Certain critics of the Rosary cannot understand why the Hail Mary is so frequently repeated.  But in the repetition lies the strength of the prayer, for holy perseverance is expressed by this repetition.  The psalmist in the one hundredth and thirty-fifth Psalm repeats twenty-six times the words:  “For his mercy endureth forever.”  And the heavenly hosts proclaim their “Thrice Holy” for ever and ever.

We are perfectly right, therefore, in declaring that the Rosary is a thoroughly practical prayer, corresponding exactly to the necessities and peculiarities of our minds and hearts.

We might challenge the world to name a more beautiful, a more excellent prayer.  The Church therefore numbers the Rosary amongst her most efficacious prayers, and she has endowed it richly with indulgences to induce the faithful to say it frequently.

XI.  THE EXCELLENCE OF THE ROSARY ON ACCOUNT OF THE MYSTERIES COMMEMORATED

“Unless thy law had been my meditation, I had then perhaps perished in my abjection.”—­Ps. cxviii, 92.

Dear Brethren:  In our former considerations of the Rosary we have discussed the prayers of which the Rosary is composed.  The second chief part of the Rosary is the fifteen Mysteries.  They are called Mysteries because the truths which they contain are hidden and cannot be comprehended except by Divine revelation.  These Mysteries and their significance will be the subject of our discourse to-day.  It is the spirit and intention of the Church that these Mysteries be properly meditated upon while saying the Rosary.  This we do by reflecting upon them, by applying to ourselves the lesson drawn! from them, and by resolving to amend our life or to perfect it according to this lesson.

I. The consideration of the Divine truths of salvation is absolutely necessary for all mankind, for no one can be saved who is not mindful of his salvation.  We cannot attain happiness without serving and loving God.  Yet he knows not God who does not give any thought to things divine.  In order to learn to know God and to make progress in this knowledge we must contemplate the Divine attributes and perfections, and the works which proclaim them.  The whole universe is preaching to us God’s omnipotence, wisdom, and love.  The heavens tell of God’s glory, and the firmament proclaims the works of His hands.  The tiny flowers in field and meadow, the birds in the tree, the stars in the sky, they all remind us of God and of His Omnipotence and Goodness.  We ought not regard these things thoughtlessly, they give us food for salutary thought and meditation.  They exhort us to show love and gratitude towards God, the merciful Father who has created all these things for us.

God so loved the world as to sacrifice for it His only begotten Son.  The Son so loved Mankind that He became Man, suffered for us and died upon the Cross, in order to ransom us from sin and ruin.  We learn to know not only the malice, horror, and guilt of sin, but also the infinite mercy and love of God by pondering on the works of God.