The Origin of the Block Rosary:
Our Lady's Apparition To Mary Hall
N.B. In accordance with the decree of the Holy See, the revelations of visions and supernatural manifestations which follow are the responsibility of the biographer, and in no way imply that they have been examined and approved by Ecclesiastical Authority - N. J. Schorn.
The following is the recital of Mary Hall... Detroit, MI.
"In the summer of 1944, I lost one brother in the war. I felt that I must not lose another. I had seven brothers, now there were only six. I was in the bedroom waiting for my baby to go to sleep. Sitting there I besought the BLESSED MOTHER to show me a prayer that I might use to secure the safety of the remaining brothers, all of whom were in the battlefields, so that they might return as they had left. I begged Her from all my heart--I cried.
Soon my child was asleep. I went into the living room. and walked straight to the sideboard, and picked up a Sunday Missal. I turned page after page, looking for something. I did not know what. Finally, I came to the end of the book, and there I came across a story where MARY had appeared to someone in Naples, Italy. To this person, SHE had said that whosoever should make a 54-day NOVENA ROSARY, 3 Novena's of petition and intention, and 3 of thanksgiving, would have HER powerful intercession. I INSTANTLY KNEW THAT THIS WAS IT! That was MARY'S answer, MARY'S gift.
I started the Novena that very night, and as I recited each Rosary, it seemed so beautiful that I wished to remain on my knees, and as I finished each one, I gave it to OUR BLESSED MOTHER as THOUGH SHE WERE STANDING BEFORE ME.
Then the thought came to me, "I have nothing to worry about. My brothers are safe". I worried no more. Battle after battle went on, in which I felt my brothers were engaged, but my faith remained unshaken.
Then came the battle of Iwo Jima. I was on my way to Church when the radio announced that the battle was on in all its fury, and that it was one of the bloodiest of the war. This went on for a day and a half. The announcement said it was the Fifth Division, 38th Regiment leading the assault. This was my brother's regiment, and I knew that my brother was in it, I was not afraid. That Saturday, I received a letter from him saying that he was on a troop ship, and that they were going to "settle a little matter with the Japs", I laid the letter down, and thought no more about it.
Sunday I went to Mass, and in the afternoon went to the Stations of the Cross, and came home with a neighbor girl. I told her my brother was on Iwo Jima, and she said, "I will say a prayer for him". At these words, I suddenly had a great sorrow pierce me, and I felt at that moment my brother's life was at stake.
I came home, took off my hat, and walked into the kitchen with the intention of preparing supper.
Instead of getting the food ready, I sat down, and looking out of the window, kept saying: "I must save my brother. I MUST save my brother; Tomorrow, I will donate my blood; I'll give a pint, then walk out and walk back, and give another pint; They'll never know the difference. I am going to buy more bonds. I'll take the money out of the grocery money. I'm going to save every tin can, every piece of paper. I just have to save my brother. If another brother gets killed, I'll die too. I just cannot stand it". I do not know just where I was standing. I continued to ponder over the thought, "I must save my brother".
Then I heard a voice. It was saying: "YOUR BLOOD WILL NOT SAVE YOUR BROTHER. YOUR BONDS WILL NOT SAVE HIM. YOUR TIN CANS AND YOUR PAPER WILL NOT SAVE HIM'. The VOICE stopped.
Then before me appeared Mt. Surabachi. The marines were climbing its cliffs, their faces were shocked, tense, filled with fear. Rifles were in their hands, fingers on the triggers, packs on their backs. One hand was free with which to climb, on and up, in a steady line, that was my brother's company.
The picture was so clear, so vivid that I shall never forget it. The tense drawn faces, the nervous trigger fingers, the terrible suspense with the foe in the caves above. Every figure stood out so distinctly that were I to see those men again, I could recognize every one. Then Mt. Surabachi disappeared. (When my brother came home, he confirmed what I saw in every detail.)
OUR BLESSED MOTHER APPEARED.
SHE was all in black, with a half inch of white around HER face. She stood as though a thousand swords were piercing HER heart. Tears were in HER eyes, and HER forehead was wrinkled as if with great sorrow.
OH! MOST SORROWFUL MOTHER.
SHE spoke, "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? COME AND GET YOUR GROUPS.
As MARY said this, SHE MOVED HER HANDS UNDER HER CLOAK. Four white houses appeared to me. We, OUR BLESSED MOTHER and I, went into the last one. There were women on their knees. All had grey hair, all wore grey clothes. They were on their knees in a circle, and in their faces was such bitter grief as if each had a son who was about to be hanged, and that GOD alone could save him. Then I saw a bomb coming through the roof, and again it appeared as though only GOD'S hand could stop it. That was the only hope.
THE IMPORTANT MESSAGE
While MARY stood by, I asked what they were saying. MARY answered: "The Rosary".
"How many were there?" MARY said, "Seven".
Then it seemed we were on our way back, when MARY said: WHEREVER THESE GROUPS WILL GATHER, I WILL GIVE THEM PROTECTION. I SHALL BLESS THEIR HOMES. I WILL BE IN THEIR MIDST. I SHALL WATCH OVER THEIR HOMES.'
Again we were back in the kitchen.
THEN MARY said: "YOU WILL TAKE THEM THE FIRST WEEK; ANOTHER THE NEXT, ETC., ONCE A WEEK, TIME, 7:30. HOUSE BY HOUSE; STREET BY STREET". With this, I saw women hurrying from their homes, wiping their hands, taking off their aprons, the supper dishes having been just put away. I was given to understand that these groups of 3, 4, 5 or more would change their days when they interfered with regular Church services. It seemed, too, that the groups would all be close neighbors so that not too much time would be spent in going to the different houses, and the hour would be when the housework would be done, and before people would be coming in for the evening.
The recitation of the ROSARY takes only about 15 minutes. Then the people would go home. It was not to be a social gathering.
I turned and said, "NO, BLESSED MOTHER, I can't. I'm no good. I'm unworthy".
At this, MARY looked more distressed than ever. SHE looked straight into my face.
Then I saw at the foot of a hill, OUR LORD carrying HIS CROSS. It was so heavy, and HE was so weak and wary. HE was pitiful. HIS hair was stringy with Blood and sweat; HE was dressed in a purple robe. MARY stood in the door crying, and said: "RUN MY CHILD. YOU CAN SAVE YOURS. MINE MUST DIE".
I started running away from HER. I felt like a nine year old child. Then I saw HER standing in a burning house, and at the same time, I saw a great army coming toward the house, while SHE was telling me to "RUN", and was warding off the army from me.
Again I was in the kitchen with MARY. Again, I said: "NO, BLESSED MOTHER, not me; I can't. I'm no good; I'm unworthy. I can't ask any one to come and pray. I'm no good".
MARY answered, "YOU JUST ASK, I WILL DO THE REST. THIS WAR WILL SOON END. BUT ARE YOU GOING TO FORGET THE DEAD SO SOON? YOU MUST PRAY FOR THE DEAD, FOR THOSE IN HOSPITALS, FOR THOSE WHO ARE BLIND, FOR THOSE WITHOUT LEGS AND ARMS. YOU HAVE MUCH TO PRAY FOR. YOU MUST PRAY FOR SUN, FOR RAIN, FOR CROPS. YOU MUST PRAY FOR THE PARALYZED.
With this I was going across the earth. Soon, I was standing on a very small ledge with just room enough for my feet. MARY was looking over my shoulder. Below was dark, empty space across the whole earth, as though all had been destroyed -- nothing left -- desolation.
Then we were going back--All about was mud--soft, oozy, black mud. There were great crowds on their knees. All were dressed in black. Some faces were calm, others filled with a great fear. Those with ROSARIES IN THEIR HANDS WERE calm, those WITHOUT ROSARIES, TERRIFIED.
Again, MARY spoke: "WHEREVER YOU SHALL KNEEL, THEY WILL KNEEL WITH YOU. THEY SHALL TAKE REFUGE WITH YOU, THEY SHALL LOOK FOR PROTECTION".
It appeared as though great masses of people were crowding around as though feeling that if I were safe, they too would be safe. Through all this, I saw nothing but mud. I was kneeling, yet I was NOT muddy.
Once more we were back in the kitchen. Once more, I said to MARY, "No, BLESSED MOTHER, I can't. I'M NO GOOD". I was crying.
I got up slowly, and went to my room, and put on my coat. I went to the door, and said, "I'll be back in ten minutes". I crossed the street. It was as if I were being pushed. The thought came to me that I might be hit by a car, but I did not dare to look about. I went to the door of the house across the street, opened it without knocking, walked in, and asked for "mother". She came, and we went into the room, and I broke out in cries. I told her that OUR BLESSED MOTHER was here, and that SHE WANTS US TO PRAY THE ROSARY IN GROUPS --all mothers to pray for their sons in the battlefields--to form BLOCK ROSARY GROUPS.
As I was telling this, MARY stood about six feet away, as though on guard, listening with HER head bowed. When I finished, SHE VANISHED.
I went to a priest with the story. He gave me permission to start the BLOCK ROSARY GROUPS. Hospitals and Sanitariums are promoting the Daily Rosary, in many places, the sick offering their crosses in union with Jesus and Mary.
(Biographer's note: I have interviewed the 'neighbor' several times. She substantiates all parts of the story in which she was personally engaged.)
The BLOCK ROSARY GROUPS are being formed on all six continents.
The BLOCK ROSARY GROUPS seem to be MARY'S answer to the known atheistic, communist program by which they have a man, or men, IN EVERY BLOCK, Block Plan), in every important city or village, to take over when they think their day has come, and when they receive orders from their leaders.
(Offer many Rosaries that the "PILGRIM VIRGIN" visit your City).
MARY'S request at Fatima was for Rosaries, COMMUNION of REPARATION to Her Immaculate Heart for FIVE CONSECUTIVE FIRST SATURDAYS, and some SACRIFICE made for the same intention, and consecration of the world, and especially Russia to Her Immaculate Heart -- The protection MARY gave Portugal can be extended to the world -- IF WE EARN IT.
"Wherever the Sorrowful Mother appears--be it at Pfaffenhofen in Germany, Fatima in Portugal, or Detroit in America--She continues to demand--Rosaries and more Rosaries- -Penance and more Penance--Sacrifice and more Sacrifices-- promising Mercy to those who heed.
MARY predicted WW II. She predicts more scourges unless men repent. Portugal heeded Her warning at Fatima--and prayed--and when all about was ruin--was spared. It is Wisdom to heed Mary's warnings."
(1) Between the decades of the Rosary after the Glory be to the Father, say: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins! Save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven, especially those who have most need of Thy mercy!
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Heaven and earth, and tender Mother of men, in accordance with thy ardent wish made known at Fatima, I consecrate to thee myself, my brethren, my country and the whole human race.
Reign over us, and teach us how to make the Heart of Jesus reign and triumph in us and around us as it has reigned and triumphed in thee.
Reign over us, dearest Mother, that we may be thine in prosperity and in adversity, in joy and in sorrow, in health and in sickness, in life and in death. O most compassionate Heart of Mary, Queen of Virgins, watch over our minds and hearts, and preserve them from he deluge of impurity which thou didst lament, so sorrowfully, at Fatima. We want to be pure like thee. We want to atone for the many sins committed against Jesus and thee. We want to call down upon our country and the whole world the peace of God in justice and charity.
Therefore, we now promise to imitate thy virtues by the practice of a Christian life without regard to human respect. We resolve to receive Holy Communion on the first Saturday of every month, and to offer the five decades of the Rosary each day, together with our sacrifices in a spirit of reparation and penance. Amen.
BLOCK ROSARY PROCEDURE
Neighbors meet ONCE a week, preferably at 7:30 P.M. As our BLESSED MOTHER wishes to be the honored Guest, and bless ALL homes of participants, the group progresses from home to home until No. 1 again starts rotation, etc.
MEN, WOMEN and CHILDREN should ALL participate.
Recite 5 decades of the Rosary, meditating on the Mysteries. After each decade, say: "O my JESUS, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven, especially those who have most need of thy mercy".
In conclusion, recite the "Hail, Holy Queen, etc, "also Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us". "O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us".
At first meeting, it is recommended that the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary be said, and this Act renewed at regular intervals to remind us that we must be faithful in performing MARY'S requests.