"The Secret of the Rosary" is one of Catholicism's most cherished books, but its remarkable history is not widely known. I am excited to share the story behind this beloved spiritual classic.
In the mid-1960s, my grandmother, Helen Howell, a convert to the Catholic Faith, and her son, J. Bruce Howell, affectionately called Uncle Bud, discovered the 1954 hardcover edition of "The Secret of the Rosary" published by the Montfort Fathers. Moved by the book’s powerful message and deep devotion to the Rosary, they were inspired to make it more accessible and affordable, hoping to spread St. Louis de Montfort's teachings and honor Our Lady of Fatima's requests.
As the owner of Christ and Country Books, a small Catholic publishing company in Rockford, Illinois, Uncle Bud decided to publish "The Secret of the Rosary" in paperback. Thousands of copies were printed and stored in Grandma’s basement before being distributed. The now-iconic cover image of Our Lady of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary was discovered by Uncle Bud at a rummage sale at St. Thomas School in Rockford. Both he and Grandma, with their deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under this title, knew it was the perfect choice.
Between 1965 and 1969, five editions of the paperback were printed. My grandmother, Helen, who was friends with Thomas A. Nelson, the founder of TAN Publishers, passed the torch to him in October 1970. TAN Publishers released the sixth edition, retaining the same beautiful image of the Blessed Mother on the cover. Since then, "The Secret of the Rosary" has gone on to over 30 printings and has sold more than 5.3 million copies worldwide.
May Grandma Helen and Uncle Bud now rest in the peace of Heaven, enjoying the fruits of their labor of love for Our Lady. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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