The Living Rosary Association was founded on 8 December 1862 by Venerable Pauline-Marie Jaricot in Lyon, France. The association was formally approved by the Catholic Church through a canonical letter in February, 1827. The aims of the Living Rosary were two; to bring the people of France to a prayerful way of life and distribute Catholic literature and devotional articles.
After the death of Pauline Jaricot in 1862, the Living Rosary Association slowly faded away, to be revived in 1986, thanks to Richard and Patti Melvin.
Pauline Marie Jaricot was born to a very pious Catholic family in Lyon, France, July 22, 1799, and grew up dreaming of becoming a great missionary. Through her brother she developed a real concern for the Asian missions, and at age 17, Pauline took a vow of perpetual virginity. At age 18, she composed a treatise on the Infinite Love of the Divine Eucharist. According to her testimony, also, the then-famous Philomena healed her from a heart disease that had her in the verge of death at some point.
In May, 1822, Pauline founded the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. She united the poor factory workers in prayer and collected from each one monthly, a modest sum of one 'sou' - prayer and alms to spread the faith in Asia.
Such action alarmed some and caused violent opposition. An abbot took up her defense realising that this charity might, in time, grow into something real big.
Pauline continued this work for three years, at which time it was snatched from her by others, put into practice on a worldwide scale and to this day is the backbone of all missionary activity throughout the entire world.
Pauline withdrew from public light under the direction of her spiritual advisor and devoted herself to the interior life for three years. During this time she conceived the idea of the Living Rosary. Her inspiration to make a life of prayer simple and possible for all, no matter what their walk in life, crystallized into a reality of extreme simplicity: THE LIVING ROSARY.