Carlo Acutis had a secret  that lit up his soul:  he prayed the Rosary  every day. For him,  it was like climbing home,  one step at a time,  knowing that his Mother Mary was waiting for him  with open arms. So he called the Rosary "the shortest ladder to Heaven."

Maybe you think of the Rosary as something repetitive. It's hard to see beauty in it if you do. But it was something different for Carlo. His Rosary was a lifeline to Heaven, a simple, deep conversation with Mary,  the Mother of Jesus.  He prayed with his heart  and his mind. He reflected on the mysteries.  He was intentional.  He said every Hail Mary  like he was offering a  rose to Mary.

Why such love for the Rosary?

Because Carlo knew Mary wasn’t a side character  in the Gospel. She’s essential. She’s a Mother and a guide. She stayed with Jesus  till the end, and she wants to walk with you now,  to lead you to her Son. For Carlo, Mary was a confidant, refuge, and faithful friend. He  joked that she was “the only woman in his life.” The Rosary was his way of walking with her.

In the Rosary, he told Mary about his day and leaned on her when things got hard.  He knew that walking with Mary almost guarantees  you won't lose your way.

And it showed. This 14 year old started looking at life with more depth, not settling for the shallow stuff. He started thinking about his soul, others, and God. He started seeing like Mary, tenderly, with strength and faith. The Rosary helped him stay grounded. It gave him peace, clarity, and direction. And when he got distracted (because of course he did) it brought him back.

You can discover what  Carlo did, too: that the  Rosary makes you slow down, turn down the noise,  and look up to Heaven.  It changes you. And it's for everyone. Ever feel like your mind is racing, like you can’t stop,  like you’re anxious  for no reason?  The Rosary can be the pause that changes everything.  And if it feels awkward  at first, don’t worry.  It did for Carlo too.  But he kept trying.

Food for thought:

What's Mary's place in your life? Do you talk to her? Do you pray the Rosary with your heart and head,  or is it just words? What would change in your life if talking to Mary became as natural as checking your phone? Could you try praying one mystery a day for a week?

Start small.  One decade a day.  A mystery on the bus.  A Rosary once a week  with a friend.  Pray while walking,  in silence, or with an app.  It doesn’t matter how you start; just start.  And pray from the heart,  not only with your fingers.  The sound isn’t what  matters. The source is. If you let Mary in and give  her space in your life,  you’re already on the ladder, closer to heaven.

a few ways to make the Rosary come alive

Set an intention. Before you begin, decide who or what you’ll pray for (your family, a friend, peace,  yourself...)

If you have trouble focusing, use an audio version.  There are lots on prayer apps like Hallow and even  playlists to guide you  on Spotify and elsewhere.

Keep one handy:  have a Rosary in your bag, your car, your desk, or even  a Rosary ring or bracelet.

Take advantage of quiet moments. It could be  on a walk, your commute,  or before bed. You don't  need to make a complicated plan to talk to your Mother.

Connect the mysteries  to your life: Which mystery feels close to your day?  Are you carrying a cross? Celebrating unexpected joy?

Carlo was sure of this:  the Rosary was his ladder  to Heaven. Not because he prayed it perfectly,  but because every Hail Mary brought him closer to Jesus, hand in hand with Mary. And that’s enough. The Rosary is for anyone searching for something deeper. Try it and you  might discover, like Carlo,  that this simple prayer is actually a powerful,  direct path to Heaven. One Hail Mary at a time.  One step closer every day.