The Rosary is one of the most cherished and powerful Catholic prayers. It’s no wonder, considering that it was gifted to us by Our Lady herself!
Throughout history, countless saints have embraced the Rosary as a central part of their spiritual lives. Here are 10 saints who had an especially strong devotion to Mary’s favorite prayer.
1. St. Dominic
According to tradition, the Blessed Mother revealed the Rosary to St. Dominic in the 13th century, during his struggle to combat the Albigensian heresy. This heresy falsely claimed that material things were inherently evil and only spiritual matters were good. Mary promised St. Dominic that, through the Rosary, he would be victorious in this battle. He went on to convert many souls to Catholicism.
2. St. Louis de Montfort
Known for his profound “True Devotion to Mary,” St. Louis de Montfort also wrote the powerful treatise “The Secret of the Rosary,” in which he recounts stories of miracles that occurred by people praying the Rosary. He wrote, “The Rosary is a priceless treasure inspired by God….He wants you to use it as a means to convert even the most hardened sinners and obstinate heretics. He has attached to it grace in this life and glory in the next.”
3. Pope St. Pius V
In 1571, Europe was embroiled in a naval battle against the Muslim Turks and it seemed as if Christian forces were on the verge of defeat. Pope St. Pius V called on Christians to pray the Rosary for victory. Miraculously, the tide turned in favor of Europe and the Pope credited Our Lady’s intercession through the Rosary with the victory that saved Christendom.
4. St. Bernadette
In 19th-century France, Mary appeared to a young girl named Bernadette in a small grotto. Our Lady held a Rosary and invited Bernadette to join her in prayer. The grotto became a place of miracles, with springs of water emerging from the ground that continue to heal the sick.
5. St. Thérèse of Lisieux
St. Thérèse, “the Little Flower,” was candid about her struggles with prayer. She confessed, "When alone, (I am ashamed to admit) the recitation of the Rosary is more difficult for me than the wearing of an instrument of penance.” Despite this difficulty, her deep love for Mary led her to persevere in praying her Rosary, showing that even saints face challenges in prayer, but persist through love.
6. Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati
Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati is a powerful example of how the Rosary can lead ordinary laypeople to holiness. He enjoyed mountain climbing, sports and the arts and often carried a Rosary with him on his adventures, showing that it was central to his life of prayer and action.
7. Ven. Patrick Peyton
While he hasn’t been beatified yet, Ven. Patrick Peyton’s legacy has inspired millions of Catholics. This Irish-born American priest is most famous for his mantra, “The family that prays together stays together.” He urged families to pray the Rosary daily, believing it to be a source of strength in an increasingly secular world.
8. St. Gianna Molla
St. Gianna’s love for the Rosary began in childhood, as her family would gather around a statue of Mary to pray together. As an adult, she carried her Rosary wherever she went — in her purse or pocket — making it an integral part of her life and spiritual journey.
9. St. Teresa of Calcutta
The Rosary and the Eucharist were the cornerstones of Mother Teresa’s spiritual life, providing her with the strength to serve the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta. Her Missionaries of Charity continue to follow her example of daily devotion to the Rosary, seeking Mary’s intercession in their own works of mercy.
10. Pope St. John Paul II
Pope St. John Paul II was a well-known devotee of Our Lady and the Rosary was among his most cherished prayers. He would often pray the Rosary while hiking or in silent adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. In his encyclical “Rosarium Virginis Mariae,” he described the Rosary as a prayer that “mystically transports us to Mary’s side, as she watches over the human growth of Christ in the home of Nazareth…. enabling her to mold us with the same care, until Christ is ‘fully formed’ in us.”
These saints show us that the Rosary is a path to sanctity. Let’s commit ourselves to praying it daily, that we may one day reign with these holy men and women in the Kingdom of God.
