In 17th century France, there was a young man who rejected the world and gave everything to the Blessed Mother. He was considered a fool by the worldly minded.
He was persecuted, maligned and physically attacked by heretics, hoodlums and libertines.
The worst persecution, however, came from lukewarm Catholics. Most tragically, he was often silenced by the Church hierarchy and clergy. Eventually, he was banned from every diocese in France, except two.
Finally, he was poisoned. He died in 1716, at the age of 43.
His name is Saint Louis de Montfort.
The Rosary was his favorite prayer, which he preached with special vigor and great fruit.
For example, around the turn of the eighteenth century in Rennes, France, a family named D’Orvilles presented him a problem.
Mr. D’Orvilles complained that his house adjoined the city square where much sin and immorality took place. He said young people would come there at odd hours, sin and make so much noise that they would distract those in his household during the Rosary.
He asked the saint, “What could be done about this?”
“Make a niche in the façade of the wall that overlooks the square,” replied Saint Louis de Montfort. “Put a statue of Our Lady there, and pray the Rosary in front of her.”
“In the public square?” replied Mr. D’Orvilles.
“In the public square right in front of the image of Our Lady,” instructed the saint.
The day following the completion of the niche, Mr. D’Orvilles, his family and all the servants from his household, prayed the Rosary in the public square. His wife lead the mysteries while he stood guard with a whip to keep the aggressions of young hoodlums at bay.
While praying, many carriages went through the public square, and some friends even called out to him inviting him and his wife to party. At first he was tempted to hide his Rosary beads in his hand, but he conquered himself and held the Rosary high so that all could see that he was at prayer.
A strange thing happened. After saying the Rosary daily for some time, the public square Rosary became a curious attraction.
“People came in crowds to pray, as if some great church ceremony were taking place, and soon, the disorders in the square ceased.”*
Much of what happened in Rennes, France, is happening in America today.
The response to the Public Square Rosary Rally has been excellent.
On October 16th, 5,800 Rosaries will be prayed in public because every city in the United States and in the world is in need of conversion.
Our Lady revealed at Fatima that God wishes to establish devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as the solution for the world’s sins and impurity.
America Needs Fatima is inviting every Catholic to give public testimony to our divine faith by joining the Public Square Rosary on October 16th.
That’s the way to be part of the “Divine solution” that Our Lady gave us at Fatima.
This story of the D’Orvilles family is one of many examples where the power of the Rosary helped to transform public opinion.
America Needs Fatima is trying to use the power of the Rosary as Saint Louis recommended on a national scale. In every city and town in America.
On our Web site, you’ll find more details on the Public Square Rosary Rally on October 16, 2010.
Our Lady asked for prayer, penance and sacrifice for the conversion of sinners. The Rosary is the prayer. Standing in a public place is the penance and sacrifice.
Together we can repeat history for the sake of America and help accelerate “The Triumph of My Immaculate Heart!” for the greater glory of Our Lady.
Let’s be Our Lady’s fools too.
Thank you, and may God bless you!
* Adapted from Eddie Doherty, Wisdom’s Fool (Bay Shore, N.Y., Montfort Publications, 1993), 214.
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