When and why did the Rosary come to be?

Answer 1

Rosary - History ---- It is usually suggested that the rosary began as a practice by the laity to imitate the monastic Office (Breviary or Liturgy of the Hours), by which monks prayed the 150 Psalms. The laity, many of whom could not read, substituted 50 or 150 Ave Marias for the Psalms. Sometimes a cord with counters on it was used to keep an accurate count. The first clear historical reference to the rosary, however, is from the life of St. Dominic (+1221), the founder of the Order of Preachers or Dominicans. He preached a form of the rosary in France at the time that the Albigensian heresy was devastating the faith there. Tradition has it that the Blessed Mother herself asked for the practice as an antidote for heresy and sin. One of Dominic's future disciples, Alain de Roche, began to establish Rosary Confraternities to promote the praying of the rosary. The form of the rosary we have today is believed to date from his time. Over the centuries the saints and popes have highly recommended the rosary, the greatest prayer in the Church after the Mass and Liturgy of the Hours. Not surprisingly, it's most active promoters have been Dominicans. Rosary means a crown of roses, a spiritual bouquet given to the Blessed Mother. It is sometimes called the Dominican Rosary, to distinguish it from other rosary-like prayers (e.g. Franciscan Rosary of the Seven Joys, Servite Rosary of the Seven Sorrows). It is also, in a general sense, a form of chaplet or corona (also referring to a crown), of which there are many varieties in the Church. Finally, in English it has been called "Our Lady's Psalter" or "the beads." This last derives from an Old English word for prayers (bede) and to request (biddan or bid).

Answer 2

An apparition of the Virgin Mary gave it to Saint Dominic.

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Catholic Answer

The origin of the rosary is nebulous, as it came from many other devotions and only gradually took the form we know today. The most common rosary today is the Dominican Rosary, so called as the St. Dominic and his Order have been its greatest promoters for the past four centuries or more (Saint Dominic lived in the thirteen century).

from Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices by Ann Ball, Our Sunday Visitor, Inc. C 2003

The Rosary originated through the coalescence of popular devotions to Jesus and Mary from the twelfth century onward. Its present form dates from about the fifteenth century. Carthusians contributed greatly toward is development; Dominicans have been its greatest promoters.

Answer 3

The full rosary was originally intended to represent the 150 psalms in a time when people couldn't read, and bibles were hand written and the public wasn't allowed to read The Bible, so it was created as a guidance of meditation and prayer focusing on Jesus' life, called Sacred mysteries.

Answer 4

The Rosary has been officially used since 1569, when Pope Pius V approved the devotion. It has been used by Catholics to pray for peace and intervention during turbulent times throughout history. These beads are still use today by adults and children all over the world today.

Answer 5

Mary appeared to st. Dominic in the year 1208 and gave him the rosary.