Finally his prayers were heard in a miraculous way.  One day, while on his way from Toulouse, Dominic threw himself down on his knees and resolved not to cease praying until his prayers were heard.  Then, so the legend tells us, the glorious Queen of heaven appeared to him, spoke words of encouragement, and taught him how to pray the rosary, assuring him that this would be the right weapon to conquer error and sin.  With joy Dominic arose and returned to Toulouse, and began to spread the use of the rosary, as Mary had taught him and in the way we now recite it.  He preached this devotion, explained it, and taught the people how to pray it.  It proved indeed a most efficacious means for the conversion of apostates, heretics, and sinners.  Since the lack of knowledge in matters of faith had been the real cause why heresy so quickly spread, the principal truths of faith and morals were now communicated to the people through the rosary, and the principles of a Christian life were taught them in this most sublime prayer of the Church.  This was bound to bring results, and we will give now some thought to these results.

II.  According to the historians of those ages the effects of the rosary sermons of St. Dominic were truly wonderful.  In all cities where he preached, the people gathered in great numbers to hear his heaven-inspired words and to pray the rosary with St. Dominic.  Sinners were converted, the faithful were strengthened and fortified, and many thousands of those who had been led into heresy opened their hearts again to the true faith and returned to the holy Church.  The inspired words of St. Dominic met with such splendid results that, even if the tradition did not tell us so, the miraculous effects of this devotion would prove its heavenly inspiration, and Pius ix, Leo xiii, as many Popes before them, have publicly avowed their belief that St. Dominic received the rosary from our blessed Mother.

The promise which Dominic received was fulfilled.  Where all other means had failed, the humble prayer of the rosary accomplished the victory over heresy.  Thus divine wisdom and infinite power make use of humble things to effect great achievements.  Of this the great work of the redemption gives us an example.  God made the Cross the instrument of the redemption.  The despised Cross, once a shame and disgrace, was raised on the height of Calvary and became the instrument of the redemption for all the world, the fountain of grace, a blessing for time and eternity, the symbol of victory and glory.

St. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, writes:  “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not in loftiness of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of Christ.  For I judge not myself to know anything among you, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  And my speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of human wisdom, but in the showing of the spirit and power.  That your faith might not stand on the