At the request of my new friends, from the Men’s Rosary Crusade in Sydney whose courage has inspired many across Australia and beyond—I write this reflection. I had long been searching for an apostolate that could awaken and challenge men, and when I discovered the Men’s Rosary, I felt a fire kindle within me. Ever since childhood, for reasons I never fully understood, my heart has always felt drawn to Australia del Espíritu Santo (Australia of the Holy Spirit)—the name given by the Portuguese navigator Pedro Fernández de Quirós in the service of Spain, whose statue today stands in Canberra. That name always seemed prophetic to me: a land consecrated in spirit, called to something greater.
With gratitude, I thank the Australian Men’s Rosary Crusade for asking me to share this testimony. I want them—and all the men who bravely give public witness to their faith across the world—to know that I carry them daily in my prayers.
An Unexpected Call
One day, while reflecting on how to gather men to pray the Rosary and prepare ourselves for the great spiritual battles of our time, I felt compelled to look for a movement in my city. To my surprise, I discovered that such public Rosaries already existed—and in Monterrey, Mexico, a small group called Caballeros del Rosario (Knights of the Rosary) had begun, inspired by our brothers in Poland.
I joined them. At first, it was only the three of us: a young man, my son, and myself. We knelt to pray in the middle of a noisy fairground, the laughter and distractions of the world swirling around us. That moment tested my focus and my courage, but more than anything, it made me look at my 10-year-old son and admire his perseverance and his devotion and seriousness humbled me.
Still, the group remained small. After several attempts, no one else came. I grew saddened. I believed the Rosary deserved a movement that would shake the streets, that would echo the Ave Maria in such a way that it would awaken souls and draw men out of silence and into courage. The reality seemed to prove otherwise: a lack of commitment, indifference, and above all, fear.
We live in times where expressing the faith publicly feels risky. Men are often tempted to remain silent—to avoid ridicule, to keep their jobs safe, to not be branded as fanatics. The truth is simple: Christianity is not for the faint of heart. To be a Christian requires courage, humility, and strength. A silent man, in the face of a world that mocks God, is a tragedy.
Months passed. My faith began to cool. Depression, loneliness, and even alcohol began encircling me with their false comforts. One night, desperate and weary, I stood before the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in my living room and cried out: “What is the point of all this? I want my life to matter. I want to serve you.”
At that moment, I felt her gaze pierce my heart. A shiver ran through me. Then, the silence broke: a phone call from an unknown number. To my astonishment, it was the national co-ordination of the Men’s Rosary. They explained that the leader in Chihuahua could no longer continue and asked if I would take over.
I looked at Our Lady and said “Yes,” without hesitation—just as she once gave her own Fiat. Sometimes, God’s answers are immediate, powerful, and undeniable.
From Three to Two Hundred
My first Rosary as coordinator was modest: my father, my son, and me. I almost gave in to fear that day—but then I remembered: my son was watching, and my father had taught me never to be a coward. As we prayed, one more man joined us—Roque—who would become a faithful and great support from that day forward.
The second Rosary was in December, in the cold, at seven in the morning. I expected only the “Three Musketeers”—but I sent a message to the group anyway:
“Our Lord Jesus Christ is the model of true masculinity. He shows us in His Passion how to endure suffering with courage, without complaint, with prayer and love. This Saturday we will kneel in the cold, and that small sacrifice will be our offering. May our Rosary make us men after the heart of Christ. Take courage! To Christ the King, through the Queen!”
To my astonishment, ten men came. Then twenty. Then twenty-five. Today, more than 200 men gather, and the number continues to grow.
We began to pray in significant places: in plazas where executions once took place, as acts of reparation; outside hospitals, praying for the sick while offering food and coffee to their families; in front of the Cathedral, as a united witness of faith. One unforgettable night, more than 200 men dressed in suits, with rosaries in hand and roses for Our Lady, processed solemnly through the historic center of the city, while music accompanied our prayer. That night, in a place filled with bars and night life, Christ and His Mother walked through the streets—and even the local media recognized it as an historical moment.
Beyond the Rosary
From this apostolate, many fruits have blossomed. I have written books: The New Crusade: The Worldwide Phenomenon of Men Praying the Rosary, Rosary of Men, and Luther: His Time, His Doctrine, and Its Consequences. I have given conferences, formed a support group called Catholic Men in Solidarity and Prayer to help brothers in crisis, and organized monthly hikes where we pray the Rosary surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation.
All of this—I never thought myself capable of. I was once terrified of public speaking, yet now I give conferences. All that was required of me was a simple “Yes.” God and Our Lady have taken care of the rest.
A Call to Spiritual Battle
To those who ask me for advice in starting their own groups, I always repeat the wisdom of St. Louis de Montfort: prayer must come from a heart in grace, or at least one determined to leave sin behind. Empty words do not move Heaven. A true man recognizes his sins, seeks confession, and fights for holiness. Otherwise, we risk dragging others down by our bad example.
When we pray publicly, let us stand firm, disciplined, like a battalion of soldiers for Christ and His Mother. Let our voices be strong and manly, proclaiming faith without fear. Let our example show the world that Christianity is not weakness—it is courage, sacrifice, and love.
Our world needs this witness. Evil grows bolder every day, infiltrating governments, societies, and even the Church. We cannot remain silent. The Men’s Rosary is not just a devotion—it is a crusade, a movement of prayer and action that can change the course of history.
Let us fight side by side. Let us pray like warriors, live like brothers, and act with courage so that Christ may reign. And if the time comes, may we, like the martyrs before us, be willing even to give our lives for Him who gave His life for us.
Israel Corral Coordinator of the Men’s Rosary in Chihuahua
Facebook: Caballeros del Rosario CUU