Franciscan Crown
History
of the Franciscan Crown
The Franciscan rosary, or
as it is properly called, The Franciscan Crown, dates to the early part
of the 15th century. At that time a young man who found spiritual joy in
weaving a crown of wild flowers for a beautiful statue of Mary decided
to enter the Franciscan Order. After entering the community, however, he
was saddened when he no longer found the time to gather flowers for his
personal devotion. One evening, while feeling tempted to abandon his
vocation, he received a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Virgin
Mother encouraged the young novice to persevere by reminding him of the
joyfulness of the Franciscan spirit. She also instructed him to meditate
daily on seven joyful events from her own life as a new form of the
rosary. Instead of a crown of flowers, the novice would now weave a
crown of prayers. Before long, many other Franciscans began to pray the
Crown and soon it spread to the entire Order, becoming officially
established in 1422.
In addition to developing this Marian devotion, the Franciscans are
credited with adding the final words to the Hail Mary, Holy Mary, Mother
of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. In 1263,
Saint Bonaventure, Minister General of the Order, encouraged liturgical
devotion honouring the mystery of the Visitation. Saint Bonaventure also
popularized the daily triple recitation of the Angelus which it is
believed Saint Francis initiated after visiting the Holy Land. Francis
was deeply impressed by the Muslim practice of stopping to pray several
times a day, and desired to Christianize this pious custom. A Franciscan
pope, Sixtur IV (1471-1485), introduced the feast of the Immaculate
Conception and the feast of Saint Joseph as husband of Mary. He also
issued the first papal pronouncement encouraging the rosary as in
invaluable instrument of personal and societal conversion.
The
Franciscan Crown
Each decade, highlighting
of one of Mary's joys, begins with the Our Father and is followed by ten
Hail Mary's.
- The Annunciation
- The Visitation
- The Birth of Christ
- The Adoration of the Magi
- The finding of the Child Jesus in the temple
- The meeting of Christ after the resurrection
- The Assumption and Coronation of Mary
Two Hail Mary's are added after the seventh decade to make a total of seventy-two, a number honoring the traditional belief of Mary's seventy-two years of life on earth.
In conclusion, an Our Father and Hail Mary are also recited for the intentions of the Pope
THE FIRST JOY OF MARY: THE ANNUNCIATION
Do not fear, Mary,
for you have favour with God. Behold, you will conceive and bear a son,
and shall name him Jesus. Luke 1:30-31
THE SECOND JOY OF MARY: THE VISITATION
The infant leapt in
her womb, and Elizabeth cried out in a loud voice, "Most blessed
are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Luke
1:41-42
THE
THIRD JOY OF MARY: THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
Mary gave birth to
her first born son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in
a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke
2:4,7
THE FOURTH JOY OF MARY: THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI
The
Magi found the mother with child. They prostrated themselves and did him
homage, offering gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew
2:1-2,11
THE
FIFTH JOY OF MARY: FINDING THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE
After three days
they found the boy in the Temple. And he said to them, 'Did you not know
that I would be found in my father's house?'Luke
2:41,43,46-49
THE
SIXTH JOY OF MARY: MEETING CHRIST AFTER THE RESURRECTION
Then there appeared
to them tongues as of fire, and they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit.
Acts 2:1-4
The Seventh Joy of Mary: The Assumption and Coronation
A great sign appeared in the sky; a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Rev. 11:19;12:1