MUSEUM
Antique Rosaries
HISTORY
of the Rosary
PRAYERS
for you index
ROSARIES
cord instructions
SEE MORE
LINKS
EMAIL US+
877.695.3561


Rosary Workshop NATURAL DISASTERS SERIES -
 *MARY as IMMACULATE CONCEPTION*
 

  EARLY HISTORY as Patroness
Immaculate Conception, Queen of Heaven, 
a beautiful history to share
+
 HOW SHE CAME TO THE SHORES OF AMERICA
HISTORY: OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 
  Follow this interesting root of Mary as the Immaculate Conception, and how she comes to our shores from Spain and France in 1492 to fulfill the title of Patroness of North America and the Preborn ... 
+
'ALL IMMACULATE VIRGIN MARY'
'All Immaculate Virgin Mary' - Panachranta - 11c
Theotokos Panachranta. 
Mid-11th-century Kievan illumination 
from the Gertrude Psalter.
+

... See how it ties into our first and most recent approved (2010) apparition in the US in 1859 when she introduces herself as 'Queen of Heaven' and assures us to 'Go and fear nothing. I will help you.’ which is a short summary of her message to Juan Diego in 1531. 
+
SCRIPTURE CONFIRMATIONS

THE FIRST AND LAST BEAD OF THE ROSARY
The first bead of the rosary speaks of her, full of grace (Immaculate Concepton) and the last bead of the rosary, 'Queen of Heaven.' (Rev.12:1). The beads in between share the life of her son, Jesus. Who she reminds us in scripture, 'Do as he tells you'.  We are called.
+
'IMMACULATE CONCEPTION' (LUKE 1:28)
 28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is  with you --- 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 
 + 
 QUEEN OF HEAVEN (REVELATION 12:1)
1 A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.  2She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth

  Dedicated on the feast of the
Blessed Virgin Immaculate Dec 8 2011
+
Not all that is in heaven is accepted 
in the hearts of those on earth.
OVERVIEW - 1C - 16C
17C  - 18C  -  19C  -  21C
+
Where in the bible does it say anything about
the Immaculate Conception of Mary?
BIBLICAL PROOF OF THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
GENESIS 3:15

TWO FEAST DATES - DEC 8th or 9th?
Why was the feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrated on December 8th or in some cases, DECEMBER 9th? It was a matter of Eastern and Western influence and traditions at that time: DECEMBER 8th: influenced by the West. DECEMBER 9th: influenced by the East. The Oriental tradition influenced lower Italy (Rome) along with the Orthodox Churches of the time.
+
 In 1477, Pope Sixtus IV reinstates the feast of The Immaculate Conception in Italy, moving the date from December 9th to the 8th. And in 1708, Pope Clement XI extends the Feast of the Immaculate Conception to DECEMBER 8th, the date we use today, to the entire Church bringing unity. 
+
Quite a period of confusion! Yet we smile knowing heaven broke through time and space over a difference of 24 hours with no problem at all! (see historical timeline below). Note the dates and time frames below:


*1C - 16C*
  1st CENTURY - 'IMMACULATA' to 'QUEEN OF HEAVEN'
THE CANTICLE OF MARY 
+
(LUKE 1:46 - 49 NAB)
 46  And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;  47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior. 48 For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. 49 The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
 (Continues through Luke 1:50 - 56)
OUR LADY of the
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
 +
5th c - SYRIA 
EARLY HISTORY of the
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
 EARLY 5th c: In Syria, A feast of the 'Conception of the Most Holy and All Pure Mother of God' was celebrated on 9 December (not the 8th as is today) as early as the 5th century. Also see Council of Ephesus (431).
+
1484 - SPAIN
CONCEPTIONIST ORDER FORMED
 The Conceptionists order was founded in Toledo, Spain, by Saint Beatrice of Silva. Eventually the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary was forwarded by Conceptionist nun Sor María de Jesús de Ágreda, (1602 - 1665) author of 'Mystical City of God' (the life story of the Virgin Mary as manifested to María de Ágreda) To this day, Marian scholars credit María de Ágreda and King Felipe IV with favorably influencing Pope Alexander VII on the doctrine of the Virgin in 1661. (see 17c below). 
+
THE NUMBER 40
The Old and New Testament use the number 40 to point out a special time frame of purification.  It represents 'completion' - completion of a commitment.  It reminds us there is a new chapter in salvation. we must listen to what is being said. Something important is in process.  There are many examples in history we miss. Here is one below:
+
1491 - 1492 NEW SPAIN
COLUMBUS DEDICATED TO THE IMMACULADA
 Columbus, a third order Franciscan, was 40 years old in 1491 when Father Perez, (Queen Isabellas confessor) urged the Queen to allow Columbus to sail the ocean blue.  Before sailing, Columbus, officers and crew received the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist from Father Juan Perez, (see Catholic Encyclopedia)and renamed his three ships La Niña ("The Girl"), and La Pinta ("Paint") and La Santa María de la Immaculada Concepción. Reviewing these names today it is as if the ships were announcing the coming of our Lady of Guadalupe 40 years later. Her first apparition to Juan Diego would be on Dec 9, 1531 - the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in Spain and 40 years after Fr Perez had convinced the Queen in 1491.
+
Icon of Fr Perez blessing Columbus 1492
by Antonio Gisbert. (1835 - 1902)
+
SPANISH COLONIZATION OF NEW WORLD
Columbus was searching for a new route to India but bumped into some little islands off the coast and south of a great new world, all of which he claimed for Spain. He named several of the islands in the new world: San Salvidore ("Savior") in the Bahamas, followed by Santa Maria de la Concepcíon.  On his second voyage he named another island "Santa María de Guadalupe" after the Virgin Mary, venerated in the Spanish town of Guadalupe - without any knowledge she was to come and bring blessings to the shores of the Americas 40 years later.

1493 -THE FIRST MASS
Father Perez, the Franciscan Astronomer, friend, and advocate of Columbus (to the court of Queen Isabella,) sailed with Columbus on his second voyage in 1493.  On December 8th he celebrated the first Mass in the new world at Point Concepción (Haiti) in a temporary structure which became the first church in America.  Father Perez preserved the Blessed Sacrament there. Was it by chance that it was during the Advent season, the time of anticipation when we await the coming of the Lord? Did they come over 500 years ago to bless this new land now called America? 
+
1493 - CHRISTMAS EVE
On Christmas Eve, the flag ship "La Santa María de la Immaculada Concepción" hit a coral reef and sank on the coast of cap hatien (Haiti). The wooden remains were used to build a small fort on shore.  He called the fort 'La Navidad' (Christmas). Was it not by chance - the birth also of a new nation - a new beginning? A blessing from above bringing Our Eucharistic Lord to these shores? 
+
Since the Santa Maria de la Immaculate Conception was the cargo ship bringing supplies, one has to wonder if Maria, the 'Arc of the Covenant,' the 'Living Tabernacle' - again carried her Eucharistic Son in her bosom to the new land through the apostolic gift passed down to Father Perez! Columbus established a Convent at Santo Domingo and Fr Perez became the guardian. (see Catholic Encyclopedia) 
+
Are we not called to be good stewards of this nation under God's continuing protection? Under the patroness of Our Lady? Think too of our founding fathers and how God was guiding the early formation of our nation in the late 1700s. 
+
1493 - 1643 FIRST OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION
ENDORSED BY THE HOLY SEE
NOTE: "The first official proclamation of the patronage [Immaculate Conception] was made in 1643 by the King of Spain, --- but her patronage was implicit in the bull of Alexander VI in 1493.  The Holy See endorsed Spain's claim to the whole western hemisphere with exception of Brazil" Our Eastern Territory and history was Spainsh colonial longer than our West until challenged by other European nations.  (see UDayton - Cushing)
+
+
1531 - NEW SPAIN (Mexico)
APPARITION OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
December 9, 1531: The first apparition of our Lady of Guadalupe in New Spain (Mexico) would be on the traditional Spanish Feast day of the Immaculate Conception, December 9th - again, not the 8th as we celebrate today. The 1531 apparition would be 40 years after Father Perez in 1491, had pleaded to Queen Isabella to let Columbus sail west, as he did the next year. 
+
(In 1754, Our Lady of Guadalupe became patron of 'New Spain' (Pope Benedict XIV), followed by the title of patroness of the Americas bestowed in 1946.)

*17C - 21C*
  1620 - 1631- SW AMERICA
The period of visitation (see above) of Conceptionist nun, Sor Maria Agreda to our southwest (New Mexico, Texas and Arizona), telling the indians - in their own language(s) - of the men in black robes that would come and teach them about the true God. She is also known as the 'Lady in Blue'. She visited the Jumanos (Humans) over 500 times in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona (1620 - 31)  telling them that soon Priests would bring knowledge of the true God. This heavenly travel, 'carried by angels' is known as 'bi-location'. 
+
Our Lady teaching Sor María de Ágreda
her life story "The Mystical City of God"
+
She never left the convent in Spain yet could describe the terrain and indians, including the name of one of the chiefs. When interviewed in Spain she remembered taking rosaries with her. She taught the indians how to make crosses so they could greet the Priests who were baffled when they arrived from Mexico and met indians carrying a cross asking about the true God. She is still lovingly known as the "Lady in Blue" in the South Western part of the United States.
+
1661 - ROME
To this day, Marian scholars credit María de Ágreda and King Felipe IV with favorably influencing Pope Alexander VII on the doctrine of the Virgin).  His 1661 decree is considered the “turning point” in the evolution of the Immaculate Conception.  Many consider it the definitive statement on the doctrine until it was fully established by Pope Pius IX in 1854'
+
1669 - ITALY
Mt Etna erupted and Catania Sicily was covered in a lake of fire and lava. 24 years later in 1693 a terrible earthquake shook the city to its foundations. (The medal used on this series is in commemoration of these events, showing Our Lady as the Immaculate Conception holding the child, Jesus.  The date below her feet is 1693. - see)
+
1668 - 1671
THE PAGEANT OF THE SAULT
1668 Père Jacques Marquette established the first European settlement in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. In 1671 "The Pageant of the Sault", 4 Jesuit priests led by Father Claude-Jean Allouez  held aloft a sword and a symbolic tuft of sod, declaring to the Native Americans that all of the Great Lakes country was henceforth a possession of King Louis XIV of France. Father Dablon took over the Sault mission, assigning Marquette to establish a mission at St. Ignace located between Lakes Michigan and Huron.  It became an important French fur trading center with the indians and invited the Jesuits the opportunity to bring God to them. Beaver Pelts were in demand in Europe because they were waterproof, perfect for making the popular Beaver hats.
 +
1672 - ST IGNACE MISSION
On December 8, Joliet arrived at the Saint-Ignace mission (Michillimakinac) to meet with Père Jacques Marquette regarding a trip in the spring after the ice broke and the waters could be navigated. 
+
PERE JACQUES MARQUETTE SJ
Père (Father) Jacques Marquette SJ 
+
Marquette wrote that the orders Joliet bore came from 'Count de Frontenac Our Governor and of Mr. Talon, our Intendant.' This pleased him as Marquette felt his designs coming to fruition. They headed south May 17th 1673 reaching the coast of Green Bay. (again, note the date of their meeting, December 8th the feast day of Mary Immaculata.)
+
Wisconsin Territory showing Green Bay
WISCONSIN TERRITORY -1718
and Mississippi River (River of the 
Immaculate Conception)
+
1673 - WISCONSIN TERRITORY - US
36 year old Père Jacques Marquette an 27 year old Louis Joliet along with 5 others and 2 canoes, left a French fur trading post called 'La Baye' or 'Baie des Puants' (Green Bay) heading west in search of the 'Mis-sipi' (Mississippi River). They had visited the 'folles avoines' (wild oats, wild rice indians also called the Menominee), for directions but were warned not to go.(It is humbling to know - for us who live next to the Menominee river, (the Rosary Workshop is a little over a mile from the river where these indians lived) - that in the process of finding the best way to travel west in their journey of discovery, Father Marquette and Louis Joliet visited the mouth of the river that divides the 'tri-cities' Menominee MI. from Marinette and Peshtigo WI. we spoke of earlier. (see FIRE) 
+
Queen of Heaven - Velezquez
Inmaculada Concepción - 1618
Diego Velázquez 
+
1673 - RIVER OF THE 
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION - US
On finding the Mis-sipi, June 17 1673, Father Marquette dedicated it to Our Lady and named it the 'River of the Immaculate Conception'.  Later in the fall, he traveled north along the coast of the Door Peninsula (named for 'Porte des Mortes' (Deaths Door) and portaged over at Sturgeon (Bay) which was a shorter route to Lake Michigan.Like a precursor, Father Marquette, who loved our Lady Immaculate, would go through an area at the lower end of the Door Peninsula now called Champion WI. (Robinsonville) where 186 years later our Lady would appear to Sister Adele Brise in 1859. The apparition would become the first approved apparition of the US by the Vatican (Dec. 8, 2010) - the feast day of the Immaculate Conception)
+
1677 - PERE MARQUETTE DIES
This old lithograph from 1877 shows Pere Marquette praying his little corona or chaplet of the Immaculate Conception along the shore of Lake Michigan. He died near Luddington Michigan. 
+
+
(for more information about these prayer beads including the prayer he prayed daily with his two companions. See the link below 'LITTLE CORONA OF PERE MARQUETTE'. Note the cross and not the medal of the Immaculate Conception (Miraculous Medal) which was introduced much later (1830 by Our Lady.)
+
1693 Medal of the Immaculate
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MEDAL - 1693
EM-882
Conception Virgin influenced 
by earthquake - see:
+
THE NEW PATRON SAINT
In 1693, another violent earthquake shook Catania Sicily down to its foundations.  The first earthquake (9 January - 4:30 am was 6.2mg), and on Jan 11, (7.4mg) over 100,000 people were killed. By May of that year, the people underwent a religious reformation and elected the Madonna of the Immaculate Conception as their patron saint. (Catania would rise again and rebuild in the new Baroque style using lava as its building stone. Note this event is covered in our series of Natural Disasters under 'Earth' in the series of 'Fire, Earth, Air and Water'.

*18C*
1750 - SPAIN
By 1750 some early maps still show Spain occupier of the new world which would include the region of the Great Lakes including Wisconsin.  This was disputed by France as Spanish occupation of this territory east of the great river was inactive.  (France and Spain both wanted the great river (Mississippi) for passage. Eventually in 1802, they would divide the territory down the middle of the river.  (Spain to the West and France to the East.)
 +
 
+
 1760 - SPAIN
November 8: By the Papal Bull Quantum ornamenti of 8 November 1760, Pope Clement XIII granted the request of King Charles III of Spain that the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, should be a special patroness of Spain along with its eastern and western territories. (Including those territories in America. Interesting to note that what is now Wisconsin was still believed under the King of Spain from the discovery of New Spain by Columbus almost 300 years before. 
+
1792 - NEW COLONIES (AMERICA)
Bishop Carroll called down the blessings of the Mother of God upon his fellow Americans in 1792 and placed under her patronage the Church in the United States from the first days of our national life. (UDayton) This simply renewed the tradition our Lady Immaculada patroness of our land from the first days of the landing of Columbus when all was claimed for Spain under her name 300 years before.

*19C*
1802 - SPAIN 
King Charles IV of Spain signed a decree the territories east of the Mississippi would be under the rule of France while lands to the west would be under Spanish rule.  This makes the heart skip a beat believing that the earlier request (above) of King Charles III of Spain regarding the Immaculate Conception was still the special patroness of the territories (now states). Did these early blessings carry to this day, even before the decree of the first Council of Baltimore in 1847? 
 +
1830 - FRANCE
 THE MEDAL of the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
On July 18, 1830 Saint Catherine Labouré says a small childs voice woke her up calling her to the sisters chapel (Rue du Bac, Paris), where she heard the Blessed Virgin Mary say to her:
+

MM.7

+
  "God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace to do what is necessary. Tell your spiritual director all that passes within you. Times are evil in France and in the world." (This medal is also known as the Miraculous Medal carrying with it special blessings, honored by people all over the world today.)
+
1846 - 1847 - UNITED STATES
 On 13 May 1846, the United States bishops chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, conceived without sin, as Patroness of the country.(On Feb 7 the decree of the first council of Baltimore (1846) electing Mary in her Immaculate Conception, principal patroness of the United States was confirmed.)
+
In 1846, an excerpt from a Massachusetts newspaper told of "a magnificent Catholic church [to] be built at Washington, D.C. after the manner of the great cathedrals of the Old World from subscriptions of every Catholic Parish in America.”(Note it will be 12 years later that Our Lady will visit Bernadette (Lourdes) and the next year, a Belgian immigrant, sister Adele Brise in Robinsonville Wi. becoming the first Approved Marian apparition "Worthy of Belief' in the US.)
+
1848 - UNITED STATES
On May 29th, Wisconsin becomes a state. We wonder again if in 1760, when the Immaculate Conception was declared principal patron of all possessions of the Spanish Crown including those in America, which would include the territory now called Wisconsin, still held the blessing of our Lady in heaven along with the earlier dedication of 1492!
 +
1854 - ROME ITALY
1854, Dec 8:  "We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace of the Omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, was preserved immaculate from all stain of original sin, has been revealed by God, and therefore should firmly and constantly be believed by all the faithful."Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, December 8, 1854 .(We note this doctrine is dated on Dec 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception)
 +
1858 - FRANCE
1858: only four years later, Our lady introduced herself : "I am the Immaculate Conception” to 14 yr. old Bernadette Soubireous, in Lourdes France.(This title was unknown to the laity as a whole as the doctrine was so new, that Bernadette would have been unfamiliar with Our Lady being called the Immaculate Conception) 
 +
1859 - UNITED STATES
On October 8 & 9th, One year later, Our Lady appeared to Sister Brise in the new state of Wisconsin.(She introduced herself as "Our Lady of Good Help, Queen of Heaven" She warned we must pray for the conversion of sinners. 'If they do not convert and do penance, My son will be obliged to punish them.' This would be 12 years after the doctrine was released by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854.)
+
1871 - UNITED STATES
On October 8, 12 years to the day of the apparition of our Lady to Sister Brise the Great Peshtigo Fire exploded in MI, WI and IL. (This fire, covered 12,000 square miles and was the largest fire in US history, reaching from the Great Chicago Fire, into the Upper Peninsula of Mi and across Lake Michigan into the Lower Peninsula destroying towns and killing well over 2400 people in the Peshtigo fire area alone. Read more under 'Fire' in our Natural Disaster Series.

 *20 - 21C*
BASILICA of the NATIONAL SHRINE
of the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 
 "Spanning the late 19th, 20th and now 21st century, American Catholics would indeed build a sanctuary that rivals those of Europe and the world, not only in size but in spiritual beauty. 
+
"Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception, the Basilica is the nation's preeminent Marian shrine. With over 70 chapels and oratories that relate to the peoples, cultures and traditions that are the tapestry of the Catholic faith and the mosaic of our great nation, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is indeed, America's Catholic church."  (from website of the Basilica in Washington DC)
 +
(Approved in 1913 by Pope Pius X.  In 1920 groundbreaking and by 1924 the first Mass is concelebrated in the Crypt church and is completed in 1926. On November 10, 1959 the great upper church of the Basilica was dedicated.)
  December 8, 2010 - UNITED STATES
ON THE FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 
Bishop David Ricken of the Green Bay Diocese, officially declares the apparitions of 1859 to Sister Adele Brise as 'Worthy of Belief', Making these the first approved apparitions of our Lady in the US. She calls herself 'Our Lady of Good Help / Queen of Heaven'. 
  BIBLICAL PROOF OF THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
 The *first reading* for today's Solemnity from the Book of Genesis is "the" Biblical proof of the Immaculate Conception.  Think about it.  God tells the serpent that He will put enmity (look up the word "enmity" between the serpent and his offspring and the woman and her offspring.  He further states that the offspring of the woman will crush the serpent's head.  Who is it that crushes satan's head, defeats him totally? Our Lord Jesus. 
+
WHO IS THE WOMAN?
Who is "the woman" who is the mother of the one who crushes Satan?  Mary.  In fact, this is why in both St. John's Gospel and the Book of Revelation Mary is referred to as "the woman." 
+
WHO IS THE OFFSPRING OF SATAN?
Now, Mary and Jesus are in complete enmity to the serpent and his offspring.  Who is the offspring of Satan?  Sinners.  Therefore, since there  is complete enmity between Jesus and Mary and the serpent and sinners, it follows that Mary could never have sin, not even original sin, or she would have been at one time in her life the offspring of Satan. (*THE FIRST READING from the Mass of feast of 8 December is Genesis 3:15) + Father Corey Litzner 
ROSARY WORKSHOP 
MISSION STATEMENT
Our vision is to provide the finest handmade rosaries, chaplets and other fine religious art forms for personal worship we can make using the best supplies available.  The Guild believes the work of our hands should give visual Glory to God, therefore for us, the best for you is very, very important.
+
PRAY YOUR ROSARY FOR ALL VICTIMS
 Pray for all victims, subject to natural disasters / weather related tragedies. We hope to encourage people to remember, not only to pray your rosary for protection today but for those who have suffered in the past, for those who suffered sudden death with no time to convert.  And for protection against future events, knowing our Lady of the Immaculate Conception covers us with her mantle and interceds for us to her son, Jesus.
++++++
QUESTIONS?
copy and paste now
beadsong@hotmail.com
OR CALL WEEKDAYS - 9 to 5central
877.695.3561


+
SHOPPING LINKS

MUSEUM  -  HISTORY   -   PRAYER
STUDY   -   SERVICE   -   COMMUNITY
 ST MICHAEL ARCHANGEL

PRAY THE ONLINE ROSARY NOW
to return to page you were on, 
pl  use your back button
TOP OF PAGE

to return to page you were on,
links to series on natural disasters that effect us on earth
especially those where our Lady has protected her children
through intercessory prayer
FIRE  -  AIR  -  EARTH  -  WATER
NATURAL DISASTERS

SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GOOD HELP
 from the Wisconsin Magazine of History 1971 read:
FATHER PERNIN'S WITNESS
 APPROVAL OF THE APPARITION
read my doubts re the apparition so close to us and how the Lord
healed me, opening up the reality of suffering in others.
A PERSONAL WITNESS   +  2 MIRACLES, THE HAND OF GOD
   DEDICATION ROSARIES  + NATURAL DISASTERS
see chaplets and rosaries inspired by the following
LITTLE CORONA OF PERE MARQUETTE
see more rosaries using rare old fur trade beads inspired 
by early Jesuits, Franciscans, all - very, very limited:
OLD VENETIAN TRADE BEADS
'PATER' TRADE BEADS
+
SOR MARIA AGREDA, CONCEPTIONIST
TOP OF PAGE

OFFICE HOURS
877 695 3561 -  9a - 5p central)
WEEK DAYS - MT- TF - (closed wednesdays) 
 Email (24/7)
beadsong@hotmail.com
 

MORE ORDERING INFORMATION
secure-online - credit card  -[or]-   mail in - mo/personal check

 

Learn more about Our Lady of Guadalupe