ORIGINS of the PERPETUAL ROSARY
and THE DOMINICAN NUNS OF THE PERPETUAL ROSARY
As often happens, times of crisis become moments of grace. Thus it was
in 1629, when the people of Italy were facing the ravages of the plague.
Lacking the necessary means of control, the death toll among city
dwellers climbed higher and higher. In an attempt to prevent the spread
of the fatal disease, many people were confined to their homes. Amidst
this climate of death, a certain moral moral malaise ensued among some
elements of the general population. Fr. Timothy Ricci, O.P. had been
preaching the Rosary throughout Italy for some time already and had
seen numerous miracles and favors obtained through the fervent
recitation of this prayer. In this society, decimated by plague and moral decay,
Fr. Ricci was inspired to organize the perpetual recitation of the Rosary by the people in
their homes. Each person would agree to pray one hour. It was not long before Fr. Ricci
had a sufficient number of members to assure that the Rosary was being prayed, every hour
of every day throughout the year, in the major cities of Italy. Thus, the perpetual Rosary was
born. Later on, the Association was formed and approved by the Church. The Dominican
Order, in keeping with the Rosary tradition of our holy Father St. Dominic, has been the
custodian of this Association from the start.
Through the course of the centuries, due to religious persecution and suppression,
the Association experienced decline, yet there was always a moment of revival that followed.
Such was the case in France in the late 19th century. Our Founder, Fr. Damien Marie
Saintourens, O.P., became a great preacher and organizer of the Perpetual Rosary. In his
Journal he wrote: “…the Most Holy Virgin gave me for this work such an attraction that I
would like to vow my life to it. It seems to me now that I have found my life.” Some years
later, after having preached and organized the Perpetual Rosary throughout France, Fr.
Saintourens founded the Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary. Following the Dominican
tradition, these cloistered, contemplative Nuns are dedicated to praying and propagating
the Perpetual Rosary.