Champions of the Rosary: The History and Heroes of a Spiritual Weapon

This is THE must have been on the Rosary. I got more out of this than I ever expected to from any book not written by St. Montfort. The writing is solid, the chapters packed to the brim with information. I hardly know where to begin when singing the praises of this book. Firstly, the history chapter is thorough. In a couple of places I would have loved a date or two, but few people are going to be as picky as I am with history. I like to plot things on a timeline. This portion is well researched and well defended. It could have been its own book. Secondly, the section on Saints and Blesseds and others who have championed the Rosary is incredibly well done. Each section is a short biography. This would be useful in a home school history class, and it is worth the price of the book by itself. Third, illustrations and photographs. So many books lack something in this department, but not this book! Each person in the second part has an image for their chapter. Later in the book is a section of extant images showing the rosary in art. I doubt you could find more of these in any other book not an art book. Finally, the section on praying the Rosary. It is complete as you could wish. I thought I knew a lot about the Rosary, but this book gave me so much to chew on that I have had to add post-it tabs to mark various pages I want to be able to find more easily. I took notes! I even found the material for this book creeping into my journalling and coming to mind as I prayed. Get this book, for yourself, for your home school, for the catechist, deacon, or priest you know!

Although I haven't read every word in this extremely comprehensive book on the Blessed Mother and the Rosary, I love reading parts of it each morning. It's amazing how Fr. Calloway not only describes in detail how the Rosary came to be in its present form, but also the historical events through the centuries. As one who spent many years as a Protestant, it was quite mysterious when I felt called to explore the Catholic faith in 2000, six years after my marriage. My husband Michael, although raised Catholic, had been attending my Presbyterian church and never asked me to convert. Even before I began RCIA he taught me how to pray the Rosary, and a few people were so impressed by my enthusiasm that I received rosaries from Fatima, Lourdes, and two from the Vatican. After praying the Rosary together for some time, my husband and I fell away from the nightly prayer. But when I read parts of this book (especially "The 20th Century: Marian Apparitions and Apostles of the Rosary") to Michael, his desire to pray the Rosary together with me was ignited. It has been a wonderful experience that I pray will continue as long as we live. But I am curious as to why Fr. Calloway did not chronicle the events in Zeitoun, Egypt where an estimated 1 million people claim to have seen Mary above Cairo's largest cathedral between 1968 and 1971. Is it because the sightings (of which there are amazing photographs) were above St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, obviously not Roman Catholic? I'd be very grateful if someone would respond to my question and thank you in advance for your time and effort!

This is perhaps the best book on the Rosary since St. Louis de Montfort's 'The Secret of the Rosary'. Fr. Donald Calloway has written a book at once scholarly and easily accessible, covering 800 years of Rosary history and devotion. Although himself not a Dominican, the author has an obvious appreciation for the Order of Preachers and the Dominicans' role in popularizing the Rosary tô the point that its use is almost universal In the Catholic Church. 'The Champions of the Rosary' is broken into three separate sections, on the history of the Rosary (the Rosary's centrality to the Catholic faith began after Rosary devotion and prayers were credited with having played a central role in the defense of Europe from Muslim invasion in the second half of the Sixteenth Century), on such champions of devotion to the Rosary as St. Dominic and Bl. Alain de la Roche (and even on the author' s predecessor, St. Louis de Montfort!), and finally a practical section on how to pray the Rosary. [I admit to being bemused by ths third section, as I have trouble imagining that anyone who doesn't already pray the Rosary would have much interest increasing the book.] Fr. Calloway is not only very knowledgeable but also a good writer. His own excitement with, and devotion to, the Dominican Rosary shines through his writing, and is infectious. Highly recommended.

I just got this book in the mail the other day, and it is definitely one-stop-shopping for everything rosary - History, method, famous people who say the rosary, and more. For those of us who have been saying the rosary for a while, it confirms what we already know - that saying the rosary every day fulfills Mary's request at Fatima in 1917 to say the rosary every day for world peace. But also, it will help us to overcome our sinful nature and to put on Christ every day. It is so much more than "vain repetition." It is meditating on the mystery of Christ in scripture. When we say the rosary, The Blessed Virgin May now has our back, and old sinful habits fall by the wayside, while strong evangelization takes their place. It's just in time for the 100th anniversary of Fatima, which occurred in October 1917, where Mary warned the world about the coming October revolution in Russia, which would spread errors throughout the world. The prime error, of course, is atheism replacing God, and the Government replacing the Church. Those errors have now come to America. Just like the Catholic workers' revolt in Poland in 1989 with its many rosaries overturned the atheist workers' revolt in Russia in 1917, just so, Americans can overturn our godless government with the rosary. This book is an excellent primer and encyclopedia on just how to do that. With the rosary, we can once again give power to the Supreme Being, and take it away from the Supreme Court. AMEN

I LOVE this book! It is filled with history about how wars have been won through people praying the Rosary, not to mention some of the Saints that Fr Don writes about and how their lives were changed because of praying with this "spiritual weapon." As an artist, I was intrigued with the images of art that is in the book as well; paintings that show the Rosary and how it co-insides with the history of how the Rosary came to be. I've truly gained a respect for this ancient prayer form and have begun to take praying the Rosary seriously. Not to mention my relationship with the Blessed Mother has become stronger. Since doing so, I am beginning to experience it's power (and I know that all power comes from God) yet, the focus on the life of Christ and his redemption in the Mysteries are life changing. If you ever get a chance to here Fr. Don in person talk about this book, you will not be disappointed! I've heard him several times. He is an amazing priest! And this is an amazing work!

Very pleased with item and delivery.

Great book! This is far and away the best book I have read on the topic and I have read several. It is heavy on history but the topic needed to be explained this deeply. I always value an experience where I learn something I can use in my life; this book provided several things of value. One is adding an extra decade which does not include a mystery for some cause I want to pray for. Another is that Elvis did a song about the rosary, I tracked it down and it is beautiful! There are chapters about Saints who were close to the rosary. There are beautiful pictures of art related to the rosary and so much more. I can't being to say all of the things that I have learned from this fascinating and wonderful book, but I could not recommend it more highly. It is not a simple book but if you stay with it you will be inspired, proud of the Church, love Our Blessed Mother even more, and feel blessed to have found this wonderful story of an important part of the faith! Could not recommend a book more highly!

My son’s latest book, Champions Of The Rosary, is fittingly a work in three parts: one, the History; two, the Champions (and Heroes); and three, the Rosary itself. This book is the Trinity of Our Lady’s Rosary, as any one part is not complete without the other two. Reading this book will bring you new insight into the origin and formulation, the promoters and practitioners, and the wonder and glory of that which is the Rosary, a divine prayer handed down to mankind by Our Lady herself. Surely to lead people back to daily recitation and meditation on the life and mysteries of Our Lord and His Mother, Fr. Don’s masterful work, Champions Of The Rosary, is truly a labor of love and sure devotion to the Blessed Mother. This masterpiece of the history and the heroes of the rosary will rightly secure the distinction upon Fr. Donald Calloway as a modern-day St. Dominic and true Champion Of The Rosary.

Very good book for catholics.

Sehr empfelenswertes, beeindruckendes und begeisterndes buch über die geschichte und wundern des rosenkranses. Indertat das beste rosenkransbuch seit The Secret of the Rosary von LM Grignon de Montfort.

A wonderful book from Fr Calloway for those wanting to go deep into history about the Rosary👍. This book will also show how you can pray and meditate on the rosary prayers which are straight from the scriptures. The Rosary is a prayer and meditation tool for todays problems.

This is a very accessible dive into the power of the rosary. Reading this after St Louis De Montfort's The Secret of the Rosary has cemented my rosary devotion. Furthermore, the stories of how the rosary has been used by saints and countless others throughout history is a real inspiration to pray more and a good reminder that Catholic prayers interact with the living church and is not a dead relic of yesteryears.

Would recommend this book to anyone who would like to know more about the Rosary. A very inspiring book that is sure to increase your faith and encourage you to pray the Rosary more. Very easy to read.