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Fortieth Rose

became converted and gave themselves completely to God.
When I have gone back again to visit parishes where have
given missions I have seen a tremendous difference in them;
in those parishes where people had given up the Rosary they
had generally fallen back into their sinful ways again, whereas
in places where the Rosary was said faithfully I found the people were persevering in the grace of
God and were advancing each day in virtue.

Fortieth Rose

Admirable Effects

BLESSED ALAN DE LA ROCHE, Father Jean Dumont, Father Thomas, the chronicles of Saint Dominic and
other writers who have seen these things with their own eyes speak of the marvelous' conversions
that are brought about by the Holy Rosary. Great sinners both men and women have been converted
after twenty, thirty or even forty years of sin and unspeakable vice, because they persevered in
saying the Holy Rosary. And these have been people who, beforehand, had been deaf to all pleading!
I shall not tell you about those wonderful conversions here because I do not want to make this book
too long. And I have not even going to refer to those which I have seen with my very own eyes:
there are several reasons why I would rather not talk about them.1
Dear reader, I promise you that if you practise this devotion and help to spread it you will learn
more from the Rosary than from any spiritual book. And what is more, you will" have the happiness
of being rewarded by Our Lady in accordance with the promises that she made to Saint Dominic, to
Blessed' Alan de la Roche 'and to all those who practise and encourage this devotion which is so
dear to her. For the Holy Rosary teaches people about the virtues of Jesus and Mary, and leads them
to mental prayer and to imitate Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It teaches them to approach the
Sacraments often, to genuinely strive after Christian virtues and to do all kinds of good works,
as well as interesting them in the many wonderful indulgences which can be gained through the
Rosary.

1this is an example of Saint Louis' humility! It is more than probable that he himself had
extraordinary favors and most likely witnessed miracles these he seems reluctant to discuss.
M.B.

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