SEVEN JOYS OF THE B.V.M.
FRANCISCAN CROWN

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Seven Joys
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ABOUT THE "SEVEN JOYS"
AND FRANCISCAN CROWN
HISTORY: The "Seven Joys", also known as the Franciscan Crown or Seraphic Rosary, is a devotion that recalls seven joyful episodes in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The practice originated among the Franciscans in early 15th-century Italy during the era of St. Bernardino of Siena (1380-1444). The themes, however, are much older. They resemble the 12th-century Gaudes, Latin praises that ask Mary to rejoice because God has favored her in various ways.
The traditional symbol of the Seven Joys is the Immaculate Heart of Mary, that is, a heart surrounded by white roses and topped with a flame representing her love for God and for all humanity.
PRAYERS: The worshiper prays one "Our Father" and ten "Hail Marys" for each of the Seven Joys. The final prayers are: two more "Hail Marys", making a total of 72; then one "Our Father" and one "Hail Mary" for the intentions of the Pope. The number "72" is significant. It honors the tradition that Mary's earthly life lasted 72 years. Devotional manuals sometimes add other prayers, but these are optional.
BEADS: Like the Holy Rosary, the Seven Joys is a "bead-prayer." Franciscan Crown beads are designed to keep count of the prayers. They are not required to perform the devotion, however. There are 76 beads in the circlet, which is connected to a medal, plus a pendant string of five more beads, ending with a crucifix and a second medal depicting St. Francis of Assisi. The circlet contains seven sets of ten "Hail Mary" beads, and one "Our Father" bead between each set--with one exception. The Our Father bead for the First Joy is located on the pendant string, closest to the connecting medal.
To pray the Seven Joys using beads: Start with the Our Father bead closest to the connecting medal. Follow the beads around the circlet until you return to the connecting medal. Then, continuing with the pendant string, skip the first bead (which you already used to start the devotion), and pray the final four prayers on the four remaining beads. This will bring you to the crucifix.

To pray the Seven Joys online, with step-by-step instructions and the complete text of the prayers, see Seven Joys--Online Prayer.


Original essay
E.M. Mulhare, 27-Feb-2002
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Donovan, Stephen M.
1999 "Franciscan Crown (a/k/a Seraphic Rosary)." In The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IV. Original 1908, Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition, 1999. Judy Levandoski, transcriber. Arvada, Colorado: New Advent/Kevin Knight. Available from http://www.knight.org/advent/cathen/04540a.htm
Estévez Vega, P. Francisco
Corona franciscana o las Siete Alegrías de la Santísima Virgen Maria. Orense, Spain. Accessed 24-Feb-2002. Available from http://www.headservices.com/corgomo/corona_franciscana.htm
Franciscan Crown
n.d. Franciscan Crown or the Rosary of the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin. Pamphlet enclosed with prayer beads. No publisher indicated.
Shaughnessy, Patrick, O.S.B., S.T.D.
1984 "The Rosary of the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Franciscan)." In Twenty-four Rosaries and Chaplets. Original 1954, St. Meinrad Archabbey. Reprint. pp. 28-29. Louisville, KY: Our Lady's Rosary Makers.
Winston-Allen, Anne
1997 Stories of the Rose: The Making of the Rosary in the Middle Ages. University Park: Pennsylvania State University.
CREDITS

Illustration 1: "Immaculate Mary", ©2002 by E. M. Mulhare.
Illustration 2: "Franciscan Prayer-beads", ©2002 by E. M. Mulhare.

Texts of prayers in this work are traditional devotions of the Roman Catholic Church and pertain to the public domain.

All other content, including graphics and artwork, Copyright ©2002-2003 by E. M. Mulhare, Hamilton, NY 13346 USA. All Rights Reserved. Published electronically as part of Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Franciscan Crown. Original created 31-Jan-2002. This page last modified 16-Jan-2003.


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