"150 Motives Impelling Us to Say the Rosary"

Ave Maria!  Among the many writings of St. Louis de Montfort is his little but packed book entitled Methods for Saying the Rosary, wherein he gives us 150 motives to pray the rosary.  Listed below are the ones I find particularly compelling.

God is the author of the prayers of which it is composed and of the mysteries which it contains.

The Rosary is a mystical summary of all the most beautiful prayers of the Church.

The Creed is the summary of the gospel.

The Our Father contains a summary of all we must ask of God and of all our duties towards God.

The Hail Mary is the new song of the New Testament.

The Rosary is the tree of life which bears marvelous fruits all the year round.

The Rosary sets prisoners free, heals the incurable, enriches the poor, supports the weak, consoles the afflicted and the dying, and makes good people better.

The last motive sums up well my experience in praying the rosary.  It's not the rosary as such that works these wonders, of course.  Rather, it is Jesus-living-in-Mary who does these great things for us, over and over again -- and we are glad indeed (Ps 126:3).  Yes, "It is the Lord who forgives all your sins, who heals every one of your ills, who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with mercy and compassion, who fills your life with good things, renewing your youth like an eagle's" (Ps 103:3-5).  Every bead of the rosary thus becomes both petition and praise as I go "from strength to strength" (Ps 84:8) with Him who gives us "all grace and glory" (Ps 84:11).

Hail Mary, full of grace!  Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus!