peace | Catholic womanhood | pray the rosary
When a friend suggested adding the Rosary to her day, Laura Vazquez Santos found a spiritual lifeline.
My mornings used to begin with noise (well, they kind of still do, but the ensuing panic that normally followed has since been calmed). It was not just the noise of children — though that was part of it — but the noise of worry, to-do lists, and self-criticism. I’d scroll through my phone, gulp down coffee, and start the day already anxious.
Then a friend challenged me to pray the Rosary daily. “I don’t have time,” I laughed (and, I admit at this time, I wasn’t fostering time in prayer or my faith as seriously as I should have). But something about her calm, peaceful demeanor stuck with me. I thought to myself ... well, I guess I have already tried mindfulness practices and other ‘techniques’ to keep my anxiety at bay before, so why not prayer?
Adding in the Rosary
So I tried. I started praying one decade while preparing my coffee and my daughter’s lunch for the day. Another in the car. A few Hail Marys while waiting in the school pickup line. Another before bed or in between bedtime routines. It was clumsy and fragmented. But Mary met me there anyway, and soon the act of prayer itself was calming, and I started to have insights into the mysteries of Christ’s life and how this newfound understanding applied to my own state in life; it humbled me and helped me grow in my faith.
Suddenly, my panic about time felt a little less intense — more manageable. I even began starting my day with a Spiritual Communion to add to the Rosary prayers, offering my thoughts, words, worries, and actions to the Lord, trusting that He would know far better than I what to do with them.
Now, most mornings begin with the Rosary: most of the time not in one sitting, not always without interruption, but always with peace. Mary, our Mother, walks with me through each Mystery, gently pointing my heart to Christ.
Becoming an Anchor
The Rosary has become my anchor. When my three-year-old spills milk, I think of the Nativity — God entering our mess. When I struggle to be patient with my five-year-old in the midst of the chaos of getting dressed or fighting me on what she’ll eat for breakfast, I recall the Carrying of the Cross — Christ walking with love despite pain and how love itself is patient. God is patient with us, his children.
When I feel overwhelmed, I cling to the Resurrection — hope is always near.
Each Mystery offers me something to hold onto in the day’s struggles. Mary doesn’t wave a magic wand to make life easier, but she helps me see with clearer eyes, softer hands, and a heart more open to grace.
Praying the Rosary hasn’t made me a perfect mom. But it has made me a more patient and present one. And it’s not another task to check off — it’s become my lifeline. A moment to breathe. A pause in the chaos. A mother’s hand in mine.
If you’re like me and feel like you “don’t have time,” maybe just start with a decade. Whisper a Hail Mary while folding laundry or on your way to work or school drop-offs. Let Mary into the mess. She’s already there, waiting to walk with you to her Son.
Copyright 2025 Laura Vazquez Santos
Images: Canva