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How do I pray with a 7-decade Rosary? What is the Franciscan Crown?The Mysteries

As with the Dominican Rosary, the Franciscan Crown is prayed while meditating on special events in thelife of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In the case of the Franciscan Crown, the mysteries used are the

Seven Joys of Mary.

The First Joy: The Annunciation The angel Gabriel visits Mary to announce to her that she is toconceive by the Holy Spirit and bear a son, Jesus, who will become the Savior of the world.

The Second Joy:The Visitation Mary goes to the hill country to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who is alsowith child.

The Third Joy:The Nativity Jesus is born.

The Fourth Joy:The Adoration by the Magi The Wise Men, recognizing that the newborn Jesus is thelong-awaited Savior, come from the East to do Him homage.

The Fifth Joy:The Finding of Jesus in the Temple After three days of frantic searching, Mary and

Joseph find the young Jesus in the temple of Jerusalem.

The Sixth Joy:The Resurrection Jesus is raised from the dead.

The Seventh Joy:The Assumption and Coronation Mary is assumed into Heaven, body and soul. Sheis crowned Queen of Heaven.

A set of Franciscan Crown Rosary beads contains seven decades, one for each Joy of Mary. The crucifix

may be of the San Damiano design. If you dont have a set of special Crown Rosary beads, you can pray

without using beads, or you can use a set of five-decade beads, and start around again for the sixth and

seventh decades.

The San Damiano Crucifix:

Begin with the Sign of the Cross:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Optional: Some people pray theApostles' Creedfollowing the Sign of the Cross.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son,our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered

under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day herose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again tojudge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion ofsaints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.__________________The Seven Sorrows of Maryare sometimes used in personal practice as alternative meditations whenpraying the Franciscan Crown Rosary.

A l i t t le history

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About the same time that St. Francis was starting his order, a group of prosperous men were meeting inFlorence, Italy as part of a religious society intended to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. Like Francis,these men left their comfortable lives to begin leading lives of holy poverty and penance. They eventuallybecame known as the Friar Servants of Mary, or Servites.

The Servites originated a special devotion based on seven sorrowful events in the life of our BlessedMother.

Although the meditations on the Seven Sorrows of Marydo not constitute a Franciscan devotion (andthey have their own special set of Rosary beads), they are sometimes used in personal practice to praythe Franciscan Crown Rosary during penitential seasons such as Lent.

The Seven Sorrow s:

The First Sorrow:The Prophecy of Simeon - During the Presentation, Mary hears the prophetic words ofSimeon, "Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a signwhich shall be contradicted."

The Second Sorrow:The Flight into Egypt - Mary and Joseph must flee their home to protect the child

Jesus.

The Third Sorrow:The Child Jesus is Lost in Jerusalem - Mary experiences grief when Jesusdisappears in Jerusalem for three days.

The Fourth Sorrow:Mary meets Jesus as He makes His way to Calvary - Mary experiences absolutesorrow as she sees her Son, defiled and bruised, carry His cross on the way to Calvary.

The Fifth Sorrow:Mary stands at the foot of the cross - Once again, Mary experiences sorrow as shesees her Son dying on the cross, and is unable to minister to Him.

The Sixth Sorrow:Mary receives the body of Jesus - When Jesus is taken down from the Cross, Mary isgrief-stricken as she receives Him into her arms.

The Seventh Sorrow:Mary places Jesus in the tomb - Mary, in total sorrow, places the body of herbeloved Son into the tomb.__________________

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