09/01/2026
Today January 9, we commemorate the memorial of Blessed Pauline Marie Jaricot - Foundress of the Universal Living Rosary Association.
Pauline had the ingenious idea of making each group of 15 to consist of "the good, the mediocre and those individuals who had only good will -15 coals: one being well lighted, 3 or 4 partially so and the others not at all. Bring them all together and you have a furnace!" Father Ramiere to whom we owe the great work of the 'Apostleship of Prayer' wrote in 1862, "This admirable association makes it perfectly suited to become an instrument of zeal. The soul chosen by God to found the Propagation of the Faith, Miss Pauline Jaricot, is welcomed heartily by the Apostleship of Prayer." Each member volunteered to donate a sum of five francs a year, and to bring five other members into the Living Rosary. Most all of the bishops, either by a note or long letter, had recommended The Living Rosary as an essential association for their diocese. After the death of Pauline the members numbered in excess of 2,250,000 in France alone. Pauline herself said, "We will be united in prayer with all rosaries of the universe, " -- a universal Living Rosary!
After the death of Pauline the members numbered in excess of 2,250,000 in France alone.
Pauline animated this immense association with newsletters in which she knew how to suggest her ideas in an admirable fashion: "Lift up your hearts! Let us not concern ourselves with small personal interests; let us not waste our tears on things of small import; let us embrace the universe in the vows that we have formed. Jesus died for all men! Why weaken our hearts with less noble desires?" Pauline, faithful to her youth, brought the members into full missionary work.
Text from Philomena.org