Confraternity of the Holy Rosary
The Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary (known also as the Rosary Altar Society or Rosary Society in the United States) is an international association of the faithful that exists “to praise and honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and to secure her patronage by the recitation of the Rosary for the mutual spiritual benefit of all the members throughout the world.” Each week, countless thousands of members pray the Holy Rosary and include each other’s intentions in their prayers.
The first Rosary Confraternity was established in the 1470s through the zealous preaching of the Rosary by Blessed Alan de la Roche, O.P. A few years later, another local Rosary Confraternity was established in Cologne by Fr. Joseph Sprenger, O.P. After this, Rosary Confraternities began to be established in still other cities. In no small part, it was due to the spread of the Confraternity that devotion to Our Lady’s Rosary likewise flourished and a more uniform system of reciting the Rosary developed. From the beginning, Rosary Confraternities were erected under the direction of the Dominican Friars and the establishment of all Rosary Confraternities eventually became a privilege reserved to the Dominican Order.
Today, members of the Rosary Confraternity promise the recitation of a weekly Rosary as their sole obligation. Although this obligation is very minimal—and does not bind under pain of sin—the spiritual benefits are extensive. Along with several plenary and partial indulgences that are granted to members of the Confraternity, members also benefit from the countless Rosaries that are offered for their intentions by the other members throughout the world. The Rosary Confraternity is probably the largest organization of this type within the Catholic Church. In addition, enrolled members also participate in all the prayers and good works performed by the friars, nuns, sisters, and laity of the Dominican Order.
The Confraternity was last reorganized by Pope Leo XIII in 1898 with his Apostolic Constitution, Ubi Primum, and continues to exist, under the direction of the Dominican Friars, in accordance with the norms of the current Code of Canon Law (1983). The Catholic faithful may enroll in the Confraternity through any of the Dominican Provinces by contacting their local Provincial Promoter of the Holy Rosary.
Chances are if your parish has an altar or icon depicting St. Dominic receiving the Rosary from Our Blessed Mother, a Rosary Altar Society already exists at your parish. Once a Confraternity is established it exists in perpetuum, which is to say always, even if Confraternity is no longer active. Reestablishing a Rosary Society is quite simple if the local pastor wishes to do so.
To enroll online in the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary through the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great (Central United States), please click HERE. If you are interested in learning how to establish a Rosary Confraternity at your local parish, please click HERE.
Who can enroll?
- Any living Catholic who has reached the “age of reason” (generally around 7 years of age) can ask to be enrolled.
- They must know of and consent to their enrollment and must be willing to fulfill the obligations of membership. In other words, it is not possible to enroll someone else in the Confraternity.
- The deceased may not be enrolled.
For enrollment in the Central United States If you live in the Central United States (NM, CO, WY, KS, NE, SD, ND, MO, IA, MN, IN, WI, MI) you can enroll in Central Province Confraternity by Clicking here. Or, if you would like to establish a Confraternity at your parish Click here.
For the Western United States http://www.rosary-center.org/
For the Eastern United States http://rosaryconfraternity.org/ Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary Dominican Province of Saint Joseph 280 North Grant Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43215 Phone: (614) 240-5929 Fax: (614) 240-5928
For the Southern United States Attn: Fr. John Restrepo, O.P. St. Anthony of Padua Church 4640 Canal St. New Orleans, LA 70119 International Rosary Confraternity Links
The International Rosary Website http://rosarium.op.org
For Argentina http://www.op.org.ar/rosario.php
For Australia, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea http://rosary.op.org.au/
For India Fr. Sunil Martin D’Souza OP Promoter of Holy Rosary Dominic Ashram near SFS College Seminary Hill Nagpur 440006 MAHARASHTRA, INDIA
For Ireland http://www.rosarycentre.com/confraternity.htm
For the United Kingdom http://english.op.org/Rosary.html
For Southern Africa Br. Damazio Mubelu Ngoma O.P. The General Vicariate of Southern Africa St. Dominic’s Catholic Parish P.O. Box 198 87 Jan Hofmeyr Road WELCOM 9460 South Africa