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The 54
Day Rosary Novena

The "54-day Rosary Novena" is an
uninterrupted series of Rosaries in honor of Our Lady,
revealed to the incurably sick Fortuna Agrelli by Our Lady of Pompeii at
Naples in 1884. For thirteen months Fortuna Agrelli had endured dreadful
sufferings and torturous cramps; she had been given up by the most
celebrated physicians. On February 16, 1884, the afflicted girl and her
relatives commenced a novena of Rosaries. The Queen of the Holy Rosary
favoured her with an apparition on March 3rd. Mary, sitting upon a high
throne, surrounded by luminous figures, held the divine Child on her lap,
and in her hand a Rosary. The Virgin Mother and the holy Infant were clad
in gold-embroidered garments. They were accompanied by St. Dominic and St.
Catherine of Siena. The throne was profusely decorated with flowers; the
beauty of Our Lady was marvellous. Blessed Virgin said: "Child,
thou has invoked me by various titles and hast always obtained favours
from me. Now, since thou hast called me by that title so pleasing to me,
'Queen of the Holy Rosary,' I can no longer refuse the favour thou dost
petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three
novenas, and thou shalt obtain all."
Once more the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to her and said, "
Whoever desires to obtain favours from me should make three novenas of the
prayers of the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving."
The Novena
consists of five decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days in
petition; then immediately five decades each day for twenty-seven days in
thanksgiving, whether or not the request has been granted. The meditations
vary from day to day. On the first day meditate on the Joyful Mysteries;
on the second day the Sorrowful Mysteries; on the third day the Glorious
Mysteries; on the fourth day meditate again on the Joyful Mysteries; and
so on throughout the fifty-four days.
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