The Power of Just One Rosary

In this week of Marian devotion, Debra Black shares her testimony to the Rosary’s power in a homeless woman’s life.

Last weekend, Holy Cross Family Ministries held the 75th Anniversary Venerable Patrick Peyton Rosary Rally. This begins a week of Marian devotions in our Church tradition. Monday was the birth of our Blessed Virgin Mary; Friday we honor the Holy Name of Mary; and on September 15 we venerate Our Lady of Sorrows. Reflecting upon this brought to mind a time when the Holy Spirit used my rosary to bring about a miracle in someone’s life.    

When my daughter was 12, we were in a park with Our Lady of the Streets Homeless Ministry providing conversation, compassion, and care packages to the sleeping homeless men and women. The homeless loved to carry prayer cards in their pocket and wear rosaries around their neck. One woman named Josephine was eagerly taking our rosaries and bringing them to the others. But she was so disappointed that every rosary we had did not fit around her head. We had no rosary for her. 

Listen to your Angel  

Then came that little voice. You know, when your angel is needling you to do something you don't want to do but know you should. In my pocket was my own rosary. It was hand-knotted, very large, and had been blessed; it was given to me on my Cursillo. I knew it was the only one we had that would fit. So, I took a deep breath and, with a smile, gave it to her. It was a perfect fit, of course!  

As we chatted, she was able to open up and confess she had used drugs the night before. Now late morning, she would begin to get that 'itch' soon and the drug dealers would be there to supply drugs. As she watched my daughter talking with other homeless people, she told me she had a son too. She had fallen into drug addiction, and he was taken from her. When she sobered up and began attending the local community college, she was able to reunite with her son. But sadly, she fell into drug use again, which is how she ended up in this park. Holding her rosary and watching my daughter, she wanted to get her life back.  

I told her that, when the itch for drugs comes, she could focus on the rosary's crucifix. Stare at Jesus and think of how He suffered for her because He loves her. Rub the knots and focus on how that feels in her fingers; stay focused on that.   

Believe 

Two weeks later we went back to that park. I inquired with a local drug dealer as to where Josephine was. He told me that, after we were last here, she walked up to a local church and said she wanted to clean up. She got off the streets! Then, six months later, we saw Josephine standing outside an apartment complex waiting for the bus — she was still off the streets! We continued to catch occasional glimpses of her at her apartment until we moved three years later. 

I have never doubted the power of that blessed rosary in Josephine's life and pray that she continues to respond to the grace Mary brings to her so that she and her Son are carried through life in Jesus’ hands.

Mary said to her servant Prudentiana Zagnoni, that every year, on this day of the purification [Candelmas], a great mercy would be shown to some sinner. Who knows but one of us may to-day be that favored sinner? (Saint Alfonsus Liguori, Glories of Mary, p. 470) 

Believe in miracles, and your eyes will be opened to them all around you.   

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

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Copyright 2025 Debra Black
Images: Canva