and Aue Maria nor any more charge thē the price of a paire of Beades nor any choice of place or situation of body but as it shall like the partie either to stand site lye walke or kneele especially hauing no burden of conscience or charge of sinne if it be omitted who seeth not thē how easie it is and with what facilitie it may be obserued yea who seeth not how great and carelesse a negligence and how contemptuous a singularitie it were to omit so generall a profession This facilitie is also the greater for that there beeing diuers Societies of our LADY Diuers Societies of our Lady euery one of which doth laudably endeuour to aduaunce the honor of so holye a creature to theire owne singuler great gaine of deuotion vertue and merite in euery one are diuerse bondes either of rehearsing some certaine praiers euery day or of ofte Confessing and Receiuing or of some more stricte obseruance then is necessarie or easie and expedient for euery Christian But in this of the Rosary that it may the rather be imbraced of all though there be spirituall rewardes almost for euery godly action in which euery man according to his deuotiō may exercise him self yet is there no generall bond but only to the rehearsing of the Beades thrice a weeke as shall be shewed hereafter One only necessarie bond in this Society and that without the incurring of any sinne by the omission therof as hath bene saide before yea and that also may be supplied by an other who performeth the due exercise for his brother being either sicke or otherwise hindered as afterward shall appeare But besides the facilitie there are other more singuler commodities herein For secondly there is the speciall patronage and protectiō of the same most blessed and glorious Virgin The patronage of our Lady For although she be worthely called a most louing aduocate of all faithfull Christians yet there no doubt doth her care more aboūd where she hath most mercifully chosen gathered knit togither such as she meaneth singulerly to tender she hauing declared by sundry miracles the familiar rpouidēce which she carieth ouer this her familie Godly meditation Thirdly in this deuotion of the Rosary is daily with great fruit remembred the principall pointes of the life of our Sauiour and of his holy Mother in so much that the daunger of which the Prophet complaineth when he saith that the wholle earth was brought to desolation Hier. 12 because there was not who did meditate or ponder in his hart by this deuout exercise of Christian duety is by all estates of men vtterly auoided whilest euery deuout Catholicke dailye when he saieth his beades doth as it were in a booke read and reuerentlye laieth before his eies Christ our Sauiour incarnat in his Mother The 15. misteries of the Rosary sanctifying IOHN Baptist his holy Precursor lying in a manager offered vp to his Father in the Temple teaching the Doctors praying in the Garden cruelly whipped crowned with thornes carying his Crosse and exalted theron for our redemption rising againe ascending into heauen sending his holy Spirite and gratious giftes vnto men taking vp with childly affection his most holy Mother euen corporally vnto heauen and exalting and crowning her ouer all his holy Saintes and Angells Wherof what gratitude what humilitie what charitie what spurres vnto all vertue may be ingendered in Christian mindes let euery one consider it is not our purpose now to expoūd And although this manner of remembring the life of Christ may be practised by any one which is not of this Society yet both this maner of deuiding religiously honouringe these holy misteries was first commended of S. DOMINICKE to this holy confraternitie not without a speciall reuelation as it is credibly thought of the B. Virgin and such vertuous practise will then be more acceptable when it is performed with a relation and respect as of one of this so fauored a Societie 4 Fourthlye this holy Societie hath many Indulgences or Pardons annexed vnto the saying of the Rosary Indulgences as shall hereafter appeare Of the profit wherof as it is not lawfull for any Catholicke to doubt so were it to long here to intreate Only this will I say that although there be perhapps many greater Indulgences graunted vnto diuerse Graines then these of this confraternity yet are not these to be neglected but rather greatly to be esteemed for to causes First for so many other commodities as are in this Societye which cannot be obtained without saying once a weeke the Rosary for respecte of this Society Wherfore although one would for desire of greater Indulgence applye the saying of his Beades vnto other graines yet is it verye expediēt thrise a weeke to apply his intention vnto the Society of the Rosary saying his beades as a member therof for than is he sufficiently disposed to receaue the fruites of the same Societie although he should neuer so often besides by saying the same seeke the INDVLGENCES of halowed graines Secondly for that a sufficient cause beeing required for the valew of an Indulgēce as the Diuines do teach these Indulgēces being confirmed by so diuers Popes and hauing the valew of a cause from the influence of so diuers members which in this Society euery where tend vnto one end of the seruice and honour of God and his blessed Mother must of necessitie haue an vndoubted and more aboundant effect 5 Fifthly there is in this confraternitie an inestimable treasure of the mutuall participation of all the good works done by the persons of the same The participation of spirituall good of the wholle order of S. Dominick as wel Freers as Nunnes So that besids the generall influence which for the cōmuniō of Saints in the Church of God is from one mēber of Christ his misticall body vnto another by which one member reioiceth with another suffereth with and for an other and the aboundāce of one supplieth the want and pouertie of an other so that both be in gods grace without the which neither Indulgences may be obtained nor the participation of good workes either giuen or receiued There is a more speciall benefite and participation in this Society by the particuler application of those which may by authoritie distribute so great a treasure of all that Fasting Praying Watching Almes other works of Christian pietie as are by so many so godly so farre dispersed persons euery day and moment performed 6 Last of all the benefitte of this Society lasteth after death also as shall be shewed also hereafter The benefite after death For when the Soules departed in the flames of Purgatorie yeldeth satisfaction for sinnes not perfectly remitted in this world it may by the ordinary suffrages of Gods Church be releeued as vnto all Christians departed in Gods grace is common But hee which for a soule departed of this SOCIETY offereth the vsuall deuotions of the same besides
the valew which such deuotions may haue of them selues commeth loden with the treasures and merittes of diuers other members of the Church to be applied for the releefe of the distressed soule All which so great commodities shal more plainly appeare in the summary following of the ordinances or statutes and graces of this Society Which hath bene faithfully drawen forth of an Italian boke of the Rosary sette forth at Rome about 8. or 9. yeres sithēce by the Reuerend Generall of S. DOMINICKS order vnto whom especially the admission into this Society doth belong although I vnderstand to my great comforte that there be diuerse within our Realme which haue either immediatelye from the same Generall or by some other lawfull meanes the like auctoritie THE ORDINANCES or decrees of the Society of the Rosary with an explicatiō therof Cap. 2. AS by the gloriouse Father Founder of the order of Preachers S. DOMINICKE this holy Rosary was planted and this diuine maner of praier instituted so vnto the Reu. Fa. Generall of the same Order as his successor heire doth it only belong to giue auctoritie and licence to institute and ordaine the said Societies to substitute giue leaue to inrole and receiue in them and to do euery other necessarye acte as by many Popes hath bene graunted and confirmed And more-ouer by Iulius 3. and Pius 5. expresly declared that the confraternities without his leaue and auctoritie instituted be anulled and do not enioy any Indulgēce or priuilege 2 In euery Couent and Church of the order of Preachers ought this holy company be and not in other this being a proper inheritance and institution of that order In Cities Townes or Villages where there is no Couent or Church of the order of Preachers it may be placed in other Churches with leaue of the said Reuerend Father Generall yet so that one companye onely there be in each Towne or place for to auoid confusion if afterward the Freers of the order come to the saide places to dwell and build there a Couent or Church vnto them as vnto true and lawfull heires the said company Altar and all kind of commoditie and appertenances is vnderstood to be brought and transferred This is vnderstoode of Legacies or Rents left to the maintenance of the Altar or Chappel of the Society 3 In euery Church where the said Company is there ought to be their particuler Altar or Chap pell called of the holy ROSARIE with some deuoute figure or Image of the most holy Virgin of the mysteries of the holy Rosary there must be also the Rectors heades of the said company to auoide all confusion There must be a perticuler booke where the names surnames of all the perons of the cōpany must be writē Note that here is not signified any bond or necessitye of frequenting this Church or Chappell for those which cannot conueniently come so farre but they may at theire pleasure vpon holy daies go vnto theire owne parish Church or other which they shall like But it is very conuenient that then euery one go to the proper Church of this Society when ther is any proper exercise of the same or any spirituall gaine to be reped as shall be seen hereafter Yet so long as our Countrey remaineth in the present estate it is good and sufficient that euery houshold procure their ordinary Altar stone to be deputed vnto this SOCIETY by those which may admitt therein because of the speciall Indulgences to be receiued at the first entry as shall appeare 4 Those who haue auctority leaue as is aforesaid to inrol and receiue into the saide company ought to receiue and inroule all such as deuoutly demaūd it with out any reward or paiment at all both because it is a spirituall holy thing and all so to the end that as well the rich as the poore may enioy this treasure as also for that the holy company hath bene instituted and ordained not for the benefit of him which receiueth but of him which is receiued and it is sufficient to be in one place and once inrouled This maner of inrouling being not conuenient in our country for respects too well knowne it sufficeth that after the names be once taken of such as enter they be torne Yet is it expediēt that when oportunity shall be offered euery one cause himselfe autētically to be inrouled that so both God may be in the number of his deuout seruantes more highly glorified and they may also be as it were solēnly accepted confirmed in that which first they receiued 5 Neither those which are aliue onely but also those which are dead those poore soules which are in purgatory may be inrolled and made partakers of so great a good if any one for godly affection will make them to be inroled and will say for them the holy Rosary 6 In the like maner if any person shall cause to be said for him selfe the Rosaty he also obtaineth and enioieth so great a benefitte 7 All those which are inrolled in this holy cōpany of the Rosary are bound to say the Rosary at the least once a weeke And for their better commoditie it is graunted them that they may deuide it and say fiue Tennes at a time which make fiftie Aues and fiue Pater-nosters notwithstanding by omitting either by forgetfulnes or occupation there is no sinne incurred but the fruite is lost which should haue bene gotten by saying and also the participation of the good workes of the other brethren By the name of Rosary The diuision of the Rosary is heare alwaies vnderstood the Psalter of our LADY which cōteineth fifteene misteries to euery one of which are applied one Pater noster and tenne Aues so that in the wholle there are fifteene Pater nosters a hundred and fiftie Aues which in imitation of the Psalter of Dauid of so many Psalmes made imediatelye vnto God maketh a kinde of Psalter vnto our LADY This Psalter or Rosary is deuided into three parts euery one of which is called the thirde parte of the Rosary or one parte of the Rosarye verye fitly containing fiue of the aforesaid mysteries therby represēting vnto vs the memory of the woundes of our Sauiour in the seuerall parts of the ioifull dolorouse and gloriouse mysterries of the ROSARY Although in diuerse other Indulgences of hallowed Graines this word Rosary signifieth the third part only when it is ioined with this word Corone as when it is said whosoeuer shall say the Rosary or Corone For then certaine it is that the third part is only signified and the meaning of the word Coron is that paire of beades which in the remembrance of the life of our Lady containeth 63. Aues and 6. The Corone of our Lady Pater nosters some also vse very well at the end of euery third part of the Rosary to say the Creed although it be no necessary part therof Note also that when in the Indulgences following
there is required in any day that the wholle Rosary be said then you may not diuide it into seuerall daies it is also more secure to say all at once Finally if one be once admitted and for negligence omit to say the Rosary he ceaseth not for all this to be of the Society and may returning to his wonted deuotion without any new admission obtaine the accustomed graces and benefittes 8 There are celebrated fower anniuersaries in the yeere for the soules of the brethren departed in the Churches of the Society after the 4 principall festiuities of our blessed LADY the Natiuitie Purification Annunciation and Assumption at which euery one ought to be present praying for those soules that the same piety may be vsed toward them 9 Euery first Sonday in the moneth there is made a solemne and deuout procession of the holy Rosary after Euēsong to the which they should in any wise come together as-well for the Indulgences treasures which they may gaine as that they may be present to honor the most sacred Virgin their aduocate Lady and all deuoutly vnited to aske her helpe These two last articles cannot as it is manifest be preformed in our Countrey 10 After that the Priest hath writen them which deuoutly demaund to enter into this company the Corone or Rosary being laide vpon the Altar with a stole about his necke he blesseth the beads saying the praier folowing This benediction if one can not conueniētly come to him which receiueth him but only sendeth his name to be inrolled is not necessary neither if the beades were euer blessed before Hence also doth it appeare that there is no other thing necessary What is necessarie in this Society for the obtaining of the benefites of this Society but to say once aweeke the Psalter of our LADY whosoeuer thincketh otherwise requiring either other ordinary praiers or frequenting of Sacramentes or any solēne profession at the first entrāce doth confound this Society beeing a generall corporation ouer all the world with other particuler Societies of our Lady in seueral places binding thēselues to more strict obseruances thē were easie to be vndertakē of all that variety of persones which is by this Society embraced Although who-soeuer is of any other particuler Society of our LADY receiuig therin a particuler fellowshipe and incorporation in that place where such a Society is instituted will withall for the generall deuotion vnto this as insttuted by the expresse reuelatiō of our Blessed LADY as it is credibly and deuoutlye thought seeke to be here inrolled if he were not before which I thought good to note least any shold either be cōfounded with variety of opinions or deterred with more heauy burdens from so profitable a deuotion THE PRAIER FOR the blessing of the Beades Versic Adiutorium nostrum in nomine Domini Resp Qui secit coelum terram Versic Domine exaudi orationem meā Resp Et clamor meus ad te veniat Versic Dominus vohiscum Resp Et cum spiritu tuo OMNIPOTENS misericors Deus qui propter nimiam charitatem tuam qua dilexisti nos filium tuum vnigenitum Dominū nostrum Iesum Christum pro Redemptione nostra de coelis in terram descendere de Beatissimae Virginis Mariae vtero Angelo nunciante carnem suscipere voluisti vt nos eriperes de potestate Diaboli Obsecramus immensem clementiam tuam vt haec signa Rosarij in honorem laudem eiusdem genetricis filij tui ab Ecclesia tua fideli dicata Bene ✚ dicas San ✚ ctifices eisque tantam infundas virtutem Spiritus Sancti vt quicunque horum quodlibet secum portauerit atque in domo sua reuerenter tenuerit ab omni hoste visibili inuisibili semper et vbique in hoc seculo liberetur in exitu suo a Beatissima Virgine Maria Dei genetrice tibi plenus bonis operibus presentari me reatur Per eundem Dominum nostiū Iesum Christum filium tuum qui tecū viuit regnat per omnia secula seculorum Amen Aspergat ea Sacerdos aqua benedicta In nomine Patris Filij Spiritus Sancti Amen A BRIEFE SVMMArie of the Graces or Indulgences of this Society of the Rosary with the names of the Popes which graunted them Cap. 3 WHo faieth the Aue Maria or reuerently nameth the holy name of IESVS gaineth 60. daies Vrbanus 4 Ioan. 22 By saying the wholle Rosary 15. yeeres Sixtus 4. and 15. quarantenes A quarātene is an Indulgence or releasing of 40. daies penāce Inno. 8 A pleanary Indulgēce once in life again in the houre of death The Indulgēces of the stations of Rome Leo. 10 by visiting that day fiue Altars or one fiue times deuoutly saying fiue Paters and Aues for euery one What the Stations are it shall appeare in the Chapter following For saying the wholle Rosary 10. yeeres and 10. quarantenes Idem A certaine Legate Idem Also for the whole Rosary 120 daies For being present euery Saturday in the Church of this Society at the Salue Regina 40 daies For saying fiue Paters Aues in the Feastes of the Anunciation Idem Natiuitie Visitation Purification and Assumption of our Lady 100 daies For saying the whole Rosary 120 For visiting the Altar of the Ro sary at Rome A Patri arch Pius 4 euery feast of our Lady a plenary The same by accompaning the procession which is made euery first Sonday in the moneth Idem Hauing Receaued the day of the Annunciation of our LADY Pius 5. granted those which follow and confirmed all thos which are before by saying the Rosary a Plenary By saying the ROSARY in the daies of the Natiuitie Purification Visitation Assumption of our Lady 10. yeeres and 10 quarantenes By saying the Rosary any day whatsoeuet 40. daies By naming deuoutly Iesus Maria euery time 7 daies At the first entering by Confessing and Receauing at the Altar or Church of this Society and saying at the least one part of the ROSARY for the peace of the Church a Plenary The same is graunted vnto thē which in the end of their life haue Confessed and Receaued By saying one part at the least of the Rosary hauing first Receiued the daies of Easter the Annūciation and Assumption of our Lady 10. yeeres and 10. quarantenes By saying at the least one part of the Rosary in the festiuall daies of the misteries of the Rosary 7. yeeres and 7 quarantenes of enioined penances The same for saying at the least once a weeke the wholle Rosary To all Christiās although not of the Society for accompaning the Procession of euery first Sonday in the moneth are graunted 7 yeeres 7 quarantenes of enioined penances Those which are of this confraternitie are partakers of all the good workes which are done by other petsons of the same as also by the wholle order of S. Dominicke as well of Freers as
following may be to his honour and glory 4 Fourthly to make a stedfast purpose to auoid that day all affection or occasion of that sinne which we are most inclined vnto 5 Fifthly to say our deuotions as before adioining some deuout exercise or meditation if our state and leasure will permitte The maner of preparing our selues vnto Confession 1 FIrst to examine diligently our conscience as aboue from the last Confession which we made remembring the kinds nūber of euery sinne as much as we are able 2 Secōdly to haue an expresse actuall and deepe sorow for all which is past 3 Thirdly to make an expresse and resolute purpose of amendment of auoiding at the least all mortall sinnes 4 Fourthly to confesse all our sinnes wholly and sincerely hiding nothing which is with in 5 Fifthly to fullfill the penāce inioined so soone as we conueniently may if the ghostly Father haue not appointed a certaine time for the fulfilling thereof The conuenient disposition for receiuing 1 FIrst to haue made a sufficient Confession and to go to the blessed Sacrament without any cōscience of mortal sinne not confessed 2 Secondly to go with humble preparation not only of deuout praiers the same day but of many other deuotions and preparations the daies before 3 Thirdly to come fasting at the least from the midnight before and chast euen from lawfull actes 4 Fourthly hauing with great attention and deuotion once receiued with deuout meditations and praiers to accōpany so great a gheste at the least for the space of a quarter of an hower before any other neuer so necessary busines after with conuenient leasure to spend the day in deuotiōs auoiding all maner of vanities worldly behauiour 5 Fifthly to vse the conuenient composition of body as followeth The composition of body in receiuing 1 Lett the hands be held before the breast not lifted so high that they may hinder the Preist 2 Let the head be conueniētly lifted vp and inclined vnto neither side that with-out difficulty the mouth may be reached 3 Lett the eies be shutt or bent downward for it is vnseemely at that time either to looke vpon the Preist or to turne the eies other where 4 Lett the mouth be altogither quiett with-out any reading or mouing of lippes reasonably open and not gaping 5 Lett the tongue touch the side of the lippe not to much put forth that it may receaue the hoast bring it into the mouth and that being reuerently held so long that it be moistened it may be let downe into the body For it is not to bee chewed with the teeth nor to be brought to the roofe of the mouth but to bee swallowed if it may be before the ablution 6 Lett the wholle body bee erected and quiet without any motion Sighines blowings grownings knocking of the brest exclamatiōs vocall praiers and other like thinges which often times bring daunger either of the fall of the hoste or of the touching of the teeth or lippes in the time of receauing are to be omitted 7 After the receauing of the holy hoast lett the head not indecently be cast downe but remain erected with the handes ioined before the breast vntill the ablution which euery one ought to take 8 Finally for the space of a quarter of an houre after receiuing let spitting be auoided which if it can not be at the least it is decent to spitte where it may not be trodden on AN ADDITION OF DIuerse Indulgences graunted to the Society of the Rosary Since the time of Pius V. whose Indulgences were last of all rehearsed in the first editiō of this booke there haue bene by Greg. 13. and Sixtus V. diuerse other Indulgences graunted to this deuout Confraternitie which are hereafter sett downe for euery ones comfort out of the booke of the ROSARY printed at Venice Anno. 1587. Gregory the 13. hath graunted to euery one of this Confraternitie which being contrite confessed and hauing receiued shall visit euery first Sonday in the moneth and euery festiuitie of our B. Lady the Aultar of the Rosary in the Church of S. Dominicke at Cremona there praying for the concord vnion of Christiā Princes extirpation of heresies exaltation of our holy mother the Church a plenary indulgence The same hath graunted to all faithfull Christians that shall visite the Church of our Lady vpon Minerua at ROME on the first Sonday of October praying for the intentions aforesaid a plenary indulgence He graūteth also to euery one of the Confraternitie which shall visite the aultar of the Rosary in Pauia for euery day he shalll do the same praying as aboue 100 daies The like to those which are present at the ordinary Processions there The like to such as accompany the Banner of the holy Rosary when the Brethren are caried to burying or are present at the anniuersaries for the Brethren deceassed or shall visite the sicke Brethren exhorting them to the receauing of the holy Sacraments of the Church Also a plenary to all Christiās that shall visite the aforesaid aultar praying as aboue on the third Sonday of Aprill and the first Son day of October He granteth a plenary to euery Brother of the Poruince of Rome that confesseth and receiueth in their Churches or Chapels euery first Sunday in the moneth praying as before The same he geueth to euery sickely Brother so that he be confessed and haue receiued that cannot come to the aforesaide Churches so that at home before some deuout image he say the Rosary or Corone or .7 Psalmes he graunteth a plenary to all the Brethren that shall visite the Chapell of the ROSARY on the daies of the feaste of the misteries thereof be present at the Procession of the first Sonday of euery month so they haue first confessed and receaued Also he cōmunicateth all the Indulgences already graunted to any speciall places of this Cōfraternity or hereafter to be graunted to all other places whatsoeuer where the same Cōfraternity shall be Which is to bee noted for this is the cause why here before were sett downe some indulgence of speciall places Sixtus 5. Confirmeth and renueth all that was granted by his Predecessours and moreouer he graunteth to such Brethren as are in iourney or on the sea and shall say the wholle Rosary to those also which are sickely or other wise lawfully hindred so that they cānot visit the Churches or Chapells of the Rosary on those daies in which are celebrated the feasts of the misteries of the Rosary or be present at the Procession of euery first sonday in the moneth if they say the third parte of the Rosary so that they haue a firme purpose of confessing and receiuing whē the Church hath appointed a plenary indulgence or any other indulgences granted or here after to be grāted to those which personallye are present at those daies in the Churches or Chapels Thus much of the Indulgences graunted to this Cōfraternity and although many vndoubtedly may