Page 106
The Secret of the Rosary
"'respectable" in the
eyes of the world, and those who are devout (strange as it may seem) but have
no use for the Holy Rosary.
"What is it that this word sower would say?" "Come, let us oppress him, for he
is against us." That
is to say: "What
is he doing saying so many Rosaries? What is it he is always mumbling? Such
laziness! And what a
waste of time to keep sliding those old beads along he would do much better to
work and not be
bothered with this foolishness. I know what I'm talking about,
"All you have to do, I suppose, is to say your Rosary, and
a fortune will fall from heaven into your lap! The Rosary gives you everything
you need without
your lifting a finger! But hasn't it been said: "God helps those who help
themselves' There's no
need then of getting mixed up with so many prayers. "A brief prayer is heard in.
heaven," one Our
Father and Hail Mary will do provided they are well said.
"God has never told us to say the Rosary of course it's all right, it's not a
bad devotion when
you've got the time. But don't think for one minute that people who say. the
Rosary are any more
sure of heaven than we are. Just look at the saints who never said it Far too
many people want to
make. everybody see through their own eyes: folk who carry everything to
extremes, scrupulous
people who see sin almost everywhere, making sweeping statements and saying that
all those who
don't say the Rosary will go to hell.
"Oh yes, the Rosary is all right for old women who can't read. But surely the
Little Office of Our
Lady is much more worthwhile than the Rosary? Or the Seven Penitential Psalms?
And how could
anything be more beautiful than the Psalms which are inspired by the Holy Ghost?
You say you have
agreed to say the Rosary every day; this is nothing but a fire of straw you know
very well it won't
last Wouldn't it be better to undertake less and to be more faithful about it?
"Come on, my friend, take my word for it,. say your morning and night prayers,
work hard during
the day and offer it up God doesn't ask any more of you than this. Of course
you've got your living
to earn; if you were a man of leisure I shouldn't say anything you could say as
many Rosaries
as you like then. But as for now, say your Rosary on Sun
days and Holy Days when you have lots of time, if you really must say it.
Acts 17:18.