The Sunday Sermon Archive

Dear Friends,

"The recitation of the Crown of the Seven Joys is one of those devout practices in honor of the Blessed Virgin especially sanctioned by the Church. Its origin is as follows. About 1420, a young man who was greatly devoted to Mary took the Franciscan habit. Among other practices, he was in the habit of weaving a garland of flowers every day and crowning an image of the Blessed Virgin with it. Since he could not do this during his novitiate, he thought, in his simplicity, that she would withdraw her affection from him; the devil took advantage of this disposition of his soul to suggest his leaving the monastery. Such was the novice's intention when Mary appeared to him and told him to offer a crown in the place of the garland of flowers. This crown which she would much prefer, was to be composed of seventy-two 'Ave Maria' separated by a 'Pater' after each decade and recited while meditating during each decade on one of the Seven Joys which she had felt during the seventy-two years of her earthly pilgrimage, that is, the Annunciation, Visitation, Birth of Our Lord, Adoration of the Magi, discovery of the Child Jesus in the temple, Resurrection of Christ and Assumption. The novice began reciting this crown immediately. He gathered the most abundant fruit thereby, and the devotion soon spread to the whole Order. St. Bernardine of Siena declared that he had obtained all the graces with which he had been favored by means of the Crown of the Seven Joys. All the children of St. Francis can gain a Plenary Indulgence by reciting it. Confession and Communion are not required. The Feast of the Seven Joys was granted to the Friars Minor in 1906 by Pius X." (Franciscan Supplement, St. Andrew Daily Missal 1958).

The history related above reinforces the idea that God is more pleased with the good works of our hearts and souls than He is with the results of our hands. The novice was in the daily habit of weaving a garland of flowers to place on an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but Mary (in complete conformity with the Will of God) tells him that she prefers prayers and meditations on the seven principle joys of her life here on earth. God is pleased when we offer Him the labors of our hands. These labors are then sanctified and blessed by God. However, God wants us to join our hearts and minds in these physical offerings and sacrifices. As important as the works of our bodies are, the works of our hearts and minds are much greater.

Others often observe the love and worship we manifest externally, and we risk the constant temptations of pride and vanity. We should not stop doing them, but we should understand and resist the temptations that come with them. It is often necessary for others to see us do our good works so that we may inspire or encourage them in their own devotions. Parents and teachers often lead best by example rather than by exhortation. However, we must constantly strive to humbly join our hearts and minds in these good works and keep pride and vanity at bay.

We should not be discouraged or disheartened when we are impeded from accomplishing our physical work or devotions because we can still offer our hearts and minds. The example of the novice given above should encourage us. His vow of poverty and his responsibilities and duties in the community prevented his usual material devotions, but the spiritual devotions did not need to be curtailed.

Often old age or illness prevents us from physically doing what we did previously for the love of God. This is difficult, but it should allow us to continue or even increase the offerings of our hearts and minds. The same may be said for young people who are not yet capable of performing the physical work they would like to do for the love of God. Children can offer their hearts and minds when their bodies are incapable or impeded from doing what their hearts desire to do for God.

In these instances, we should recall that God accepts the genuine desire for the deed.

The Plenary Indulgence attached to the Crown Rosary of the Seven Joys is a source of great comfort, inspiration, and joy for all Franciscans. This indulgence can also be gained by anyone united with the Franciscans in offering the prayers and devotions of the Crown of Seven Joys.

We have a short online video of the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Scan the following QR Code to view it:

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary inspire, guide, and protect us!

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