ROSARY (Lat. rosarium, a rose-garden), a string of beads used by Roman Catholics in their devotions, on which they reckon the number of times they repeat the Pater-noster and the Ave Maria. The former, or Lord's Prayer, they recite fifteen times; the latter, or angelical salutation, they recite one hundred and fifty times. Accordingly, the rosary is three times the ordinary chaplet. It is reported to be instituted in honour of the fifteen principal mysteries in our Saviour's life, and that of the Virgin Mary. Some have attributed the origin of the rosary to St. Dominic. A Spanish writer tells us "we owe to Dominic de Guzman, a canon of the order of St. Augustin, two most important blessings, the rosary and the holy office," A.D. 1202. Mosheim, among others, ascribes to this institution a higher antiquity (Eccles. Hist., cent. x., part ii., c. 4). "Pretty distinct traces," he says, "of the rosary and crown of St. Mary, as they are called, or of praying according to a numerical arrangement, are to be found in this (the tenth) century. For they who tell us that St. Dominic invented the rosary in the thirteenth century do not bring satisfactory proof of their opinion." "This," he adds in a note, "is formally demonstrated by Mabillon, Acta Sanct. Ord. Bened., Pref. ad secul. v., p. 58, &c." This festival falls on the first Sunday in October. Its name is said to have been changed by Gregory XIII., from St. Mary of the Victory, given to it by Pius V. on its institution in honour of the battle of Lepanto, which took place on that day. (See Brande's Dict. of Science.)

Roscius
Roscoe.