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Hand crafted rosaries. Shared Stories. A Journey of Faith.
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Our Newsletter is here to share more about our mission, faith and the story behind what we do and what we make. We hope you join us each week to learn more about how this mission impacts our lives and those we serve.
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Moments of Grace
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This week I will be sharing my reaction to the song, The Jesus Way by Phil Wickham.
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Rosary Reflection
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We are highlighting the Blessed Mother Rosary and the story behind its creation.
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A Thought to Carry with You
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Something to ponder or journal on
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A Prayer for Your Week
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Heavenly Father, through the intercession of St. John Vianney, grant us patience and perseverance in our daily duties. Through the light of the Transfiguration, reveal Your grace in our everyday lives. Through the trust of St. Cajetan, ease our worries and strengthen our faith. And through the zeal of St. Dominic, grant us a love for Your divine truth. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Saints of the Week
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A short reflection on the Saints of this week.
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- Tuesday - St. John Vianney
- Thursday - Feast of the Transfiguration
- Friday - St. Cajetan
- Saturday - St. Dominic
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Along the Way
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The pit isn't always created by dramatic events. Sometimes it's built one discouraging thought at a time.
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Moments of Grace
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We have been fans of Phil Wickham for a while now. We are big into contemporary christian music and listen to K-Love a lot in the car and I think this is how we first learned about his music. The Jesus Way was released in 2023 but for some reason I had not listened to the song until about a month ago when it played on K-Love while I was in the car. The song immediately caught my attention. I'm not sure if it was because I had not heard it before or because I really liked the tone and tempo. But I was hooked from the very first line. What really got my attention was that I thought the song was written from Jesus' perspective. I felt like Jesus was singing the song to me.
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"If you curse me then I will bless you
If you hurt me I will forgive
And if you hate me then I will love you"
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I could easily imagine Jesus speaking those words to me. So imagine my surprise when the next line hit.
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I wish I could say that I could easily imagine myself saying those same lines but I could not.
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For the rest of the song I was convicted by the Holy Spirit of the many people and times when I have been cursed at, hurt or hated where I have not responded like Jesus would have. It was a powerful blessed moment for me. When I got home I said to my beloved, " you have to listen to this song by Phil Wickham called the Jesus Way." She also found the song to be very powerful. Not for the same reasons I did and I think that had I known the name of the song before I listened to it, I would not have had the same reaction. God is so good!
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So what is it about the Jesus way that is so hard for me to live? It is those moments in life when I react rather than choose my words or actions carefully. I don't think it is natural to bless someone when they curse you or forgive them when they hurt you. My natural reaction is to fight fire with fire or to retreat and avoid that person. And for those who hate me, my initial reaction is "you're dead to me". Only through prayer and self examination am I able to even start imagining myself forgiving that person, let alone LOVE them. And it was through prayer and reflection that I was reminded that loving someone is not a feeling, it's a choice. I don't have to be best friends with someone to show them love. For various reasons there may be people in our lives that we cannot be around. Whether it be toxic, abusive, or a bad influence for us, there are people we can choose not to be around. And like the Good Samaritan, we would not ignore them if they needed help but we would pay or call someone else to help them out. Loving is about choosing the life giving option. Doing what is right, regardless of how we feel about that person. When I look at it that way, I can almost imagine myself doing the next right thing. I also rarely get it right the first time. When I take the time to reflect on my actions and how I would prefer to have acted, I have a better chance of getting it right the next time. So for those who are now interested in listening to the song we will include a link to the video on YouTube at the end of the newsletter. Enjoy!
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The Weekly Saints | Early August Reflections
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Welcome to this week's edition of The Weekly Saint. As we move through the first full week of August, the Church’s liturgical calendar presents us with a striking group of witnesses. These holy men and women remind us that Christ’s glory transfigures our ordinary lives, giving us the strength to face challenges, dedicate our work to Him, and serve our communities with joy.
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Here are the feast days and saints guiding our prayers for next week.
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Tuesday, August 4: St. John Vianney (1786–1859)
The Curé of Ars and the Power of Patient Service
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Born in rural France during the upheaval of the French Revolution, John Vianney faced severe obstacles on his path to the priesthood, including academic struggles with Latin. When he was finally ordained, he was assigned to Ars—a tiny, spiritually cold village where few attended church.
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Through humble devotion, penance, and love for his people, Father Vianney transformed the entire town. News of his holiness spread across Europe, and tens of thousands of pilgrims traveled to Ars every year just to make their confession to him. He routinely spent 12 to 18 hours a day in the confessional, offering God's mercy and gentle counsel to every soul who came to his door.
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- Patronage: Parish priests, confessors, and spiritual directors.
- Takeaway for the week: Consistent, humble work done with great love can transform an entire community. Don't underestimate the impact of your small, faithful daily efforts.
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Thursday, August 6: The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
A Glimpse of Divine Glory
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On Thursday, the Church celebrates a major feast day rooted in the Gospels. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up onto Mount Tabor, where He is transfigured before their eyes—His face shining like the sun and His clothes becoming dazzlingly white. Moses and Elijah appear beside Him, symbolizing the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.
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This moment was given to the apostles to strengthen their faith before the trial of the Cross. It reminded them that beyond suffering and daily hardship lies the ultimate glory of God’s kingdom.
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- Takeaway for the week: When daily routines feel heavy or overwhelming, pause to remember the times God has shown His grace in your life. Hold onto those moments of light when walking through darker seasons.
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Friday, August 7: St. Cajetan (1480–1547)
Unshakeable Trust in Divine Providence
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On Friday, we honor St. Cajetan, a Italian lawyer and nobleman who gave up his wealth and status to serve the sick and poor in Rome and Naples. He co-founded the Theatines, an order of priests who lived with radical trust in God—refusing to ask for alms or possess property, relying entirely on whatever God provided day by day.
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Cajetan also founded one of the earliest non-profit credit organizations to protect poor families from high-interest loan sharks, which later evolved into the Bank of Naples.
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- Patronage: Job seekers, bankers, workers, and gamblers.
- Takeaway for the week: When facing financial worry or uncertainty about the future, remember St. Cajetan's witness: do your duty faithfully, and trust that God will provide what you truly need.
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Saturday, August 8: St. Dominic (1170–1221)
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Truth, Study, and Joyful Preaching
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On Saturday, we honor the founder of the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans). Born in Spain, Dominic was a scholar with a tender heart for the poor and those who had fallen away from the faith. Recognizing that false teachings were leading many astray, he envisioned an order of monks who would combine rigorous intellectual study with gospel poverty and passionate preaching.
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Dominic was renowned for his joyful spirit, his devotion to Scripture, and his love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, who tradition holds commended the Holy Rosary to him as a powerful weapon for spiritual warfare and meditation.
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[ Deep Study ] <=====> [ Holy Preaching ]
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Truth in the Mind Love in the World
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- Patronage: Astronomers, scientists, preachers, and Dominican tertiary members.
- Takeaway for the week: St. Dominic showed that love and truth go hand in hand. When sharing your faith or convictions with others, always speak the truth in genuine charity.
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A Prayer for Your Week
Heavenly Father, through the intercession of St. John Vianney, grant us patience and perseverance in our daily duties. Through the light of the Transfiguration, reveal Your grace in our everyday lives. Through the trust of St. Cajetan, ease our worries and strengthen our faith. And through the zeal of St. Dominic, grant us a love for Your divine truth. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Have a blessed and beautiful week of prayer!
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Let's Take A Closer Look At Our Blessed Mother Rosary
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When we first started Hearts Rosary we did not have very many different styles to offer. Thankfully we had many friends who jumped at the chance to have us design a rosary for them. One of the first ones we did was our Blessed Mother Rosary.
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A friend wanted a rosary that had 20 decades on it so she could pray all 20 mysteries of the rosary on one pair of beads. She had also shared a dream in which she was told that when we pray the rosary, it is like laying a bouquet of roses at the feet of Our Lady. The image was so powerful and touching that we knew we needed to incorporate it into the rosary.
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We usually start the process by looking for the beads and when we found these multi-color aqua glass beads we knew we found the right ones. The light blue and white colors in the beads felt perfect for Our Lady. Then we knew that we wanted to include the idea of laying roses at the feet of Our Lady so we started looking for rose shaped beads. We found several version made with plastic and some glass but when we saw the solid medal rose beads, we knew that we had to use them. They were the perfect beads to use for the Our Father beads. The weight they add to the beads is perfect and we love how they break up the color of the Hail Mary beads.
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The crucifix we chose is our favorite crucifix. We call it the Sorrowful Mother crucifix because it depicts Our Lady at the foot of the cross catching her Son's blood in a chalice. The Spiritual Director for our Cursillo community had introduced the crucifix to us many years ago and it was famously carried by Saint Mother Teresa. We later learned that its real name is the Schoenstatt Unity Cross and its creation is fascinating story, but we'll save that for another time.
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We felt that the perfect way to finish this rosary off was with the Miraculous Medal center. We had to use the medal that was designed by Our Lady herself.
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We loved how this design came out as did our friend who asked us to design it. And so did many of our customers as this became one of our most popular rosaries. If you want to get one for yourself or a gift, we have included a link to it at the end of the newsletter.
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Staying out of the Pit
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There are seasons in life when pain begins to whisper to us.
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It reminds us of what we can no longer do.
It asks how long the journey will last.
It tempts us to wonder if things will ever be the same again.
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I've learned that those whispers can lead somewhere dangerous if I listen too long. In Jesus Calling, Sarah Young wrote that "self-pity is a slimy bottomless pit."
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When I read those words, I smiled because I knew exactly what she meant and because I’ve been in that slimy pit, I’ve slid down those slimy slippery walls deeper into the mire and the darkness.
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That pit isn't always created by dramatic events. Sometimes it's built one discouraging thought at a time.
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“This pain is unrelenting….”
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I discovered something long ago that I need to lean into always, and most especially during this season of healing.
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Jesus is right there with me in the pit.
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He climbed down into it with me.
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I have a Lord who is faithful, loving and always beside me even when I don’t think He is or feel His presence. I know with every fiber of my being, He is with me.
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He’s not waiting for me at the top of that pit; he climbed right down into the pit with me. He isn’t ever leaving me; He is right there beside me bringing His light to the darkness so that I can see the way forward, the way out of the pit.
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Jesus is the light that helps me find the next step and the strength and steam that keeps me moving forward and His unfailing love and faithfulness bring me hope and courage in the process.
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The pain may still be there.
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The uncertainty may remain.
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His presence in my life, my heart and in my faith changes everything. I know I have a God who loves me beyond anything I can imagine and He will always be there to help me navigate my way through anything that is set before me.
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His Word reassures me. “but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in His steadfast love” Psalm 147:11.
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All my trust and hope are in Jesus. And if I encounter a moment when hope seems fleeting, I cling to scripture “…. I believe Lord, help my unbelief.” Mark 9:24
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Gratitude and Grace quietly become the ladder that helps me climb out.
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I've learned something else. When I begin looking outward instead of inward... situations and circumstances begin to come into focus through a new lens.
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My focus is no longer on me and what I've lost it's about thanksgiving to God for what He is doing today...
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Every limitation becomes another invitation to lean on His strength instead of my own.
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Every challenge becomes another opportunity to trust Him and to draw closer in my relationship with Jesus.
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It helps me to get out of my own way.
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It doesn't remove the pain.
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It changes my perspective.
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The journey and this season may be different than I imagined. But there is still so much joy to be found. I always find it when I am looking with the eyes of my heart.
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Jesus,
When I begin to slip toward discouragement, remind me that You are already there beside me. Help me choose gratitude over self-pity, hope over fear, and trust over uncertainty. Teach me to see every challenge as another opportunity to walk more closely with You.
Amen.
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A Thought to Carry with You
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In what area of my life am I being invited to slow down and treat the process, not just the finished result, as an act of devotion?
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Until Next Week
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Wherever this newsletter finds you today, whether your heart is full of joy or carrying a burden known only to you, know that you are remembered in our prayers. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus fill you with His peace, the Immaculate Heart of Mary wrap you in her loving mantle, and the humble and chaste Heart of St. Joseph guide and protect you this week. Until we meet again, may God bless you and those you love.
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Links for this weeks Newsletter
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