Episode 1484: Blessed Alan de la Roche

Blessed Alan de la Roche was a Dominican priest who lived in 15th-century France. He is known for his work in reviving the devotion to the Rosary, which had been given to St. Dominic by Our Lady two centuries earlier.

Alan was born around 1428 in Brittany, France. He entered the Dominican Order in 1459 at the age of 31. He studied philosophy and theology in Paris, and then taught at various Dominican convents in France, Belgium, and Germany. He was a renowned preacher, and his sermons were often attended by large crowds.

In 1460, Alan received a vision from Our Lady in which she told him to revive the Confraternity of the Rosary. This confraternity had been founded in 1420 by Pope Martin V, but it had fallen into decline. Alan took up Our Lady's request with great zeal, and he traveled all over Europe to preach about the Rosary. He also wrote several books on the Rosary, including "The Seven Joys of the Virgin Mary" and "The Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary."
According to the accounts of Blessed Alan de la Roche's visions, Our Lady appeared to him several times and told him to revive the Confraternity of the Rosary. In one vision, she said to him:

"My son, I wish you to revive the Confraternity of the Rosary, which has fallen into decline. This confraternity will be a great help to the Church in these troubled times. Those who join the confraternity will receive my special protection and the greatest graces."

In another vision, Our Lady gave Alan a book that contained the history of the Rosary and its many benefits. She also told him how to pray the Rosary and how to form new confraternities.

Alan was initially reluctant to carry out Our Lady's request. He was a humble man, and he did not feel worthy of such a task. However, Our Lady assured him that he was the one she had chosen. She also promised to help him in his work.

Alan took up Our Lady's request with great zeal. He traveled all over Europe to preach about the Rosary and to form new confraternities. He also wrote several books on the Rosary, which helped to spread the devotion.

Thanks to Alan's efforts, the Confraternity of the Rosary was revived and spread throughout Europe. The Rosary devotion became one of the most popular Catholic prayers, and it is still widely practiced today.

The visions of Blessed Alan de la Roche are a reminder of the importance of the Rosary. The Rosary is a powerful prayer that can help us to grow in our love of God and our neighbor. It is also a prayer that can help us to overcome the challenges of our time.
Thanks to Alan's efforts, the Rosary devotion was revived and spread throughout Europe. He is credited with helping to make the Rosary one of the most popular Catholic prayers.

Alan died on September 8, 1475, on the feast day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was never officially canonized, but he is considered a Blessed by the Catholic Church. His feast day is celebrated on September 8.

Here are some of the things that made Blessed Alan de la Roche a remarkable person:

He was a gifted preacher who was able to reach large audiences with his message of the Rosary.
He was a tireless promoter of the Rosary, and he traveled all over Europe to spread the devotion.
He wrote several books on the Rosary, which helped to make it one of the most popular Catholic prayers.
He was a devout and holy man who lived his life in accordance with the teachings of the Church.
Blessed Alan de la Roche is an inspiration to all who pray the Rosary. He is a reminder that the Rosary is a powerful prayer that can help us to grow in our love of God and our neighbor.