The Seven Sorrows Rosary, or the Seven Sorrows Chaplet, dates back to the Middle Ages. However, Our Lady of Kibeho reintroduced this devotion to visionary Marie-Claire Mukangango in Kibeho, Rwanda, in the 1980s.

Our Lady’s messages to Marie-Claire focused on an “urgent call to repentance”:

“Repent, repent, repent! Convert while there is still time.”

Many graces result from praying this devotion; however, it should not replace the traditional rosary. Our Lady requests the faithful to pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Below are Our Lady of Sorrows' promises to those who pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary, according to Marie Claire’s visions:

1) With the recitation of the Seven Sorrows Rosary, the hardest hearts shall change, if you pray it for yourself or for others.

2) By the recitation of the Seven Sorrows Rosary, you shall be freed from obsessions and addiction.

3) This rosary, when said from the heart, it will win us true repentance of our sins and free our souls from guilt and remorse.

4) Those who say it often, especially as recommended by Our Lady to Marie Claire, on Tuesdays and Fridays, shall obtain a clear understanding of their weaknesses and flaws causing them to sin, and those things we don’t like about ourselves and thought were a part of our character, shall change.

5) You shall obtain whatever you ask for through this rosary, praying this rosary from the heart.

Here’s how to pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary:

Sign of the Cross: In the name of The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Introductory Prayer:

My God, I offer You this Rosary for Your glory, so I can honor Your Holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin, so I can share and meditate upon her suffering. I humbly beg you to give me true repentance for all my sins. Give me wisdom and humility, so that I may receive all the indulgences contained in this prayer.

Act of Contrition: “O My God, I am heartily sorry…”

3 Hail Marys in Honor of Our Lady’s Tears

“Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.”

1) The First Sword of Sorrow: The Prophesy of Simeon (Luke 2: 22-35)

Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys.

“Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.”

2) The Second Sword of Sorrow: The Flight Into Egypt (Matt. 2: 13-15)

Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys.

“Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.”

3) The Third Sword of Sorrow: The Loss of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2: 41-52)

Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys.

“Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.”

4) The Fourth Sword of Sorrow: Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary (Luke 23: 27-31)

Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys.

“Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.”

5) The Fifth Sword of Sorrow: Mary Stands at the Foot of the Cross (Jn. 19: 25-27)

Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys.

“Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.”

6) The Sixth Sword of Sorrow: Mary Receives the Dead Body of Jesus in Her Arms (Jn. 19: 38-40)

Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys.

“Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.”

7) The Seventh Sword of Sorrow: The Body of Jesus is Placed in the Tomb (Jn. 19: 41-42)

Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys.

“Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.”

Concluding Prayer

Queen of Martyrs, your heart suffered so much. I beg you, by the merits of the tears you shed in these terrible and sorrowful times, to obtain for me and all the sinners of the world the grace of complete sincerity and repentance. Amen.

Mary, who was conceived without sin and who suffered for us, pray for us.
Mary, who was conceived without sin and who suffered for us, pray for us.
Mary, who was conceived without sin and who suffered for us, pray for us.

Sign of the Cross: In the name of The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Marie-Claire’s version also includes meditations.

Here’s a video with the meditations:

Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus!

Major news networks broadcast the solemn ceremony live and streamed it online, bringing Hernandez’s moving tribute to millions of viewers. Clips of her prayer have since circulated widely on social media.

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“We love you and we miss you so much,” Hernandez said. “That goes for all of us. I know we all love and miss our loved ones.”

She remembered her father as a loving protector.

“My father was a gentle giant,” she said. “Protected everyone. He didn’t care who you were—if he was there [and] you needed help, he was a protector.”

Norberto Hernandez was killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He worked at Windows on the World, the restaurant on the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Hernandez said her father’s witness of love inspired her own life of service.

“My father loved like no other that I ever met,” she said. “I became a police officer in his memory. I did 20 years in the New York City Police Department to protect and share my love because it was an honor and a blessing to be raised by such a wonderful man.”

“Anybody who met him will tell you the same,” she added.

How the ceremony works

Each year, loved ones gather at the National September 11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan for a ceremony centered on the victims and their families.

Relatives read aloud the names of all 2,983 people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The reading lasts for hours, and family members may add a personal message, memory, or prayer.

That is when Hernandez offered an especially moving tribute.

“I want to share his protection and his love the only way I know how,” she said. “I’m going to ask God for the intercession of St. Michael as we pray.”

She then prayed:

“St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.

Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray.

And do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God,

cast into hell Satan and all those who prowl about the world

seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.”

“God bless you all,” she concluded. “And God bless America.”

Each time we say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” we invoke the one Triune God. And as we trace the cross over our bodies, we remember that Christ died and rose again for us.

The Church includes the Sign of the Cross among the signs used in blessings and sacramentals. It is not a lucky charm or a magic formula: it is a prayer made with the body as well, a simple way of entrusting our minds, hearts, actions, and lives to God—a practice Christians have observed since the earliest centuries.

Here are six moments to make the Sign of the Cross in your daily life:

1. At the Beginning and End of Prayer

The Sign of the Cross helps us enter into God’s presence. We make it at the beginning and end of the Rosary, personal prayer, a devotion, the reading of Sacred Scripture, or spontaneous prayer.

2. When Blessing Your Food

Before eating, we can make the Sign of the Cross and thank God for the food we receive. It is an especially beautiful gesture for families, but it also makes sense when we eat alone, at work, at a restaurant, or while traveling.

A traditional prayer says:

“Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

3. At the Beginning and End of the Day

The Sign of the Cross can help us place the entire day in God’s hands. When we wake up, it reminds us that life is a gift and that everything we do can be offered to the Lord. Before going to sleep, it invites us to give thanks, ask forgiveness, surrender our worries, and rest confidently in His love.

In the morning, you can make the Sign of the Cross and say:

“Lord, I offer You this day. Guide my thoughts, my words, and my actions. May everything be for Your glory. Amen.”

At night, you can pray before resting:

“Into Your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Thank You for this day; forgive my sins and grant me rest in Your peace. Amen.”

This practice can also become a beautiful family tradition. Before turning off the lights, parents and children can give thanks together, pray for their loved ones, and make the Sign of the Cross.

4. When Passing by a Church

When passing by a Catholic church, we can make the Sign of the Cross as a gesture of love and adoration for Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament.

It is not always possible to go inside and make a visit to the Lord. But we can pause inwardly for a few seconds, make the Sign of the Cross, and offer a short prayer: “Jesus, I believe in You. I love You. Remain with me.”

5. When You Hear a Siren or See an Accident

Hearing an ambulance, fire truck, or police siren can be an invitation to pray for someone going through a difficult situation. Making the Sign of the Cross at that moment helps us respond with compassion rather than indifference.

In addition to making the Sign of the Cross, pray a Hail Mary for the person who may be in danger.

6. When Passing a Cemetery or Remembering the Dead

Christians pray for their loved ones and for all the faithful departed. When passing near a cemetery, seeing a funeral procession, or remembering someone who has died, we can make the Sign of the Cross and entrust them to God’s mercy.

You can add this prayer:

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.”

The usual way to make the Sign of the Cross in the Latin Rite is to touch the forehead while saying, “In the name of the Father”; the chest while saying, “and of the Son”; and the shoulders while saying, “and of the Holy Spirit.” We then respond, “Amen.”

The point is not for the movement to be perfect, but for it to be intentional. When we make it devoutly, we renew some of the greatest truths of our faith:

• God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• Jesus Christ died and rose again to save us.
• The cross is not the end: it is the sign of Christ’s victory over sin and death.
• God can be present in prayer, at the table, at work, in suffering, and in ordinary encounters.
• Our entire lives can be offered to the Lord.

The next time you make the Sign of the Cross, do so with reverence and intention. Remember: it is not just any gesture—it is the sign of the One to whom you belong.

Here are four powerful and lesser-known stories featured in EWTN News’ documentary, “Hope After 9/11: Stories of Faith and Courage.”

1. He Started 9/11 at Daily Mass. Then He Saved a Stranger’s Life.

Paul Carris was working on the 71st floor of the North Tower when the attacks began. He attended daily Mass that morning.

As he headed toward the exit, he noticed a group of people gathered around Judith Toppin, a co-worker in distress. She was a stranger to him and had serious health challenges and could not make the long descent alone.

“I just went over to them to see if she was okay,” Carris recalled. “Something just said, ‘All right, I’ll take care of her.’”

Then, step by step, the two began their descent.

Judith limped down the stairs as Paul supported her. It was slow, exhausting, and dangerous. Partway down, Judith began praying Psalm 23 aloud:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Paul began praying too.

They were still inside the North Tower when the South Tower collapsed. They could not see what had happened outside, but they felt what Carris described as a “hurricane-force wind” moving through the stairwell.

At the time, they did not know what it meant. They simply continued downward.

Paul and Judith reached safety only moments before the North Tower collapsed. Carris later realized that helping Judith had not only saved her life—it had changed his own forever. He eventually became a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Newark, and Judith attended his ordination in 2011.

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2. He Had Been a Priest for Only 3 Months When the Pentagon Was Attacked—Then He Brought Jesus to the Wounded

Father Stephen McGraw had been a priest for only three months when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon.

He had taken a wrong turn on his way to a burial at Arlington National Cemetery and found himself stuck in traffic near the building. When he saw the plane strike, he immediately knew a priest would be needed.

He took his purple stole, holy oils, and prayer book and ran toward the wounded.

There, Father McGraw encountered Juan Cruz, a badly injured man who heard the priest praying beside him. Cruz asked him a simple question:

“What is your name?”

“My name is Father Steve McGraw,” the priest answered. “I’m a Catholic priest.”

Cruz replied, “I’m Catholic.”

Father McGraw offered him confession and absolution in a general way, then administered the Anointing of the Sick.

“I tell you,” he said to Cruz, “Jesus is with you now.”

Cruz answered yes.

Later, while recovering in the hospital, Cruz told his family that someone had prayed with him after the attack. Only when his wife found a photograph of the moment did they discover it was Father McGraw.

In the midst of the disaster, Father McGraw kept praying to Mary:

“Mary, help me stay with you at the foot of the Cross.”

He saw the suffering around him as a place where Christ was present—and where a priest was called to remain.

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3. He Was Flying Air Force One on 9/11. So He Prayed The Whole Way: "Jesus, I Need Help"

As the attacks unfolded on 9/11, Col. Mark Tillman was flying Air Force One with President George W. Bush aboard.

The responsibility was immense. The nation was under attack. Information was incomplete. No one knew whether more planes were coming, whether the president was in danger, or whether Air Force One itself could become a target.

Tillman’s job was to keep the president safe.

But before every mission, he had a personal ritual. On the upper deck of the presidential 747, he would step into a small restroom and pray:

“God, give me the strength to make sure that everything I do is correct, and let me lead those around me to keep everybody at their highest capability.”

And as the events of that day unfolded in the cockpit, his prayer became even simpler:

“Jesus, I need help.”

Tillman and his crew kept Air Force One in the air during one of the most uncertain moments in American history. He later reflected on navigating the “fog of war” while carrying the president and supporting the country’s response.

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4. On 9/11, Everyone Was Fleeing Ground Zero. This Priest Walked Toward It.

When the World Trade Center was attacked, Father Brian Jordan, OFM, began walking toward Ground Zero.

Everyone else, he remembered, was moving in the opposite direction.

“I was the only person walking south,” Father Jordan said. “Everyone else was walking north, fearful.”

Then he received devastating news: his fellow Franciscan, Father Mychal Judge—the beloved FDNY chaplain—had been killed at the World Trade Center.

Father Jordan had been close to Father Judge. He immediately asked himself what his brother friar would have done.

His answer was clear:

“I’m not going to sit down and cry about this. I’m going down to the World Trade Center.”

At a police barricade, he explained that Father Judge had been his fellow Franciscan and that he had come to help. Police officers gave him a mask and gloves. Carrying holy water, Father Jordan entered Ground Zero.

There, he prayed over and blessed the dead.

For Father Jordan, it was a terrible but profound act of ministry: responding to overwhelming loss not by turning away, but by bringing prayer, dignity, and the Church’s presence to the victims.

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The Witness That Remains

These stories do not make September 11 less tragic. Nearly 3,000 people were killed, countless families were devastated, and many first responders later suffered illness and death connected to rescue and recovery work.

But they reveal something essential about that day, too.

Paul Carris stayed with Judith when he could have walked away. Father McGraw brought Christ and the sacraments to the wounded. Mark Tillman prayed as he carried out an impossible mission. Father Jordan walked toward the suffering at Ground Zero after learning his friend had died there.

Twenty-five years later, their witness remains a challenge: when fear tells us to turn away, may we have the courage to serve, to pray, and to love.

Watch the full documentary, “Hope After 9/11: Stories of Faith and Courage,” on EWTN News’ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ewtnnews

On September 8, Pampatar Bay on Margarita Island once again became the setting for one of the most representative expressions of faith in eastern Venezuela: the Barloventeo in honor of Our Lady of the Valley.

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The tradition consists of a maritime procession in which fishermen, families, and devotees accompany the Virgin across the waters of the bay. The boats, decorated for the occasion, sail together as the faithful pray and pay tribute to their patroness.

“A seafaring tradition that brings us together every year and keeps alive the faith and devotion of an entire people,” the Maneiro Mayor’s Office said on its social media accounts.

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But the Barloventeo is not the only tradition associated with the feast of Our Lady of the Valley, whose celebration coincides with the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The day begins at midnight, when numerous faithful gather to take part in Holy Mass and celebrate the Virgin before accompanying her on her journey across the sea.

“A true sea of people gathered to sing to her, thank her, and celebrate her day together. A moving display of faith that reminds us how much Our Lady of the Valley means to our people,” the mayor’s office said.

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A Tradition Born From a Small Gesture

Although it now draws hundreds of people, the Barloventeo began in a much simpler way.

The tradition emerged between 1997 and 1998 at the initiative of Carmen Natera, a devotee from Pampatar who wanted to offer Our Lady of the Valley a ride on the sea, inspired by the maritime processions held for Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The first outing took place in a small fishing boat called El Furiosito. Over the years, other fishermen began to join, and what started as a family initiative became a tradition that now brings the entire community together.

Now, every September, the waters of Pampatar become the setting for a remarkable expression of faith.

Her Childhood Loss—and a Call to Religious Life

“I grew up in Northern Ireland, one of five children,” she recalled during an interview with Father Mark Mary, MFVA, on EWTN, reflecting on the humble origins of her faith. “My mother died suddenly on Christmas Day when I was twelve. That night, as I grieved, I heard an inner voice say, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.’ From that moment, I knew I would become a nun.” 

She entered the convent at fifteen, only to be struck down by debilitating illness two years later. Her superiors sent her across the Atlantic, hoping the American sunshine would restore her health. “It didn’t — it got worse,” she shared on EWTN. “But that’s where God planned to heal me.” 

A Desperate Prayer That Changed Everything

The physical turning point came during a retreat with Holy Cross Father Ed O'Connor, who spoke deeply on the Holy Spirit. Kneeling in prayer in front of the altar, Sister Briege reached out to the Lord with a simple, desperate petition: “Jesus, please reveal yourself to me.” 

In that sacred instant, she felt a tangible, loving hand rest softly upon her head. Warmth coursed through her limbs, and the severe, crippling ache that had defined her youth vanished completely. 

“Instantly, my pain was gone,” she told Father Mark Mary. “But more importantly, I fell in love with Jesus as a person. My healing was not only physical but spiritual. I realized for the first time He was real, alive, and deeply personal.” 

Yet, this physical miracle was merely the threshold to a far more profound, inner transformation — one that would unfold within the quiet sanctuary of the chapel, before the divine mystery of the Eucharist. 

Shortly after her physical recovery, Sister Briege found herself kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, her heart weeping for a world in turmoil. It was an era when many priests were abandoning their sacred vows, and public cynicism toward the Church was mounting. Distressed by the noise and criticism, she looked toward the tabernacle and cried out in raw honesty: “What’s wrong with the priesthood?” 

In the stillness of the chapel, before the Real Presence of Christ, an inner voice spoke to her heart with divine clarity: “What do you mean, what’s wrong with my priesthood? Have I ever given a gift that’s not perfect? What have you done for those who carry this gift?” 

A Vision of the Priesthood From Heaven’s Perspective

In that moment, the physical surroundings of the chapel seemed to recede, replaced by a sublime, mystical vision of ordination seen from heaven’s side — a sight radiant with absolute perfection and beauty. 

“I realized the priesthood itself is perfect because it is Christ’s own priesthood,” she recounted.  

“The problem is never the priesthood — it’s the vessel holding it. Priests are human, cracked and flawed, but they hold the wine of divine grace. The Lord showed me that attacks in the Church aren’t really against His priesthood — they’re attacks on the vessel, on the person.” 

Her Lifelong Mission: Encourage and Pray for Priests

The voice in the chapel gave her a clear, lifelong mandate: “The Lord told me my mission was to encourage, challenge, and affirm these vessels — His priests.” 

That quiet chapel experience sparked a global ministry centered on the Eucharist. Sister Briege spent the next five decades leading retreats worldwide, teaching priests and laypeople alike that true spiritual healing begins in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. 

“You can’t have faith without prayer — and prayer only grows from relationship,” she frequently urged in her retreat presentations. “I tell people: stop speaking to a void. There’s a living person in that tabernacle who hears you, loves you, and longs for you.” 

For Sister Briege, Eucharistic adoration was not a routine devotion, but an encounter with a living Friend. “Don’t go into the chapel just to say nice things to Jesus,” she instructed retreatants. “He doesn’t need our compliments. He wants honesty. Speak to Him as to a friend.” 

Eucharistic Adoration: ‘Like Sitting in the Sun’

She often likened time spent in the Real Presence to simple exposure to the sun. “Eucharistic adoration renews the heart,” she loved to tell her audiences. “I tell them, ‘It’s like sitting in the sun. You may feel nothing, but you’ll come away changed.’” She often shared the words of King Baudouin of Belgium, who had once told her: “I sunbathe every day with Jesus.” 

From that single encounter in the chapel, Sister Briege’s whole message was forged: Jesus is not an abstract concept, but a living Person present in the Eucharist, waiting to heal, restore, and transform every human heart.

The family shared a video on social media showing everything from preparations at home to the moment the three little ones were introduced during the celebration at Our Lady Undoer of Knots Church.

“Today we took our babies to Holy Mass for the first time. What a blessing! Such great happiness for us. Thank you, Jesus,” their mother, Lorena Pinheiro, wrote.

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Getting ready for their first Mass

The preparations for the babies’ first Mass were also captured on video. Before leaving home, the family showed a few details of their routine with the three babies.

The mother chose blue outfits for her sons as a reference to the Virgin Mary. Even the details on the clothing became part of the family’s conversation, as they remarked that the dinosaur print on them could represent creation.

While getting the babies ready, the parents also had to organize the logistics of arriving at church. Because the church tends to fill up, the father left early with one of the kids to save a place.

Later, the mother and Aunt Gi arrived with the other two.

A special welcome at Mass

At church, all three babies remained calm throughout the celebration. According to the family, none of them cried during Mass.

At one point during Mass, the parents brought all three children to the front. The mother briefly told the priest their story, and then the father offered them a few words:

“For God, all things are possible!”

A special moment for the brothers followed. One by one, Miguel, João Gabriel, and Davi were introduced to the people attending the celebration.

“People of God, let us give Miguel a big round of applause!” the priest said.

Then it was João Gabriel’s and Davi’s turn. Each received applause from the congregation.

At the end, the priest also asked the congregation to applaud the parents.

The moment reminded the family of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. The video’s narration itself refers to the Gospel episode in which Mary and Joseph bring the Child Jesus to the Temple.

The scene became one of the most meaningful moments of the triplets’ first Mass.

“10 out of 10”

After the celebration, the family did not need many words to sum up the experience:

“We love going to Mass! Ten out of ten. We’ll be there again next Sunday.”

For the family, the three babies’ first Mass was not simply a different kind of outing. It was the beginning of a routine they hope to continue living together—bringing Miguel, Davi, and João Gabriel into the presence of Jesus.

The young woman, Ruth, arrived at the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception and Blessed Agnes of Benigánim in Valencia, Spain, to share for a time in the life of the Discalced Augustinian nuns.

“Yesterday, Sunday, Ruth came to have an experience at the monastery,” the nuns said in the video they shared on social media.

The footage shows the community eagerly awaiting the young woman’s arrival. When the door finally opens, the nuns welcome her with applause, while Ruth, visibly moved, takes her first steps into the monastery.

The nuns then show her some areas of the house, and little by little, Ruth begins to integrate into the community’s daily life.

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The video has surpassed 6,000 likes and 144,000 views, receiving numerous comments from people offering prayers for Ruth, that she may discover God’s calling for her life.

“May God bless her so that she perseveres! I will pray for her! ❤️”

“What joy—may new vocations come! 🙏💖”

“We pray for all the holy vocations you receive. 🙌”

The post also sparked questions about the possibility of having similar experiences at the monastery.

In response to a user who asked whether spiritual retreats are still held in convents, the nuns replied that “personalized retreats are offered at our Discalced Augustinian monastery in Benigánim, Valencia.”

Likewise, when another person asked how they could have an experience like Ruth’s, the nuns explained that those interested can contact them through their social-media accounts for more information.

What is life like for the Discalced Augustinians?

The community explains on its website that the lives of contemplative nuns revolve around “prayer, community life, work and study.” Their day includes the celebration of the Eucharist, Eucharistic Adoration, and praying the Liturgy of the Hours, as well as periods of silence and personal prayer.

“The work of the nuns consists of caring for the house of prayer, the elderly Sisters, the house, the monastery’s vegetable garden and garden, and the shop where religious items are sold.”

Their day also includes a time for community recreation.

“It is the hour when we talk, share, laugh, joke, and comment on events—contrasting with the day’s atmosphere of silence and recollection. ‘With Jesus Christ, joy is always born and reborn.’”

A community with more than four centuries of history

The Benigánim monastery has more than four centuries of history. The first five Discalced Augustinian nuns left the convent of St. Ursula in Valencia on June 3, 1611, arriving in Benigánim two days later. On June 11, a solemn procession carried the Blessed Sacrament to the new convent, a date the community considers the official beginning of its cloistered life in the town.

The monastery is also closely linked to Blessed Agnes of Benigánim, one of its best-known figures. Josefa María de Santa Inés entered the convent in 1643, received the habit in 1644, and professed vows the following year. She lived there until her death on January 21, 1696.

More than four centuries later, the Discalced Augustinians continue to dedicate themselves to contemplative life and prayer. The community also maintains welcoming spaces for young people, including gatherings, retreats, and shared-living experiences that can form part of a vocational discernment process.

Antônia Keliane’s babies were born at just 28 weeks of pregnancy. In the midst of fear and anguish for her children, this Brazilian mother made a promise to St. Francis: if she could bring them home alive, she would go to the Basilica of St. Francis of the Stigmata in Canindé, Ceará, to give thanks and present them to him.

And she has fulfilled that promise.

Antônia, from São Domingos do Cariri in the Brazilian state of Paraíba, traveled hundreds of miles to the Basilica of St. Francis of the Stigmata in Canindé, Ceará, to give thanks with her twin sons.

In a viral video shared by the Shrine, the mother explained that her twins were born at only 28 weeks. During those difficult days, Antônia made a promise to St. Francis.

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“They were born at 28 weeks of pregnancy. There were many days of fear and anguish, but faith never left us through any of them. I promised St. Francis that, if I was able to bring my children home alive, I would return to thank him and present them to him at the Basilica.”

The promise remained in her heart, and when she finally brought her children home, she knew it was time to return to Canindé.

“Today we are here, giving thanks for the grace received, with my two children in my arms.”

The mother’s emotion is easy to understand when she explains what her children represent to her. She calls them her “two living testimonies” and says she is overjoyed to be there with them.

“I am very happy—very happy—and even more grateful to St. Francis, because he has always been my beloved saint of devotion. And today, being here with my children… I truly have no words to explain it.”

“Being Here With My Children Today Is Beyond Words”

In sharing her testimony, the Basilica highlighted this aspect of the story: after living through a time of waiting and anguish, Antônia returned to the Shrine to give thanks for the gift of her children’s lives.

The post describes the moment as a testimony that “needs no great explanation,” but can simply be contemplated in the two little ones now resting in their mother’s arms.

The video ends with this famous prayer attributed to St. Francis:

“Where there is despair, let me bring hope;
where there is darkness, let me bring light;
where there is sadness, let me bring joy.”

For Antônia, the pilgrimage to Canindé was a way to fulfill a promise made during one of the most difficult moments of her life.

This time, she did not arrive alone. She came carrying her two children in her arms—and a story of faith for which to give thanks.

You can see it in conversion stories, campus ministries, young-adult communities, and packed Eucharistic adoration nights. Recent data from the prayer app Hallow suggests this is happening in a particularly visible way on college campuses: OCIA participation at nearly 60 U.S. colleges and universities increased by 87.6% from the 2024–25 academic year to 2025–26.

At Texas A&M University, the number of adults entering the Church rose by about 69%, from 121 in 2024–25 to 204 in 2025–26. Other campuses also reported major increases: Stanford reportedly tripled its number of OCIA candidates and catechumens, while New York University saw an 88% increase in OCIA participation and a tripling of daily Mass attendance.

Gen Z faith is a major trending topic. What a time to be alive.

Of course, Time magazine and other secular outlets have challenged viral claims, citing reports that make it difficult to call this a universal “Gen Z revival.”

But the data does show that, in many places, young people are actively seeking something more.

Maybe the better question is: Why are some young people seeking the Church now?

They are looking for truth. For beauty. For belonging. For forgiveness. For silence. And, above all, for Jesus in the Eucharist.

This is not just a trend. Thousands are coming home, and we welcome them, pray for them, and are so happy for them.

Are you seeing this in your parish?