Reflections
Saint stories, prayer guides, and thoughts on the Rosary —
from Mary Ann's workbench to your prayer corner.
Praying with Scripture: Lectio Divina for Beginners
Lectio Divina is an ancient, gentle way of praying with the Bible. Here are its four simple steps.
The Memorare: A Prayer That Never Fails
When words fail and worry rises, the Memorare is the prayer to reach for. Here are its words and its beautiful promise.
How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet
Prayed on ordinary rosary beads, the Divine Mercy Chaplet is a powerful, simple prayer for mercy. Here is how.
The Angelus: A Prayer for Morning, Noon, and Night
Three times a day, church bells once called the faithful to pause and pray the Angelus. Here is how to pray this ancient devotion.
How to Pray a Novena
A novena is nine days of steady, trusting prayer. Here is where the tradition comes from and how to pray one.
Caring for Your Handmade Rosary
A handmade rosary is meant to be prayed with for years. Here is how to keep yours beautiful — and a word on why a rosary worn by prayer is the most precious kind.
October: The Month of the Holy Rosary
Why does the Church give the whole month of October to the Rosary? A look at the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and a beautiful autumn tradition.
St. Thérèse and the Little Way
A young Carmelite who died at twenty-four became one of the Church's greatest saints — not by doing great things, but by doing small things with great love.
The Miraculous Medal and Our Lady's Promise
The little oval medal so many Catholics wear has a beautiful origin — a young sister, a quiet chapel in Paris, and a request from Our Lady herself.
The Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa
In Old Goa stands a UNESCO World Heritage basilica that holds the mortal remains of the great missionary St. Francis Xavier.
San Thome Basilica: Where an Apostle Rests
In the heart of Chennai stands a gleaming white basilica built over the tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle — one of only a few churches in the world with that honour.
Our Lady of Good Health, Vailankanni
On the Tamil Nadu coast stands one of the great Marian shrines of the world — Vailankanni, lovingly called the Lourdes of the East.
The Hail Mary, Word by Word
We pray it hundreds of times — but where does the Hail Mary come from, and what are we really saying? A gentle look at the most beloved prayer to Our Lady.
The Mysteries of the Rosary
The Rosary is a walk through the whole life of Christ. Here are the four sets of mysteries — Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious — and how to pray them.
How to Pray the Rosary: A Gentle Guide
New to the Rosary? Here is a warm, simple guide to praying it — one bead, one breath, one Hail Mary at a time.