet you as Gabriel Angel "Be Happy you Full of grace, the Lord is with
thee...." And he told you then: " ...conceibed in your breast and you
will give to light a son to who you will put for name Jesus", followed by
your acceptance: "There is the slave of the Lord., make you in me according
to your word." By this acceptance you show us the way to follow: To accept
our life like God presents it to us every day, living with love good times as well as bad
times. As made Sain Francis when he accepts their mission meekly, responding with all his
being to Jesus's call.
Let us pray together, ten Hail Mary, also for those that don't participated with the
Immaculate Conception's of the Sacred Virgin.
Second Joy: The Visit to their cousin Saint Elizabeth.
We remember with you when you went to Juda and in Zachary's house you salutated
Elizabeth your cousin, who hearing you, was filled with the Sacred Spirit, and the boy
jumped in his stomach.. We received you like Saint Elizabeth did: "Blessed
are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." We
requested you that you always come to visit us, to bring us Jesus and His Sacred Spirit.
As Francis who named you as Lawyer of the Franciscan Family and by this way carry out your
tutor mission. We requested you look after us. Hail Mary,
Let us pray together, ten Hail Mary to honored your visit. Lets pray also for those that
don't receive You in their lives.
Third Joy: Jesus' Birth in the Portal of Nativity.
With Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph we are happy for this gift that had been gave
us in the night of peace and love. With the angels and shepherds we say:
"glory to God in the heights and in the earth peace to men of good will."
And as Francis, let us revive the wonderful scene of Jesus's birth, let us fill our heart
of rejoicing and love and spreading it to everybody.
Let us pray together, ten Hail Mary, to praise you for your immense gift and for all those
that still don't see or feel Jesus into themselves.
Fourth Joy: The Adoration of Kings Magi.
We rejoicing of the fact that three sages believed and with humility they adored
the God Child, offering Him: gold, incense and myrrh, as homage and recognition to the
King, the God and the Man. We, as those Kings, want to adore your and surrender to your
Divine Son and as Francis did, we want to be cheerful, jubilant and praising to You.
Let us pray together, ten Hail Mary, as an offering to the God Child and for those that
don't know Him or they have forgotten Him.
Fifth Joy: Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the Temple.
What a happy feeling we have as well as You did
when you found Jesus in the temple! We want to repeat as Saint Francis used to said: "this is what looked for, what yearns my
heart." We asked you Mary to helps us to find Jesus inside of us when
we feel away from Him, and helps us to see Him in all the creation as Francis showed us in
his Song to the Creatures.
Let us pray together, ten Hail Mary, in gratefulness of the fact that Jesus live in us and
in all the creation, as well as for all those that look for him, find Him, and live with
peace and happiness.
Sixth Joy: Mary sees Resuscitated Jesus.
With you Mary, we are happy because of Resuscitated Christ. His isthe Light:
"that illuminates all man that comes to this world." He is the road,
the truth and the life. As Francis, we want to fill us with your Son and always say:
"My God and my all."
Let us pray together, ten Hail Mary in gratefulness, because we live with the
Light that is Christ, and for those that don't still see the Ligth.
Seventh Joy: Mary Asuntion and their Coronation like Queen of Heaven and Earth.
What a happy feel we have with you Mary, because in Heaven you are next to your
dear Son. You are Co-redentor, intercessor and our helper. Your, humble human, now Queen
of Heaven and Earth, you show us, the way, we tell you: "Oh, Mary, my Mother,
I give you my heart." As Francis, we hope to receive the Crown of the Life.
Let us pray together, ten Hail Mary in gratitude to be our Queen and Mother of Love, and
for all those that don't recognise you as Immaculate Mary and Asscended to Heaven.
Brothers and sisters, filled with joy the Virgin's seven happiness and lets go to live
Jesus' commandment: "to love God over all the things and to our neighbour
like ourselves" and as well as Francisco did we want to love God in all His
creation.
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Updated: Revisadas 10-04-2020