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The Secret of the Rosary

Thirty-First Rose

Blanche of Castille Alphonsus VIII

BLANCHE OF CASTILLE, Queen of France, was deeply grieved because twelve years after her marriage
she was still childless. When Saint Dominic went to see her he advised her to say her Rosary every
day to ask God for the grace of motherhood, and she faithfully carried out his advice.
In 1213 she gave birth to her eldest child, Philip, but the child died in infancy. The Queen's
fervor was nowise dulled by this disappointment; on the contrary, she sought Our Lady's
help more than ever before. She had a large number of Rosaries given out to all members of the
court and also to people in several cities of the Kingdom, asking them to join her in entreating
God for a blessing that this time would be complete. Thus, in 1215,
Saint Louis was born the prince who was to become the
glory of France and the model of all Christian kings.
Alphonsus VIII, King of Aragon and Castille, had been
leading a disorderly life and therefore had been punished by
God in several ways, one of these being that he was worsted in battle and had to take refuge in a
city belonging to one of his allies.
Saint Dominic happened to be in this city on Christmas Day and preached on the Holy Rosary as he
always did, pointing out how great are the graces that we can obtain through it. He mentioned,
among other things, that those who said the Rosary devoutly would overcome their enemies and would
regain all that they had lost in warfare.
The King listened attentively and sent for Saint Dom­
inic to ask if what he had said about the Rosary was really
true. Saint Dominic assured him that nothing was more true,
and that if only he would practise this devotion and join the Confraternity, he would see for
himself. The King firmly
resolved to say his Rosary every day and persevered for a year in doing so The very next
Christmas Our Lady appeared to him at the end of his Rosary and said: "Alphonsus, you have served
me for a year by saying my Rosary devoutly every day, so I have come to reward you: I have
obtained the
forgiveness of your sins from my Son. And I am going to give

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