A skeptical relative once referred to my rosary as “voo-doo beads.” I suppose they can seem that way to those who don’t fully understand the importance of the Rosary in Catholic tradition and the riches it bears for all the faithful. Here’s my response to the voo-doo bead reference, posted today on Aleteia. I hope you’ll read it, pass it on, and then spend some time with the Rosary yourself today, especially since it’s the feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary!
Grace does not erase who we are; it perfects and elevates what God has already placed within us. As the Catechism teaches, “Grace builds on nature” (CCC 2005). Strengths are part of that nature, and when we understand them, we can cooperate with grace more freely. Instead of trying to imitate someone else’s path to holiness, we can cultivate virtue in the way God designed us to flourish.
The American Flag is a symbol of our heritage. Not a perfect heritage, and not a simple one, but a real one.
Mary reminds us that holiness is possible in ordinary life. Her humility counters our culture's obsession with self-promotion, her trust challenges our need for control, and her tenderness softens the edges of our hurried hearts.
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