The Fifteen Promises of the Rosary
The fifteen traditional promises encourage devotion to the Rosary, trust in Mary’s intercession, and perseverance in the Christian life.
The fifteen promises
The promises are traditionally attributed to Mary through Saint Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche. English translations vary in wording.
- Special graces. Those who faithfully pray the Rosary receive special help, traditionally called signal graces.
- Mary's protection. She promises her particular protection and great graces to those who pray it.
- Strength against sin. The Rosary is described as protection against hell, vice, sin, and heresy.
- Growth in virtue. It nourishes good works, obtains God's mercy, and turns the heart toward eternal things.
- Help toward salvation. Those who entrust themselves to Mary through the Rosary will not be lost.
- Perseverance in grace. Devout prayer with meditation on the mysteries brings help through misfortune, conversion for sinners, and perseverance for the just. It promises protection from God's punishment and an unprepared death.
- The sacraments at death. Those truly devoted to the Rosary receive the Church's sacraments before death.
- Light and grace. Faithful devotees receive God's light and abundant grace in life and at death, sharing in the merits of the saints.
- Release from purgatory. Mary promises deliverance from purgatory for those devoted to the Rosary.
- Glory in heaven. Its faithful children receive great heavenly glory.
- Help with petitions. The tradition promises that requests offered to Mary through the Rosary will be granted.
- Help for those who spread it. Those who share the devotion receive Mary's help in their needs.
- Heavenly intercession. Those who promote the Rosary have the heavenly court praying for them in life and at death.
- Mary's children. Those who pray it are her beloved children, sharing in the family of her Son, Jesus.
- A sign of salvation. Devotion to the Rosary is described as a sign of predestination to eternal life.
Understanding the promises
These promises belong to devotional tradition. Their historical attribution is not an article of Catholic faith. The Catechism, §67, explains that private revelations help people live the faith without adding to the Revelation fulfilled in Christ.
Read them as encouragement to repentance, perseverance, and the sacraments. Petitions are entrusted to God's will; prayer does not guarantee a life without suffering or make salvation a matter of counting prayers.
Pray with the Rosary guide, contemplating each mystery as you move from bead to bead.