The Fifteen Promises of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Fifteen Promises of the Blessed Virgin Mary were given, according to tradition, to St. Dominic and later reaffirmed through Blessed Alan de la Roche (15th century Dominican priest and promoter of the Rosary).

While these promises are private revelation (not official Catholic Church dogma), they have been warmly approved and encouraged by the Church as spiritually sound and in harmony with Marian devotion.

Here are the 15 promises of the Blessed Virgin Mary as traditionally recorded:

1. Special protection and great graces.

“To all who devoutly recite my Rosary, I promise my special protection and very great graces”

2. A powerful armor against hell.

“The Rosary shall be a powerful weapon against hell; it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies”

3. Victory over difficulties.

“It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw hearts from the love of the world and its vanities, and lift them to the desire for eternal things”

4. Deliverance from punishment.

“The soul that recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish”

5. Freedom from sin.

“Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying themselves to the consideration of its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune; God will not chastise them in His justice, they shall not perish by an unprovided death”

6. Light in life and at death.

“The devout child of my Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church”

7. Deliverance from purgatory.

“Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have, during their life and at their death, the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise”

8. Release of souls.

“I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary”

9. High degree of glory in Heaven.

“The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven”

10. You shall obtain all you ask.

“You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary”

11. Help in every need.

“All those who propagate the Holy Rosary, shall be aided by me in their necessities”

12. Intercession for the faithful.

“I have obtained from my Divine Son, that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death”

13. All you do will be for God’s glory.

“All who recite the Rosary are my beloved children, and the brothers and sisters of my only Son Jesus Christ”

14. Great glory for the faithful.

“Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination”

15. Peace and conversion.

“Through the Rosary, hardened hearts shall be softened, and peace shall reign in families and nations”

Meaning in brief

The promises emphasize:

• Protection and grace in life and death

• Growth in virtue and repentance from sin

• Assurance of Mary’s intercession

• Final perseverance and eternal salvation for the faithful 

What does the Catholic Church say about these promises?

1. They are part of private revelation, not official Church doctrine

The Church teaches that the Fifteen Promises were given in private revelation — traditionally to St. Dominic (13th century) and later reaffirmed through Blessed Alan de la Roche (15th century Dominican).

• The      Church has never officially declared that these exact promises come      directly from the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• However,      nothing in the promises contradicts Catholic faith or morals.
• Therefore,      Catholics are free to believe them and draw inspiration from them — but      they are not required to do so.

Catechism of the Catholic Church, §67:

“Throughout the ages, there have been so-called ‘private’ revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church.

They do not belong… to the deposit of faith. Their role is not to ‘improve’ or ‘complete’ Christ’s definitive Revelation, but to help live it more fully in a certain period of history.”

So the promises are approved for devotion, but not binding as Church doctrine.

2. The Rosary itself is highly approved and encouraged by the Church

The Rosary itself has the Church’s highest endorsement.

• Numerous      popes — from St. Pius V (who established the Feast of Our Lady of the      Rosary) to St. John Paul II (Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 2002) — have called      it one of the most powerful prayers for peace and conversion.
• Pope      Leo XIII wrote 11 encyclicals promoting the Rosary. See below.
• The      Church teaches that praying the Rosary with devotion leads to meditation      on the mysteries of Christ, and therefore to growth in holiness.

So, the spiritual fruits the promises describe — protection, grace, conversion, peace — are indeed affirmed by the Church as natural fruits of sincere Marian prayer.

3. The promises reflect authentic spiritual truth

• That      prayer opens the heart to grace.
• That      Mary intercedes powerfully for her children.
• That      the Rosary leads us closer to Christ.

In other words, the promises summarize — in devotional form — what faithful Catholics experience when they pray the Rosary regularly.

Pope Leo XIII had a deep devotion to the Rosary and St. Dominic, and he strongly promoted Marian spirituality, especially through his famous Rosary encyclicals.

Pope Leo XIII, often called the “Rosary Pope,” issued twelve encyclicals dedicated to promoting the Rosary during his papacy from 1878 to 1903. These documents emphasized the Rosary as a powerful means of prayer, a source of spiritual strength, and a remedy for the challenges facing the Church and society. 

List of Encyclicals on the Rosary by Pope Leo XIII

1. Supremi      Apostolatus Officio (September 1, 1883)
       This encyclical established the practice of dedicating the month of      October to the Rosary, highlighting its role in combating heresy and      promoting Christian unity.  
2. Superiore      Anno (August 30, 1884)
       It reaffirmed the importance of the Rosary and extended the indulgences      associated with its recitation, encouraging the faithful to engage in this      devotion throughout October.  
3. Quod      Auctoritate (September 1, 1885)
       This document emphasized the authority of the Church in promoting the      Rosary and its role in fostering piety among the faithful.
4. Vi È      Ben Noto (September 20, 1887)
       Addressed to the Italian bishops, it urged them to promote the Rosary as a      means to strengthen faith and counteract secularism in Italy.  
5. Octobri      Mense (September 22, 1891)
       This encyclical reiterated the importance of dedicating October to the      Rosary, emphasizing its power in obtaining peace and divine assistance.
6. Magnae      Dei Matris (September 8, 1892)
       It reflected on the Rosary as a means to deepen the Christian life,      highlighting Mary’s virtues and the mysteries of Christ’s life.  
7. Laetitiae      Sanctae (September 8, 1893)
       This document commended devotion to the Rosary, addressing contemporary      challenges such as materialism and promoting the contemplation of the      Glorious Mysteries.  
8. Iucunda      Semper Expectatione (September 8, 1894)
       It encouraged the faithful to recite the Rosary with devotion,      anticipating the joy and peace it brings.
9. Adiutricem      Populi (September 5, 1895)
       This encyclical highlighted the Rosary as a means of obtaining divine      assistance and protection, especially in times of trial.  
10. Fidentem      Piumque (September 20, 1896)
        It emphasized the Rosary’s role in fostering confidence in God’s mercy and      promoting piety among the faithful.
11. Augustissimae      Virginis Mariae (September 12, 1897)
        This document focused on the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, encouraging      Catholics to join and promote this association.  
12. Diuturni      Temporis (September 5, 1898)
        It concluded the series of Rosary encyclicals, reaffirming the importance      of the Rosary in the spiritual life and its role in combating evil.

These encyclicals collectively underscore Pope Leo XIII’s deep devotion to the Rosary and his belief in its efficacy as a tool for spiritual growth, peace, and the defense of the faith. They continue to inspire Catholics worldwide to embrace the Rosary as a central part of their devotional life.

BACK