These promises are private revelations, reportedly made to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan de La Roche, and as such are merely a pious tradition of the Church, which anyone is free to believe or disbelieve. On other pages I have explained the Church's approach to private revelations and appparitions etc., and made mention of the fact that the Church does not "canonize" the actual words allegedly spoken by Our Lady.
A priest told me that someone may have a deceased relative, for example, who was very devoted to the Rosary, and reading these promises may lead that someone to believe that praying for the deceased person is not necessary because of their devotion to Our Lady and her Rosary, and because of these promises.
That would be a mistake - it is a "holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins." (2 Machabees 12:46)
And regardless of any promises, probably no one except a deceased person knows what God's judgement for him or her has been. Therefore it is a good thing to pray for your deceased relatives and friends, no matter how holy a life you think they have led.
The Fifteen Promises of Mary to People Who Recite the Rosary
- Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.
- I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
- The Rosary shall be a powerful armour against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin and defeat heresies.
- It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God;it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
- The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.
- Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly,applying himself to the consideration of its sacred Mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
- Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
- Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God, and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the Saints in Paradise.
- I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
- The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
- You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
- All those who propagate the Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
- I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire Celestial Court during their life and at the hour of their death.
- All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son Jesus Christ.
- Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.
An Imprimatur ( which simply means "let it be printed") was granted to the Fifteen Mysteries by Cardinal Patrick J. Hayes, the then Archbishop of New York.
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