A Rosary Run

Nicole Berlucchi shares about a prompting from the Holy Spirit to pray for everyone she passed by as she ran through her town. 

A daily Rosary is a staple in my morning routine, but I usually pray it at home: sometimes with special intentions in mind, sometimes just wanting to meditate on Jesus, His mother, and how I might become more like them. As life has seemed heavier, I found myself out on a long run and the Holy Spirit was telling me to pray for everyone I ran by. The moment was nothing profound, but the feeling I had as I completed my first Rosary run was powerful. 

Pray for People in their Cars  

The first group of people my mind was drawn to as I ran were people driving by in cars. At one point, I was on Main Street, which has a lot of traffic. As I ran by, I acknowledged each car and said whichever prayer I was on: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. I offered the prayer of that moment for the person and their intentions.  

I wasn’t sure if I knew the drivers. The white car. The gray truck. The black SUV. The red car. The police car. The tow truck. I didn’t know what their intentions were, but I prayed for them, trusting God’s inspiration that I was supposed to pray for everyone I ran by.   

Pray for the Businesses and their Owners  

Next, I came to a strip of businesses: a wide variety. I was still running by cars, but I felt the prompting to pray for the businesses, the owners, and the people inside. I recited the prayers in my mind as I ran through town.   

As I prayed, I found myself wondering if it was hard to own a particular business. Were they successful or struggling? What were the stories of those who worked there? How many people were inside that business at that moment?  

I consciously looked at each business as I continued to say each prayer of the Rosary. God knows why I am praying for you, I thought. I don’t need to know.  

Pray for the Homes and the People who Reside in Them  

Last, I came to homes. These were homes of people I knew and people I had never met. I prayed for those who lived there. I imagined the range of things they might need prayers for, but without knowing truly what they needed, I simply once again prayed for their special intentions.  

I prayed for love in the family and strength in marriages. I prayed for anyone in grief. I prayed for peace between siblings. I prayed for students struggling. I prayed for good health.   

A Peace in Praying for Others  

The running Rosary was a different kind of experience for me than my usual Rosary. Praying for a large number of people, ones I may or may not have known, brought a peace to my heart without knowing any details of what I might be offering my prayers for. I can’t fix the world’s problems. I can’t get to know every single person who lives or works in my town. But on this particular day, I felt so connected to these people by a simple thread of prayer: my Rosary.  

I felt a little like I had taken the end of Mary’s Mantle and was running it across town covering all the people with her protection. Jesus wanted to remind them they are loved by asking me to pray for them without them knowing. I don’t know if they felt it, but I know what I felt as I finished my run. I felt peace and love, a deep love that God has for each of us. Somewhere out there I know He is prompting someone to pray for me, and I don’t know it. Knowing that, I feel gratitude. 

Maybe the next time you find yourself out for a walk, run or bike ride, you’ll try the “Running Rosary” and pray for the people you pass by, passing on the love God wants us to have for each other — no matter whether we are strangers, friends, or enemies.  

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Copyright 2025 Nicole Berlucchi
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