THE ROSARY IS THE SHORTER STAIRWAY
TO GET TO HEAVEN

Carlo loved the Virgin Mary, and never missed the appointment reciting the Holy Rosary, which he called "the most romantic date of my whole day.” Carlo realised at an early age how Mary was the doorway for the privileged to enter into communion with Jesus. Among the titles to honour the Virgin and the shrines dedicated to her was that of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Pompei. This became of crucial importance in the boy’s life. In fact family members of the Carlo’s mother are very closely connected to this shrine. Two Sainted ancestors: Giulia Salzano and Caterina Volpicelli were both connected with the Blessed Bartolo Longo, founder of the Shrine of Pompei. Carlo could breathe this devotion to Our Lady in his family since early age and certainly it marked him deeply.

SOME HISTORY

The Rosary has ancient origins. It appears to date back to the twelfth century, when it was recited by the Carthusian monks. Soon, it spread throughout the Catholic world, taking on different characteristics, but always preserving the invocation to the Most Blessed Virgin. The popularity of the Rosary was confirmed by the large number of confraternities and associations which, in the past and the present day, bear this name. The liturgical feast in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated on October 7. Pope Gregory XIII transferred it to that day, replacing the feast of Santa Maria della Vittoria that his predecessor St. Pius V had created to commemorate the success of the Christian fleet at Lepanto over the Turks, which were threatening the coasts of Veneto.    
Many share the view that the Hail Mary prayer, as it is structured now, spread throughout the Church thanks to the Carthusian monks. The use of joining Elizabeth's greeting to the Angel is very old, and the second part of the prayer is more recent. In fact, the invocation: "Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis" ("Holy Mary, pray for us") appeared for the first time in a Carthusian breviary of the thirteenth century. In the fourteenth century, the Carthusians breviaries developed the formula: "Ora pro nobis peccatoribus. Amen "(" Pray for us sinners. Amen "), sometimes with the words" Mater Dei "("Mother of God ") referring to Mary. Around 1350, it appeared, always in a Carthusian breviary: "Nunc et in hora mortis. Amen." ("Now and at the hour of [our] death. Amen.").

CARLO USED TO SAY
THAT AFTER THE HOLY
EUCHARIST
THE ROSARY
IS THE MOST
POWERFUL WEAPON
TO FIGHT
THE DEVIL