The 15 promises of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The 15 promises of the Blessed Virgin Mary to those who pray the Rosary are a traditional set of assurances attributed to her through private revelations given to St. Dominic in the 12th century and later to Blessed Alan de la Roche in the 15th century. These promises are said to have been revealed as a means to encourage devout recitation of the Rosary, a prayer focused on meditating on the mysteries of Christ’s life. While they are widely circulated in Catholic devotion, they fall under private revelation, meaning they are not part of official Church doctrine, and belief in them is not mandatory for Catholics. Some historical critiques, like those from the Bollandists in the 17th century, question their origins, noting no record of these promises exists in Church or Dominican documents before Alan de la Roche’s accounts, over 200 years after St. Dominic.

Here are the 15 promises as traditionally presented:

1. Signal Graces: Those who faithfully pray the Rosary will receive special signs from God to guide them in decision-making or affirm their path.
2. Special Protection and Graces: Mary promises her personal protection and abundant graces to Rosary devotees.
3. Armor Against Hell: The Rosary will act as a powerful defense against evil, reducing sin, destroying vice, and combating heresies.
4. Growth in Virtue: Reciting the Rosary will foster virtue and good works, drawing souls closer to God’s mercy and away from worldly vanities.
5. Salvation Assured: Souls who entrust themselves to Mary through the Rosary will not perish eternally, meaning they will not be damned.
6. Resilience Against Misfortune: Devout recitation, paired with meditation on the sacred mysteries, will ensure one is not overcome by misfortune, and they will die in a state of grace.
7. Sacraments at Death: Those with true devotion to the Rosary will not die without receiving the sacraments, preparing them spiritually for death.
8. Light of God at Death: Faithful Rosary pray-ers will experience God’s light and graces during life and at death, sharing in the merits of the saints in heaven.
9. Deliverance from Purgatory: Mary will swiftly deliver from purgatory those devoted to the Rosary.
10. Glory in Heaven: Rosary devotees will merit a high degree of glory in heaven.
11. Answered Prayers: Whatever one asks through the Rosary, Mary will grant, provided it aligns with God’s will.
12. Aid in Necessities: Those who spread devotion to the Rosary will receive Mary’s help in their needs.
13. Heavenly Intercession: Advocates of the Rosary will have the entire celestial court—angels and saints—interceding for them in life and at death.
14. Spiritual Kinship: Those who pray the Rosary are considered Mary’s children and siblings of Jesus Christ.
15. Sign of Predestination: Devotion to the Rosary is a strong indicator of one’s path to heaven, though it does not guarantee salvation without personal effort.

These promises emphasize spiritual protection, growth in holiness, and assurance of heavenly assistance, reflecting the Rosary’s role as a meditative prayer that draws one closer to Christ through Mary. Critics might argue the promises can foster a transactional view of faith, where prayer guarantees specific rewards, potentially overshadowing the need for genuine conversion and adherence to God’s will. However, proponents like Sister Lucia of Fatima have long upheld the Rosary’s power, claiming no problem—spiritual or temporal—cannot be resolved through it. The promises remain a source of encouragement for many, though their historical authenticity and theological weight are debated.