A small thing can become a great help to prayer

I received this simple wooden hand cross from my Benedictine monks in Maribor, originally made available in the beautiful Benedictine monastery in Ćokovac (island of Pašman, Croatia). It is comfortable to hold while I pray, read Scripture, or pause for a few quiet moments during the workday.

I love that it turns prayer into something tangible: a sacramental can sanctify everyday circumstances, because sacramentals are “instituted… a great variety of circumstances… [and] always include a prayer, often accompanied by a specific sign.” (CCC 1668)

Even when my words are few, the cross helps my heart remain directed toward God. And when I enter contemplative prayer, the cross gently reminds me that silence matters: it is “the symbol of the world to come.”

May this be an invitation to trust God, especially in the ordinary rhythm of life.