The Franciscan Crown also called the Rosary of the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin, dated back tot he year 1422. The famous Franciscan historian, Fr. Luke Wadding, relates that a very pious young man, who had been admitted to the Franciscan Order in that year, had, previous to hisreception, been accustomed to adorn a statue of the Blessed Virgin with a wreath of beautiful flowers as a mark of his piety and devotion. Not being able to continue this practice in the novitiate, he repined very much, and finally decided to quit the cloisture and return to the world.
Our Lady then appeared to him and precented him from carrying out his purpose. "Do not be sad and cast down, my son." She said sweetly, "beause you arenolonger permitted to place a wreath of flowers on my statue.
"I shall teach you to change this pious practice into one that will be far more pleasing to me and far more meritorious to your soul. In place of the flowers, you can weave for me a crown from the flowers of your prayers that will alway remain fresh and can always be had.
"Recite one Our Father and ten Hail Marys in honor of hte joy I experienced when the angel announced to me the Incarnation of hte Son of God. Repeat these same prayers in honor ofhte joy I felt on visiting my cousin Elizabeth. Say them again in honor of hte supreme happiness that filled my heart on giving birth to Christ the Savior, without pain and without the loss of my virginity. Recite the same prayers a fourth time in honor of the joy I felt when presenting my Divine Son to the adoration of the Magi. Repeat them for the fifth time in honro of the joy that thrilled my soul when, after seeking Jesus with deep sorrow for three days, I found Him at last among the doctors in the Temple. Sixthly, recite one Our Father and then ten Hail Marys in honor of the joy I experienced on beholding my Divine Son gloriously risen from teh grave on Easter Sunday. Finally, for the seventh time, repeat these prayers in honor of my own most glorious and joyful Assumption into heaven, when I was crowned Queen of heaven and earth. If you recite these prayers as I have directed, rest assured, dear son, you will weave a crown for me a most beautiful and acceptable crown and will merit for yourself innumerable graces."
When OUr Lady had disappearned, the overjoyed novice at once began to recite the prayers in honor of her Seven Joys, as she had directed. While he was deeply engrossed in this devotion, the novice master happened to pass by and, behold, he say anangle weaving a marvelous wreath of roses and after every tenth rose he inserted a golden lily. When the wreath was finished, the angel placed it on the head of the praying novice. The master then demadned under holyobedience that the youth tell him the meaning of this vision. Joyfully, yet fearfully, the novice complied. The good priest was so impressed with what he had seen and heard, that he immediately made it known to his brethren. Thus the practice of reciting the Crown of Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin soon spread over the entire Franciscan Order and became one of hte favorite devotions of hte friars.
Later it became customary to add two Hail Marys in honor of the seventy two years that Our Lady is said to have lived upon earth, and one Our Father and Hail Mary for the intentions of the Pope to gain the indulgences.
Indulgences
Memebers of the Three Orders of Saint Francis (including hte Third Order Secular, Leo XIII, September 11, 1901), gain a plenary indulgence each time they recite the Franciscan Crown. No beads are necessary. This plenary induglence can be applied to the souls in purgatory.
Indulgences Granted by Pius X
A. PLENARY INDULGENCES. The faithful gain:
I. A Plenary Indulgence for taking part in the public recital of the Crown in any church of the Three Orders of St. Francis.
2. A Plenary Indulgence if, after Confession and Communion (no other conditions), they recite the FRANCISCAN CROWN on the following feasts: Christmas (Dec. 25) ; Epiphany (Jan. 6) ; Sunday during the Octave of Epiphany; Easter; Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8); Annunciation (Mar. 25) ; Purification (Feb. 2) ; Visitation (July 2) ; Assumption (Aug. 15) ; Feast of the Seven Joys of the Bl., Virgin (Aug. 22) ; Nativity of the Bl. Virgin (Sept. 8).
3. A Plenary Indulgence once a month on any day after Confession and Communion, if they sax the FRANCISCAN CROWN every Saturday.
4. A Plenary Indulgence in the hour of death on the usual conditions if one has the rosary in his possession and has prayed it frequently.
B. PARTIAL INDULGENCES: The faithful can gain a Partial Indulgence of :
1. Seventy Years and Seventy Quarantines EVERY TIME they say the FRANCISCAN CROWN on any day of the week except Saturday.
2. One Hundred Years every time they say it on any Saturday of the year.
3. Two Hundred Years when they say it on the holydays of obligation.
4. Three Hundred Years when they say it on any feast of the Bl. Virgin not mentioned above for the Plenary Indulgences.
5. Ten Years for every good work they. perform for the honor of God or for the love of their neighbor, provided they carry the rosary about on their person and often recite it.
6. Ten Years every time they say seven Hail Marys in honor of the Seven Joys of the Bl. Virgin, provided they carry the rosary about on their person and often recite it.
NOTE: All these indulgences, except the one for the hour of death, can be applied to the poor Souls.
