Mary with Rosary
By Robyn Bruggeman
October is dedicated to the Rosary, a beautiful prayer that invites us to walk with Mary through the life of her Son, Jesus. As we pray the Rosary, we meditate on the mysteries of Christ while placing our own joys, struggles, families and intentions into Mary’s hands. It is a simple yet powerful way to bring a holy pause into our day—and to make our homes places of prayer.
Scripture tells us that Mary “kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19), and in a beautiful way, the Rosary invites us to do the same. As we pray each mystery, we slow down, enter into the story of Christ, and allow his life to become part of our own.
We don’t have to make the Rosary complicated or wait for the “perfect” time to pray it. Let it become part of the ordinary rhythms of your life. Pray a decade while driving, while folding laundry, on a walk, before bed or around the dinner table. Keep a rosary in the car, by your bedside or in your kitchen as a little visual invitation to pray. Gather your family for a Rosary, or invite a friend to pray one with you. And if a full rosary feels like too much, start with one decade and let that holy pause grow.
October is a beautiful month to rediscover this treasured prayer and let Mary lead us closer to the heart of Jesus.
Oct. 1 — St. Thérèse of Lisieux
What we celebrate
St. Thérèse of Lisieux was a Carmelite nun known as the Little Flower. Though her earthly life was short and hidden, her spiritual influence has reached millions. Thérèse longed to become a saint, but she recognized that she wasn’t called to accomplish great things in the world’s eyes. Instead, she discovered what she called her “Little Way”—a path of spiritual childhood marked by trust in God’s love and doing the smallest things with great love. Her life reminds us that holiness isn’t reserved for extraordinary people doing extraordinary things. God meets us in the very ordinary circumstances of our lives.
How to live it LITurgically
- Practice the Little Way. Choose one small, hidden act of love today. Try to make it a daily habit.
- Enjoy fresh flowers, especially roses in your home or in your prayer space.
- Read a few pages from the book “Story of a Soul.”
Oct. 2 — The Holy Guardian Angels
What we celebrate
Today we celebrate the guardian angels, those heavenly companions God gives each of us to guide and protect us. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that from infancy until death, human life is surrounded by the watchful care of our guardian angels. This feast day gives us a beautiful opportunity to remember that God’s care for us is greater than what we can see. We don’t walk through life alone.
How to live it LITurgically
- Pray the Guardian Angel prayer.
- Place an angel image or statue in your prayer space.
- Bake (or buy) angel food cake.
- Listen to the Living LIT podcast “Heavenly Helpers: Celebrating your Guardian Angel.”
Oct. 7 — Our Lady of the Rosary
What we celebrate
The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary has its roots in the victory at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, when Pope St. Pius V called Christians throughout Europe to pray the Rosary for the Church and for victory. The feast was originally known as Our Lady of Victory and was later extended to the universal Church under the title Our Lady of the Rosary.
How to live it LITurgically
- Pray the Rosary—or start with just one decade.
- Attend a parish Rosary (usually prayed before Mass).
- Make a rosary. You could even make one out of food! Think Cherrios, M&Ms, cupcakes, etc.
Oct. 12 — St. Carlo Acutis
What we celebrate
St. Carlo Acutis was born in 1991 and died of leukemia at just 15 years old. Though he lived in a very ordinary time and loved many of the same things young people do today—including computers, video games and soccer—Carlo had an extraordinary love for Jesus in the Eucharist. He used his computer skills to create an online catalog of eucharistic miracles from around the world. He is especially inspiring for young people because he didn’t wait until he was older to take his faith seriously. In 2025, he was canonized by Pope Leo XIV, making him the first millennial saint.
How to live it LITurgically
- Learn more about St. Carlo.
- Visit Jesus in eucharistic adoration.
- Learn about one of the eucharistic miracles Carlo documented.
- Enjoy a Nutella treat—one of his faves!
Oct. 22 — St. John Paul II
What we celebrate
St. John Paul II was elected pope in 1978 and served the Church for nearly 27 years. His pontificate was marked by a passionate proclamation of the Gospel and a particular love for Christ, the Eucharist, Mary, young people, marriage and the family. He also wrote extensively about the beauty and dignity of marriage, family life and the human person. One of his many famous quotes: “It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; he is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you.”
How to live it LITurgically
- Make a Polish-inspired dinner or make his fave dessert: cream puffs.
- Display one of his quotes somewhere in your home.
- Watch a documentary on the life of St. John Paul II.
- Listen to the Living LIT podcast “Saint John Paul II—The Playful Powerhouse Pope.”
For more inspiration and encouragement to bring the faith alive in your domestic church—the little church you call home—tune into the Living LIT podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts and at LivingLIT.org.
