Miraculous 54 Day Rosary Novena
"Whoever desires to obtain favors from Me should make three novenas of the prayers of the Rosary and three novenas in thanksgiving." ~ Promise of Our Lady of the Rosary
One of my very favorite devotions is the 54 Day Rosary novena. I have prayed it many times over the years and always received some sort of answer, sometimes in very clear ways for big decisions and other times just the comfort of subtle graces received.
The history behind this devotion stems from a vision of Our Lady to Fortuna Agrelli in 1884. The young girl had three illnesses that doctors declared incurable. Her family prayed a nine day novena of rosaries without success, until Our Lady appeared to the girl with the Child Jesus and a rosary in her hand.
Fortuna said, "Queen of the Holy Rosary, be gracious to me, restore me to health. I have already prayed to Thee in a novena, O Mary, but have not yet experienced Thy aid. I am so anxious to be cured."
Our Lady replied, "Child, you have invoked Me by various titles and have always obtained favors from me. Now, since you have called Me by that title so pleasing to Me, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, I can no longer refuse the favor you petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three novenas, and you shall obtain all."
After following Our Lady's instructions, Fortuna was cured from all three illnesses. The rosary prayed for 54 days in a row is a beautiful devotion to honor Our Lady. If begun on the feast of the Assumption (August 15th) it will end on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7th)!