Second Thought for the Day – 4 September – The Augustinians, Our Lady of Consolation and The “Augustinian Rosary”

Second Thought for the Day – 4 September – The Feast of Our Lady of Consolation

The Augustinians, Our Lady of Consolation
and The “Augustinian Rosary”
The “Corona (or Crown) of Our Mother of Consolation.”

The origin of this invocation is derived from the Augustinian Monks who propagated this particular devotion . In 1436, the Confraternity of the Holy Cincture of Our Lady of Consolation was founded in Bologna, Italy.
It was based on an Augustinian tradition which holds that Saint Monica in the fourth century, who was distraught with anxiety for her wayward son, Saint Augustine and that Mary gave her a sash, which the Virgin wore, with the assurance that whoever wore this belt would receive her special consolation and protection.
Along with St Augustine and St Monica, Our Lady of Consolation is one of the three Patrons of the Augustinians.
The “Augustinian Rosary” is sometimes called the The “Corona (or Crown) of Our Mother of Consolation.”

In the 1700s members of the Augustinian Order introduced devotion to Our Lady of Consolation to the island of Malta.
On 1 December 1722 the Prior General of the Augustinian Order, Fr Thomas Cervioni, issued the Decree for the erection of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Consolation in the Church of St Mark, run by the Augustinians at Rabat, although the devotion had been practiced for some time before.
By this time the custom of asking for the final blessing before death in the name of Our Lady of Consolation was very popular and the Monks were given a dispensation to leave the Monastery at any time to confer it.
The feast day in Malta is celebrated on the last Sunday of October.

The Augustinian Rosary has a unique format, one that is short and simple and is based on the truth of the Catholic faith – The Apostles Creed. The Apostles Creed has been divided into twelve articles, each accompanied by one Our Father and Hail Mary, followed by one Our Father and Hail Mary each in honour of Jesus, the Salve Regin, and a Collect Prayer. Sometimes the Litany of our Lady can be included as well as various intentions or reflections from Augustine’s sermons. I have printed the format below in a brief simplified form.

The Dominicans were not the only group to have their own unique Rosary, the Franciscans had one based on Mary’s Seven Joys, the Servites pray through the Mary’s Seven Sorrows.

The Augustinian Family venerates the Blessed Virgin Mary with the principal and distinct title of Our Mother of Consolation or of the Cincture. The little rosary, prayed in her honour, belongs to the tradition of the Order and in the course of the centuries has gathered countless brothers and sisters around Mary, just as the early Christian community was united around her.

This devotion is a prayer filled with inspiration for our journey of faith in the company of Mary. It is an inner journey in the Holy Spirit meditating on the truths of our faith as expressed in the Apostles’ Creed.

The “Augustinian Rosary” – “Corona (or Crown) of Our Mother of Consolation”

Direct we beseech You, O Lord, our actions by Your holy inspirations and carry them forward by Your gracious help, that every good work of ours begin from You and by You be happily ended, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

1. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
   Our Father, Hail Mary
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
   Our Father, Hail Mary
3. who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary
   Our Father, Hail Mary
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried,
   Our Father, Hail Mary
5. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again;
   Our Father, Hail Mary
6. He ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
   Our Father, Hail Mary
7. and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
   Our Father, Hail Mary
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
   Our Father, Hail Mary
9. the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints,
   Our Father, Hail Mary
10. the forgiveness of sins
    Our Father, Hail Mary
11. the resurrection of the body,
    Our Father, Hail Mary
12. And life everlasting.
    Our Father, Hail Mary
13. In honour of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Father, Hail Mary
Hail Holy Queen

Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ Father of Mercies
and God of every consolation,
grant, we pray,
that your faithful who rejoice
in the protection of the holy Virgin Mary,
Mother of Consolation may,
by her motherly intercession be freed
from all evils in this life
and be worthy of coming
to the eternal joy of heaven
where you live and reign forever and ever.
Amen