Walking Crown Rosary
Where: Start at the north end of the parking lot near the 10’ tall pilgrim cross.
What: An outdoor walking meditation on the seven joys of Mary while praying the Franciscan Crown Rosary.
History: The Franciscan Crown, or the Rosary of the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an ancient sacramental treasured by the Franciscan order. The origins date back to 1422, the entrance date into the novitiate of the order of an unnamed pious young man. This young devotee of Mary had been accustomed, before his entrance, to decorate a statue of the Virgin with crowns of fresh flowers. This practice was forbidden to him in the novitiate, and fearing a lack of devotion to his Queen, he determined to leave the order.
In a vision, Our Lady appeared to him and told him, "Do not be sad and cast down, my son, because you are no longer permitted to place wreaths of flowers on my statue. I will teach you to change this pious practice into one that will be far more pleasing to me and far more meritorious to your soul. In place of the flowers that soon wither and cannot always be found, you can weave for me a crown from the flowers of your prayers that will always remain fresh."
Thereupon, Our Lady requested the young friar to pray 1 Our Father and 10 Hail Mary's in honor of seven joyous occasions in her life:
(1) the Annunciation,
(2) the Visitation,
(3) the Nativity,
(4) the Adoration of the Magi,
(5) the finding of Jesus in the Temple,
(6) the Resurrection of Our Lord, and
(7) the Assumption & the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin into Heaven.
As the vision faded, the overjoyed novice began to recite the prayers as she had instructed him to do. While he was devoutly praying, the novice master passed by and saw an angel weaving a wreath of roses. After every tenth rose, he inserted a golden lily. When the wreath was finished, the angel placed it on the head of the praying novice. The novice master demanded under holy obedience that the novice explain to him the meaning of the vision. The novice complied, and the novice master was so impressed with what he had heard that he immediately told his brother friars. The practice of reciting the Crown of the Seven Joys soon spread to the entire Order, most especially during the formative period of Novitiate.
In later years, two Hail Mary's were added to make the total of the Hail Mary’s equal to seventy-two, the number of years that Our Lady is said by Franciscans to have lived on earth. A final Hail Mary and Our Father were added for the intentions of the Pope.
Compiled from "A Handbook of Catholic Sacramentals" by Ann Ball, published by Our Sunday Visitor.
Begin: Make the Sign of the Cross.
Station 1: Fiat-The Annunciation
Mary replied with a whole hearted “Yes, Thy will be done” to the angel Gabriel’s message that she would bear a son and His name would be Jesus. Mary expresses her Fiat, “let it be done to me according to Your word.” So too are we called to reply the same Fiat when daily occasions invite us to enact the will of God in our lives, just like Mary. How have you accepted your vocation, responding in faith even during fearful times as Mary was at the angel’s announcement?
Pray 10 Hail Mary’s and 1 Our Father
Station 2: Neighbor-The Visitation
Mary visits her pregnant cousin Elizabeth who greets Mary, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” To be a Christian means to venture outward to meet the other in a friendly, neighborly, manner despite inconveniences, sacrifices, and hardship. How have you served the other as neighbor, just as a pregnant Mary visits a pregnant Elizabeth?
Pray 10 Hail Mary’s and 1 Our Father
Station 3: Birth- the Nativity
Mary gives birth to Jesus the Christ. We too are called to give birth to Jesus in our lives, to those we encounter, places we work and leisure. St Francis calls the friars to be mother to others and carry Christ as Mary did. How do you bear Christ to the world? How does Christ renew us over and over again in our lives?
Pray 10 Hail Mary’s and 1 Our Father
Station 4: Gift-the Adoration of the Magi
The wise Magi offered their best to the Christ child who steered the bright star over Bethlehem. So too can we offer all that we have, the best of the best for the great King of kings. All we have we call gift and return it to its origin, the Almighty God. Name your gifts that you bring to God this day.
Pray 10 Hail Mary’s and 1 Our Father
Station 5: Growth-the finding of Jesus in the Temple
Jesus comes of age and shares His wisdom with the teachers in the Temple. Christians are all called to be mature believers in the faith and open to daily conversion. How do you feed your hungry appetite for wisdom? Growth flows from conversion, track your own record of growth.
Pray 10 Hail Mary’s and 1 Our Father
Station 6: Life-The Resurrection of our Lord
He has risen from the tomb, He visits His disciples, new life is ours! Life is not limited by sin and death, the Lord gives new life to His followers, instilled with brimming abundance and fullness.
How do you celebrate this joy for life?
Pray 10 Hail Mary’s and 1 Our Father
Station 7: Glory-the Assumption & the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin into Heaven
When we live our Christian lives dedicated to faith, hope and love we join Mary in her call to glory. As Mary was the symbol of what the Church is called to be, so too must we strive to this noble calling to direct all heavenward. May all of us arise in the glorious majesty of our Lady!
Pray 10 Hail Mary’s and 1 Our Father
2 Hail Mary’s for Mary’s 72 years on earth.
1 Our Father and 1 Hail Mary for the Pope’s intentions.
Make the Sign of the Cross.
Br. John Bamman, OFM Conv.
