Tag: Rosary

Hope in the Rosary: Rosary Reflections for Catholic Moms

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Hope in the Rosary: Rosary Reflections for Catholic Moms

By Margaret Rash

Women who like to pair Scripture with praying the Rosary will appreciate the new book of Rosary meditations by Catholic Mom contributing writer Margaret Rash. Readers won’t need to hunt down the Scripture readings, because they’re all right there in the book. That means you won’t have to juggle your Bible and your rosary beads and your book of meditations.

Reflections by a Mom for Moms

Hope in the Rosary includes brief reflections for each of the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary, with particular emphasis on our hope in Christ and how we can live and share that hope. And they’re definitely written with moms in mind; these are Rosary meditations by a mom for other moms.

I found the guided meditations helpful, as letting my mind winder to meditate on the Mysteries all on my own usually leads to my mind wandering off to think about other things, like whether I defrosted something for dinner or how much laundry is waiting for me to fold it. These reflections are just enough to get you started in truly focusing on each Mystery. Even if you only have time for a single Mystery on a particular day, rather than all five, praying it along with the meditations in this book will give you new perspective on those familiar scenes from Scripture. This book will enrich your prayer time.

Hope in the Rosary would be a lovely book to include in a baby-shower or new-baby gift!

 

 

Copyright 2026 Barb Szyszkiewicz

Image: copyright 2026 Barb Szyszkiewicz, all rights reserved.

This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which provide a small compensation to me when purchases are made through the links, at no cost to you. Thank you!

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An Open Book: March 2025 Reads

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The first Wednesday of each month, Carolyn Astfalk hosts #OpenBook, where bloggers link posts about books they’ve read recently. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been reading:

Currently in progress (and highly recommended):

The King’s Curse, historical fiction by Philippa Gregory. From the summary on Amazon: As an heir to the Plantagenets, Margaret is seen by the King’s mother, the Red Queen, as a rival to the Tudor claim to the throne. She is buried in marriage to a Tudor supporter — Sir Richard Pole, governor of Wales—and becomes guardian to Arthur, the young Prince of Wales, and his beautiful bride, Katherine of Aragon. But Margaret’s destiny, as cousin to the White Princess, is not for a life in the shadows. Tragedy throws her into poverty, yet a royal death restores her to her place at young Henry VIII’s court where she becomes chief lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine. There she watches the dominance of the Spanish queen over her husband and her tragic decline.

 

Media FastingMedia Fasting: Six Weeks to Recharge in Christ by Sister Nancy Usselmann, FSP (Pauline Books & Media). I’m just getting started with this book, but I’m already seeing a difference. From the publisher’s summary: Do you ever feel sluggish, anxious, or overwhelmed after too much screen time? Does media leave you feeling disconnected from God? Recharge your spiritual life and find freedom and peace with Media Fasting, a six-week journey to grow closer to God and develop a Christ-centered strategy for your media use. Evaluate your current media habits; create your own media fasting plan; and deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ through daily devotional readings, reflection questions, and prayers.

 

Nonfiction:

Beautiful Second ActA Beautiful Second Act: Saints and Soul Sisters Who Taught Me to Be a Badass Age with Grace by Maria Morera Johnson (Ave Maria Press). Women in all stages of life will find encouragement and inspiration in this new book that intersperses the stories of saints and holy women with tales from the author’s own life. You’ll want to binge-read this one, but I encourage you to take it slowly and consider the questions at the end of each chapter for journaling or discussing over coffee with a friend or three. This is a follow-up to My Badass Book of Saints but can be read on its own.

 

Opening the Holy DoorOpening the Holy Door: Hope-Filled Scripture Reflections from St. Peter’s Basilica by Joan Watson (Ave Maria Press). If you’re looking for a wonderful way to mark the Jubilee of Hope, I highly recommend this book. I knew there was a Holy Door in Rome but was unaware that it’s comprised of a series of bronze images that depict the salvation story. Joan Watson offers guided reflections on 12 of these images. The book includes large photos of each image featured so readers can closely examine it as they read the reflections, delve into Scripture, and then respond in faith. I read this book in the Adoration chapel over a series of weeks. (Review copy received from publisher.)

 

Fiction:

Bennetts BloomThe Bennetts Bloom by Katie Fitzgerald. I’ve been reading this novel in bits and pieces for a couple of years now. The author, Katie Fitzgerald, first presented this book as microfiction on Instagram, and I (and many other readers) were hooked by the story of a fairly oblivious widowed dad of a toddler and his sweet single neighbor. Everyone knows where Fern and Dave’s story is going long before Dave does, and that’s what makes the ride so worth it. Katie eventually compiled all the stories in chronological order into a novel told in moments. This sweet romance is sure to make you smile.

 

Everything's Coming Up RosieEverything’s Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh is a fun read about a young woman who thinks that rerouting her life means she’s giving up her dreams. Rosie wants to be a Broadway star, but several years in, she’s behind on rent and getting nowhere. Desperation leads her to apply for jobs without thoroughly reading the descriptions, and this lands her a summer gig as a theatre director in what turns out to be a luxury retirement community in Wisconsin. Of course there’s a love interest in this clean romance, but the real fun comes with the quirky side characters who help Rosie realize what it means to live your dream, as well as her talented troupe of friends who show just how much they believe in her. This story will make your day. (Netgalley)

 

Book 3 in the Sons of Scandal series is Uneasy Street by Becky Wade. Former best friends and business partners Max and Sloane parted ways four years ago, but they’re thrown together again when Sloane returns to Max’s hometown to care for her teenage niece for a few months. Realizing to her horror that she’d rented an apartment from her nemesis Max, Sloane tries to ignore the sparks (which, of course, her niece delightedly encourages) while Max attempts to pull strings to force her to spend time with him. I’m not the biggest fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope and honestly, I didn’t appreciate Max’s underhanded tactics, but this author does tell a good story. (Netgalley)

 

Young Adult:

Book 3 in Leslea Wahl’s Finding Faith series, In Plain Sight, revolves around a couple of mysteries: what’s up with the secret passages and hidden doorways in an old lodge Emerson’s dad is renovating — and what happened to Em’s mother and sisters? It’s clear that Em has suffered a great loss and that she’s to blame; lonely and bored, she finds herself caught up in figuring out the history behind the old building her father is working on, enjoying the company of a few new friends she can’t completely confide in, and finding out that the lodge owner’s teenage son is as interested in her as she is in him. This story features characters from the other two books in the series but definitely works as a standalone.

 

Bad Influence by Claire Ahn takes a look at the decidedly unglamorous world behind social-media influencer beauty in this story of a Korean-American high-school student who secretly aspires to be an influencer but hides her work from her parents, lying to them about the source of the money she hands over to help the household after her father’s work accident. Charlotte soon learns how quickly online fans can turn against someone when they give in to temptation to represent a brand that’s tainted by rumors of hate, and how much her own hunger to be liked by strangers online has risked her own friendships, family life, and more. Recommended for high-school students. (Netgalley; releases April 29, 2025)

 

Children’s Books:

God's Little FlowersGod’s Little Flowers by Lindsay Schlegel; illustrated by Joy Laforme (Our Sunday Visitor) is a sweet introduction to a beloved saint. I love that Lindsay Schlegel has taken my very favorite Saint Thérèse quote and built an entire storybook around it! This picture book, with its simple and cheerful illustrations, shines a light on the truth we need to share with all the children in our lives: each of us is uniquely gifted by God and has something special to share with the world — and all our gifts are important! Lindsay also stresses that not all gifts are as obvious as skill at a particular sport, art, or music. Share this book with a young girl you know, and help her identify her own gifts and those of the people special to her! (Review copy received from publisher)

 

Theresa Linden’s Jumping into Joy cleverly integrates some of my favorite characters from Theresa’s West Brothers series in a chapter book for young readers. Caitlin encourages her friend Peter to use his imagination during the family Rosary to keep from falling asleep; as she demonstrates this, the children pass through a portal into the ancient town of Nazareth and seek to discover the virtues attached to the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. This book would make a great classroom read-aloud for children in first through third grades.

 

ICYMI: my reviews of Lenten resources

Praying with the Church Through Lent by Father Edward Looney (Sophia Institute Press)

Simply Scripture for Lent and Easter by Colleen Reiss Vermuelen (Ave Maria Press)

 

Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!

Where noted, books are review copies. If that is not indicated, I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it from the library.

 

Visit today’s #OpenBook post to join the linkup or just get some great ideas about what to read! You’ll find it at Carolyn Astfalk’s A Scribbler’s Heart and at CatholicMom.com!

 

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Copyright 2025 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images copyright 2025 Barb Szyszkiewicz, all rights reserved; Carolyn Astfalk, all rights reserved, used with permission

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The Seven Sorrows: A Rosary for Caregivers

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Theresa Kiser’s new book, Caring for a Loved One with Mary: A Seven Sorrows Prayer Companion, was written by a mother whose child faced a complex medical diagnosis. But we all face times when we’re cast into the role of caregiver, and who better than Mary to run to with our concerns?

More than a decade ago, I first ran to the Rosary when someone in my immediate family faced a health crisis. At that time, I didn’t know all the Mysteries, but keeping that knotted-twine rosary in my pocket was a comfort, a reminder that Mary is a mother to us all, a caring mother who understands what it’s like when our loved ones suffer.

In the fall, when we once again faced news of a difficult diagnosis, I decided I wanted to specifically pray the Seven Sorrows devotion. I ordered a Seven Sorrows chaplet from the Mary Devotions shop on Etsy; Barbara made one specifically for me. It’s a little too large to keep in my pocket, but when I hold these beads, they’re solid in my hands, and have a lot of facets for my fiddling, anxious fingers.

I found that this book, Caring for a Loved One with Mary, has helped me to go deeper with the Seven Sorrows devotion. I’ve been going through it slowly, a chapter at a time, really concentrating on each particular Sorrow. The meditations on the Sorrows, and each prayer, are truly written for the caregiver:

Her sorrows remind me that my own sufferings are part of God’s loving plan. When I try (unsuccessfully, I might add) to avoid the difficulties of my circumstances, I may be closing myself off to the grace he generously offers within them. When I struggle to find the strength, I am comforted to know—at the very least—that Mary walked this road before me. There is no reason why she would abandon me when she knows so deeply how my heart aches. (32)

 

So many prayer books about suffering focus on the person who is enduring a particular trial. This book is for the ones who love them; they are suffering too, in their own way, just as Mary suffered along with her Son. It is a comfort to read and pray along with Caring for a Loved One with Mary. I’ve already purchased an extra copy to give to a friend who is in the thick of an intensive caregiving season.

At the end of this book, you will find tips for starting a support group; questions for reflection, discussion, or journaling; and a way to quickly pray the Seven Sorrows Devotion, as well as St. Alphonsus Liguori’s “Little Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Mary.”

Ask for Caring for a Loved One with Mary at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Our Sunday Visitor.

 

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Copyright 2023 Barb Szyszkiewicz

Photos copyright 2023 Barb Szyszkiewicz

This article contains Amazon affiliate links; your purchase through these links supports the work of this website at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

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Walk With Me

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“Walk with me,” she beckons, one hand outstretched as if to take mine, and one hand over her heart. That heart, ringed with a garland of beautiful flowers, has been deeply and thoroughly pierced with a sword.

Her smile trembles as her eyes brim with tears about to spill over—but her eyes do not leave mine. She does not shy away from meeting my gaze, even in her own pain.

Young—so young—and newly postpartum, she reaches out to me, inviting me to hold her hand as I shoulder the cross of my troubles, that ever-heavier burden of cares and worries that knocks me down at times under its weight.

“I’ll help you up,” she assures me, reaching out her hand again to lift me off my knees, to catch me as I stumble forward, my vision blurred by my own tears.

“I’ll walk with you,” she promises. Sorrow and joy are no strangers to her. As I cast down my cares with each bead that slides between my fingers, she listens.

She knows all my pain—the pain I’ll talk about, and the pain I feel I have to keep inside. She knows. And she cares. And in my pain, I know I’m not walking alone. I know she is beside me, holding out her hand to guide me, to lift me up, to hold me up.

“I’m here,” she assures me, as every mother assures her little child in fear or pain. “I’m here.”

And as I stumble along, bolstered by contemplating the joy, the light, the sorrow, and the glory she has witnessed, I look into her eyes, answering her trembling smile with my own.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

 

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Copyright 2022 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Photos: unattributed painting of Our Lady of Sorrows, found in Resurrection Parish Adoration Chapel, Delran, NJ; photographed by Barb Szyszkiewicz

Miraculous Medal holy card

At SimplyCatholic.com: Devotional Prayer

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My latest article on prayer, Devotional Prayer, is available at SimplyCatholic.com.

A few highlights:

Rosaries, chaplets, novenas, the Stations of the Cross, the Angelus, grace before meals, the veneration of relics, and sacramentals: all of these are related to devotional prayer.

Our physical human nature benefits from the use of objects and actions that increase our focus on prayer.

Through devotional prayer, Catholics sanctify time (time of day, days of the week, and months of the year) as well as observe holy days and liturgical seasons.

 

 

 

Read it all at SimplyCatholic.com: Devotional Prayer.

This is the fifth in a series of eight articles on prayer. A new one will be published each Tuesday at SimplyCatholic.com.

Copyright 2021 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Photo copyright 2021 Barb Szyszkiewicz, all rights reserved.

Praying for the Souls in Purgatory: A Rosary, a Novel, and a Prayer Book

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I was called on to sing at a funeral Mass one day this past summer, and after I read the obituary it became clear that the death was due to addiction. Sadly, this is not the first in that family to die in this way. These are not people I know, but they live in my neighborhood.

On the night before the funeral, I woke up suddenly in the middle of the night and that was on my mind. I couldn’t go back to sleep because I kept thinking about it, so I decided to pray a Rosary. On the bedside table, I had a knotted-twine Rosary made for me by a friend.

I dedicated that Rosary for the repose of the soul of that recently deceased young man.

As soon as I finished the whole Rosary, I went right off to sleep. I guess I was not being let off the hook — I needed to pray for him right that minute.

In the morning before the funeral, I got in touch with the friend who had made that Rosary for me, and asked her to pray too.

An urgent impulse to pray for a soul who has clearly struggled in life is not something we should ignore. And who better to intercede for such a soul than the Blessed Mother — our Mother?

As we commemorate the holy souls this month, let’s remember them in our prayers, especially in the Rosary.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Scared straight: but with Purgatory.

The story above reminds me of Theresa Linden’s novel, Tortured Soul, a compelling tale of a haunting — with a twist. Jeannie Lyons is pushed out of her family’s home by her older brother and into a remote cottage that also houses a gruesome “presence.” Afraid to be at home, but with nowhere else to go, Jeannie enlists the help of the sort-of-creepy guy her brother had once pushed her to date. This edge-of-the-seat story of guilt and forgiveness emphasizes the importance of praying for the souls of the deceased — and would make a great movie.

Tortured Soul reminded me deeply that the deceased need our prayers — not only our deceased loved ones and friends, but in particular those who have no one to pray for them. Maybe they were alienated from family during their lives, as depicted in Linden’s novel; maybe their loved ones don’t pray. But we can, and we should.

Susan Tassone’s The Saint Faustina Prayer Book for the Holy Souls in Purgatory focuses on the power of intercessory prayer for the needs of the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

The Saint Faustina Prayer Book for the Holy Souls in Purgatory contains more than prayers. You’ll also find essays on conversion, sin, penance, Purgatory and the spirituality of St. Faustina Kowalska. Organized by theme, the book leads the reader through learning and devotions.

Download a free set of printable bookmarks with the prayer for the holy souls, and make a commitment to pray for them every day.

Copyright 2020 Barb Szyszkiewicz
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I was provided a free review copy of Susan Tassone’s book, but no other compensation. Opinions expressed here are mine alone.

Pray the Sunday Rosary on Facebook Live

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I’m pleased to let my colleagues at Family Theater Productions, which along with CatholicMom.com is part of Holy Cross Family Ministries, take over to share this important announcement about a prayer effort beginning this weekend.

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Courtesy of Family Theater Productions

Family Theater Productions offers a weekly Sunday Rosary, starting this Sunday, March 22, streaming live on Facebook to the world.

The host is our National Director, Father David Guffey, C.S.C., executive producer of FTP’s documentary about our founder, called PRAY: The Story of Patrick Peyton (coming Fall 2020).

Log into the Family Theater Productions Facebook page — Facebook.com/FamilyTheaterHCFM — at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT this Sunday and every Sunday for the foreseeable future to share the Rosary with people around the country and the world.

If you don’t have a physical Rosary, you can count the decades on your 10 fingers or use one of many available Rosary apps (view a list of available Rosary apps). Our sister organization, Family Rosary, also has a Rosary app.

Get a primer on saying the Rosary from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

As the founder of Family Theater Productions, Father Patrick Peyton, said: “The Family That Prays Together Stays Together.”

So, come Sunday to Facebook.com/FamilyTheaterHCFM with family, friends and followers, and send the Rosary around the world, for, as Father Peyton said, “A World at Prayer Is a World at Peace.”

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Family Theater Productions creates family and faith-based media that inspires, entertains and informs. Founded in 1947 by Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., and headquartered on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California, Family Theater Productions is an award-winning producer of family media, including television, radio and short format video for all the major social platforms. Learn more at FamilyTheater.org.

Keep up with Family Theater Productions on our website, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

On Barb’s Bookshelf: A Family Rosary Book

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complete illuminated rosary

Praying the Rosary with children is not without its challenges. When I was substitute-teaching, the children in the primary grades would frequently lose their places because they would drop their rosaries, or fiddle with the beads (or knots) so much that their fingers would move to a different bead. It was all part of the adventure, I thought, and since I was distracted myself, trying to maintain order and a prayerful atmosphere, I figured there was no way around it.

Jerry Windley-Daoust of Gracewatch Media found a creative — and beautiful — way to solve this problem. The Complete Illuminated Rosary is the coffee-table book of Rosary guides. This book is meant to bring parents and children together to pray the Rosary — no beads necessary.

complete illuminated rosary

This large-format book (it measures 8 1/2 x 11″) offers a page or two per prayer for the entire Rosary. Simply turn the page to progress to the next “bead.” At the beginning of each mystery, there is a short selection from the Gospels that corresponds to that mystery, along with a note at the bottom of the page prompting the prayer leader (parent or older child) to ask for prayer intentions. On each “Hail Mary” page, you’ll find a row of beads depicted at the bottom: one for the first “Hail Mary” in the decade, and so on, in case you do want to follow along on a real Rosary.

“Why is it ‘illuminated’?” a friend asked when she saw this book on my coffee table. This is what makes the book truly unique. Every single “bead” in this book is depicted by a beautiful work of sacred art, from a wide variety of styles. You’ll find work by El Greco, Delacroix, Caravaggio, Frangelico, and Rubens, plus present-day artists Jen Norton, Brother Michael “Mickey” O’Neill McGrath, and Andrei Mironov — among many, many others. An art-credits section at the end of the book explains the source of every painting, drawing, or stained-glass window. The art in the book, all by itself, can lead you to prayer.

Gracewatch Media offers the Illuminated Rosary in three formats: paperback, hardcover, and in separate books for each mystery. Securing the rights to use some art that is not in the public domain, plus publishing in full color in a large format, contribute to the cost of this book (as of this writing, $49.49 on Amazon for the paperback), but this book is a treasury of art dedicated to prayer.

Copyright 2018 Barb Szyszkiewicz
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I was given a free review copy of this book, but no other compensation. Opinions expressed here are mine alone.

Tech Talk: Prayer and Social Media

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I’ve been a regular at Eucharistic Adoration for just over two years, and it’s taken me this long to find a way to use the time as a prayer intercessor for others.

For too long, I’d gone to the Adoration Chapel with an agenda and a tote bag: a spiritual book (or three) to read, a rosary, a journal, and my iPad so I could pray Liturgy of the Hours. It was getting to the point where Adoration was another task to check off my list, a quiet hour to read a book I’d promised to review. Check, check, check.

Checking off tasks is not what Adoration is supposed to be about.

I’d been noticing for a while that my friend Allison Gingras would share on Facebook that she was heading to Adoration, and offer to pray for any special intentions people posted. I knew she wouldn’t mind if I adopted her idea, so I created a graphic with a photo from our Adoration Chapel and shared it on Facebook for the first time in late February.

adoration-today

The response was tremendous. Over 40 likes. Over 35 comments. And a whole host of messages with private intentions. And I wasn’t just hearing from Catholics. I filled 2 index cards, both sides, with intentions posted in under 3 hours.

People are hungry for that intercessory prayer. People carry secret burdens and don’t always know how to ask for help, or even prayer over their situation. It’s a comfort to know that someone else is holding them up in prayer.

I took those two index cards and my rosary to the chapel. I always pray the Franciscan Crown rosary, and it’s a good thing it has 7 decades, because at one bead per intention I needed all those prayers to cover my list, plus my family and one general prayer for any late-breaking intentions (I wasn’t checking Facebook in the chapel.)

Later that day I got an email from one of the deacons at our parish, who’s my friend on Facebook. He wanted to let me know that he and his wife were going to begin inviting their Facebook friends to share intentions, to be prayed for during their Adoration hour.

He also said that this is a great way to evangelize. I hadn’t thought about that, but it’s true. Originally I’d hesitated to mention on Facebook that I was going to Adoration–but this has shown me that it’s something needed and appreciated.

I created a rosary prayer intentions printable to use each week to list intentions: my own, as well as those of my friends on Facebook. It’s also a Franciscan Crown Rosary tutorial. Download this printable and set it up for your “intentional rosary.”

Copyright 2017 Barb Szyszkiewicz

#WorthRevisit: Chapel Rosary

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Wrapping up the Month of the Rosary with a look back at May of this year, when I borrowed a rosary at the Adoration Chapel.

I was running a minute or two late for my Holy Hour yesterday, and as I approached the church driveway I realized I’d left my pocket rosary behind when I changed my clothes.

Worse, I’d tossed my wallet into my “Adoration tote” along with my journal, earbuds and a spiritual book or three–so I didn’t have the rosary I keep in my handbag.

I can count on my fingers in a pinch; after all, God gave me ten of them, but our Adoration chapel has a few rosaries on a hook near the entrance. I decided to use one of those to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Red rosary breviary C
Copyright 2016 Barb Szyszkiewicz. All rights reserved.

Using a chapel rosary (or any rosary belonging to someone else) brings to mind a unique connection that is made through prayer.

What other hands had held that rosary, fingering the beads, counting off prayer intentions, wiping away tears?

What other hearts had prayed the prayers, there in the chapel, laying bare their most secret and fervent desires of the soul?

Was the last person to lift this rosary off that hook a stranger? A friend? A neighbor? My husband?

So many prayers have been prayed on this rosary, in this chapel.

I prayed one extra Memorare for those who have prayed here before me, for those who pray here with me, and for those who will pray here after me.

We are all connected, united, brought together by our prayers on a single string of beads.

worth revisit

I’m linking up with Reconciled to You and Theology is a Verb for #WorthRevisit Wednesday, a place where you can come and bring a past & treasured post to share, and link up with fellow bloggers!