HOW THE ROSARY GOT ITS NAME

HOW MARY’S PSALTER CAME TO BE KNOWN AS “THE ROSARY”

The name "Rosary", means a garland or bouquet of roses.
"ROSARY" is a fitting name for this devotion because flower imagery is abundant throughout the Bible, and often points to a spiritual flowering within the soul. This flowering of the soul as its virtues blossom forth, is one of the fruits of reciting the rosary well.
The following passages in particular have been applied by the Church Fathers to the Blessed Virgin herself; the odour of her sanctity is embodied by the scent of spiritual flowers, reflecting the sweetness of her soul.

"I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.

As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

Stay me up with flowers, compass me about with apples"
(Canticles 2: 1,2,5)

The “Chronicles of Saint Francis”; recorded that the Jesuit brother Alphonsus Rodriguez would say his Rosary with such fervour that as he prayed he would often see a rose come out of his mouth at each prayer.
The following words from Ecclisiasticus, (King David) seem to confirm that the breath carrying heartfelt prayer rising heavenwards, can take floral form to those gifted with spiritual vision.

“Listen to me, devout children, and blossom
Like the rose that grows on the bank of the watercourse.
Give off a sweet smell like incense,
Flower like the lily; spread your fragrance abroad,
Sing a song of praise
Blessing the Lord for all his works.”
(Ecclesiasticus 39:13 -19)

Saint Louis de Montforte in his “ Secret of the Rosary” relates how Mary’s psalter came to be known more affectionately as the Rosary:

Throughout Europe the story of The Chronicles of Saint Francis tell of a young Friar who habitually said the Rosary every day before dinner.
One day he did not manage to say it, the refectory bell had already rung and he asked the superior’s permission to say it before coming to the table. Permission granted he went to his cell to pray.

On noting that the young monk had been gone a long time, the superior sent another friar to fetch him. He found the friar at prayer in his cell, the room bathed in light. Our Lady was present with two angels, and each time the friar prayed beautiful roses kept issuing from his mouth. The angels took them one by one and placed them as a crown upon her head. Our Lady smilingly accepted them.
Finally two more friars were sent to find out what had happened, and witnessed the same lovely scene.”

THE ROSARY AND THE BOWER
The prayer of the rosary is regularly referred to by the saints as a chain which protects like a fortress, around situations and people. It is also called a chain of love by which we are joined to Mary in her love of the Trinity.
It is referred to as a garland or a crown of honour to adorn Mary with.
A bower is an area which is a more enclosed than an arbour. It is entwined through with scented climbing plants such as the clematis and rose.
Mary’s bower is also the Rosary – representing the perfumed shelter by which it surrounds our souls.
PHOTOS: 1, 2, & 3 roses 4 praying cherub.