I just recently heard about the rosary, and the 15 promises of Mary. This isn't something my religion practices, nor have I ever heard of it before. I had a few questions on it.
First of all, these are the promises I saw. If this isn't the official text, please direct me to it, so some things might become a bit clearer.
1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against Hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities and will lead them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death, they shall participate in the merits of the saints in Paradise.
9. I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
12. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire Celestial Court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son, Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.
And my questions:
1. What exactly is the rosary?
2. When did Mary give these 15 promises? And where is this recorded?
3. What are signal graces, and where are they mentioned in the Bible? (Preferably the KJV, though if you can find an older English version I'd love to see it.)
4. Promises 2, 5, and 11 seem to indicate that the blessing(s) in that promise will be given simply because of recitation - no faith or obedience to any other commandments required. This includes "special protection," not perishing (I take this to mean not going to Hell), and "obtaining all you ask." That's a lot to gain simply by reciting words, without any faith or obedience required. Why is this? (Again, this is based on the assumption that the above is the official text of the promises)
5. What is the "special protection" promised in #2?
6. Promise #6 says that a person may gain eternal life based on what I take to mean repetition and meditation. Why is that?
7. What is Purgatory mentioned in promise 9?
8. In promise 11, it says we will obtain all that we ask of "me" (me being Mary). Why would you pray to Mary at all? Isn't that idol worship?
9. Who is the "Celestial Court" mentioned in promise 13?
First of all, these are the promises I saw. If this isn't the official text, please direct me to it, so some things might become a bit clearer.
1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against Hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities and will lead them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death, they shall participate in the merits of the saints in Paradise.
9. I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
12. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire Celestial Court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son, Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.
And my questions:
1. What exactly is the rosary?
2. When did Mary give these 15 promises? And where is this recorded?
3. What are signal graces, and where are they mentioned in the Bible? (Preferably the KJV, though if you can find an older English version I'd love to see it.)
4. Promises 2, 5, and 11 seem to indicate that the blessing(s) in that promise will be given simply because of recitation - no faith or obedience to any other commandments required. This includes "special protection," not perishing (I take this to mean not going to Hell), and "obtaining all you ask." That's a lot to gain simply by reciting words, without any faith or obedience required. Why is this? (Again, this is based on the assumption that the above is the official text of the promises)
5. What is the "special protection" promised in #2?
6. Promise #6 says that a person may gain eternal life based on what I take to mean repetition and meditation. Why is that?
7. What is Purgatory mentioned in promise 9?
8. In promise 11, it says we will obtain all that we ask of "me" (me being Mary). Why would you pray to Mary at all? Isn't that idol worship?
9. Who is the "Celestial Court" mentioned in promise 13?