The most holy body and blood of Christ, the Eucharist, is a rich source of abundant blessings, and it has many powerful effects.

A private audience. It is almost impossible to gain access to very important people for a personal encounter. It would be extraordinary and rare to have a private audience with the pope, a personal meeting with the president or a backstage pass to visit a famous performer. But in the Eucharist, Jesus is neither remote nor protected behind layers of security. The Eucharist gives the recipient unhindered access, not to a famous person, but to the Son of God, and not just for a handshake or a few pleasantries, but for extended quality time to be with the Lord.

An intimate conversation. While it is possible to …

Praying the rosary is traditionally associated with the Catholic Church, but Protestant Christians sometimes use rosary beads for meditative prayers to God rather than Mary. Discover what the rosary is, why Catholics pray it, and how praying the rosary in a biblical way can be a useful tool for meditating on the meaning and significance of your prayers.

What Does Praying the Rosary Mean?

Praying the rosary involves using a string of beads called a rosary as a tool for keeping track of prayers. People either hold or wear the rosary while they pray and touch an individual bead when they pray each individual prayer, moving their hands from one bead to the next to help them focus their minds on each prayer. As they do so, they …

In last week’s General Audience, Pope Francis spoke about how Christian prayer is “anchored” in the liturgy. In this week’s audience, streamed live from the Library of the Apostolic Palace, he explains how prayer returns from the liturgy to the daily situations of life, such as on the streets, in offices and on public transport.

“Essentially, everything becomes a part of this dialogue with God,” which is prayer. “Every joy becomes a reason for praise, every trial is an opportunity to ask for help,” he says. “Prayer,” according to the Pope, “is always alive in life, like embers of fire... Even when the mouth does not speak, the heart talks.”

Every thought, even apparently “profane” ones, can be permeated by prayer, "which illuminates the few steps in front of …