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Thirty-Eighth Rose 

So the Holy Rosary worked more changes in their hearts than the priest could have worked by
exhorting and commanding them.

Thirty-Eighth Rose

A Bishop's Devotion

A SPANISH COUNTESS, who had been taught the Holy Rosary by Saint Dominic, used to say it faithfully
every day with the result that she was making wonderful strides in her spiritual life. Since her
one and only thought was how she might attain to perfection she asked a Bishop who was a renowned
preacher for some practices that would help her become perfect.
The Bishop told her that, before he could give  her any
counsels, she would have to let him know the state of her soul and also what her religious
exercises were. She answered that her most important exercise was the Holy Rosary which she said
every day' meditating on the Joyous, Sorrowful. and
Glorious Mysteries, and that her soul was greatly helped by so doing.
The Bishop was overjoyed to hear her explain what priceless
lessons the mysteries contain. "I have been a doctor of theology
for twenty years," he exclaimed "and I have read many excellent books on various devotional
practices. But never before
have I come across one better than this for it is of the essence of Christianity and is a devotion
which cannot but bear fruit. I shall follow your example, and from now on I shall preach the
Rosary.
The Bishop's preaching met with great success, for in almost no time his diocese changed for the
better. There was a notable decline in immorality and worldliness of all kinds as well as in
gambling. There were several striking instances of people being brought back to the Faith, or
sinners making restitution for their crimes and of others sincerely resolving to give up lives of
vice. Religious fervor and Christian charity began to flourish. These changes were all the more
remarkable because this Bishop had been striving to reform his diocese for some time but with
hardly any results.
To better inculcate devotion of the Rosary, the Bishop also wore a beautiful rosary at his side and
always showed it to the congregation when he preached. He used to say:

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