A prayer made with the rosaries and a miraculous materialisation of Jesus on the cross.

Energising the rosary beads on pilgrimage

July 31, 2026

Since 2011, Paul McCarthy has carried Brasilian quartz crystal rosaries on pilgrimage to sacred sites across 27 countries — having them blessed, touching them to relics, altars, and holy objects to energise them with the spiritual charge of the saints. Drawing on both medieval pilgrim practice and the scientifically documented properties of quartz crystal, this post traces the complete pilgrimage record from 2011 to 2026. (5 min read)

I have been on pilgrimage with crystal rosaries from Brasil since 2011.

This involved visiting many shrines and placing clear quartz crystal rosaries on the reliquaries of many saints. If I could not touch a relic, I asked a priest to bless the rosary in the name of the saint of the shrine. And if there was neither priest nor relic available, I placed the rosary on an altar or other sacred place in the shrine and prayed for it to be infused with the energy of the saint.

Touching the rosaries on the relics of the saints or the instruments of the Passion of Jesus makes them relics too.

Unfortunately, there is a popular association of crystals with ‘woo-woo’ and too little awareness of the practical and scientific application of quartz crystal. I am most interested in the programable nature of quartz crystal and its capacity to hold energy:

“Quartz crystal is valued for its piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties, by which it can transform mechanical pressure or heat into electromagnetic energy, and vice versa. Its ability to focus, amplify, store and transform energy is used throughout the technology world in ultrasound devices, watches, microphones, radio transmitters and receivers, memory chips in computers and other electronic circuitry”.

I have distributed energised rosaries to loved ones and to light-workers, along with information about the saints and shrines where their rosaries have been charged.

I didn’t learn to do this work. My practice seemingly unfolded without instruction. And years later I learned that medieval pilgrims did the same thing I was doing. They carried rosaries and holy medals on pilgrimage for loved ones and they touched them to holy relics and other sacred objects.

Praying is the focus of pilgrimage and one’s own prayer life naturally develops with this work. I made prayers for the people who would eventually own the rosaries and for the other pilgrims. And sometimes I prayed for those connected to the holy places. I learned to trust my intuition and follow the direction of spirit with this work.

I still have some rosaries from my first pilgrimage in 2011 and I have purchased and energised additional rosaries every year. The rosaries are now themselves relics and if this aspect is of interest you may like to read my posts on relics.

There have been many occasions on which spirit has materialised for me while on pilgrimage and in connection with relics. You may like to read the posts on my website: www.espiritofoto.carrd.co

As at July 2026, I have energised rosaries on at least 160 occasions in 27 countries since 2011.

Where have the rosary beads been energised to date?

2011 and 2012

The rosaries were blessed at the Casa Dom Inacio in Brasil and energised in 2011 and 2012 at various holy places including:

on the orb of the black Madonna in Our Lady’s sanctuary in Montserrat, Spain
by an elderly Jesuit priest in Il Gesu, Rome where San Ignacio de Loyola is buried
on the altar in the cave of St Francis at Eremo delle Carceri on Monte Subiaso, Assisi, Italy
by the relic of Santa Rita da Cascia in the Basilica of St Rita, Cascia, Italy
by the relic of San Francisco Xavier in the Church of Bom Jesus, Goa, India
on the tomb of St Mary of the Cross in Sydney, Australia
by the crucifix and profession crown used by Sainte Thérèse de Lisieux in Carmel Convent, Lisieux, France
by the crucifix and profession crown used by Sainte Thérèse de Lisieux in Carmel Convent, Lisieux, France
at L’Espace Bernadette Soubirious in Nevers, France
by the relic of the crown of thorns worn by Jesus kept in Notre Dame, Paris, France
on the stone of unction where the body of Jesus was washed after crucifixion on Jerusalem
in the forest around the Sanctuary of St Mary Magdalene in La Sainte Baume, France
on the relic of St Mary Magdalene kept in her sanctuary in La Sainte Baume, France
by the relic of St George kept in the Convent of St George in Old Cairo, Egypt
by the relic of St John the Baptist held in the Convent of St Macarius in Wadi Natrun, Egypt
in the Serapis Chapel and the Holy of Holies at the Temple of Luxor, Egypt.

2013 and 2014

I carried the Casa rosaries with me on pilgrimage with Mother in 2013 and 2014 and energised the rosaries:

by the relic of Saint André Bessette at the Oratorie of St Joseph in Montreal, Canada
on the tomb of Kateri Tekakwitha at her shrine at the Mission of St Francis Xavier in Kahnawake, Canada
in front of the tomb of St Marguerite Bourgeoys in Montreal, Canada
in front of the Holy Shroud in Turin, Italy
in front of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico
on the relic of St Faustina Kowalska next to the miraculous image at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow, Poland
before the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Jasna Gora, Poland
before the miraculous images of Our Lady the Consoler of the Afflicted in Gyor, Hungary, Our Lady of the Pocs in Vienna, Austria and Our Lady of Pompeii in Italy
on the site of the martyrdom of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral, England
at the Basilicas of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, Our Lady of Knock of Ireland, Our Lady of Walsingham in England and Our Lady Help of Christians in Turin, Italy.

2015

In 2015 the rosaries were blessed at the Casa de Dom Inacio and energised at holy places including:

by the Virgin Mary, Our Lady Queen of Peace, during an apparition in Medjugorje, Bosnia Herzegovina
on the graves of Dr Oswaldo Cruz and Dr Bezerra de Menezes in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
on the foot of the statue of St Peter in the Vatican in Rome, Italy
in the name of St Paul in the Basilica Outside Walls in Rome, Italy
on the altar of the church in La Storta, Italy where Jesus appeared to San Ignacio de Loyola
on the death mask of San Ignacio de Loyola in the Rooms of San Ignacio de Loyola in Rome, Italy
in the name of San Francisco Xavier in front of the relic of his blessing arm in Il Gesu in Rome, Italy
in front of the relic of San Domenico Savio in the Vatican Treasury in Rome
on the relic of Santa Caterina da Siena in the Basilica of Santa Maria Minerva Sopra in Rome, Italy
on the relic of San Giuseppe Moscati in Gesu Nouvo in Naples, Italy
in the name of Santa Chiara d’Assisi and on her tomb in the Basilica of Santa Chiara d’Assisi in Assisi, Italy
on the altar in the cave of San Francesco d’Assisi in the Emero delle Carceri on Monte Subiaso, Italy
on the relic of Santa Rita da Cascia in her basilica in Cascia, Italy
on the relic of San Pio da Pietrelcina in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
at the Celestial Basilica of St Michael the Archangel in Monte Sant’Angelo, Italy and on the Mont St Michel, France
on the altar of the Holy House of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Loreto, in Loreto, Italy
in front of the altar in the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, Turkey
on the pillar on which Jesus was scourged held in the Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Church of St George in Istanbul, Turkey
on the crown of thorns of Jesus held in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France
at the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal of the Virgin Mary in Paris, France (St Catherine Laboure, St Louise de Marillac and St Vincent de Paul)
on the relic of St Vincent de Paul at his shrine in Paris, France
on the orb of the Virgin Mary the Black Madonna of Montserrat, Spain
in the Holy Cave of San Ignacio de Loyola at Manresa, Spain
in the Chapel of the Conversion of San Ignacio de Loyola at the Sanctuary of Loyola, Spain
in front of the statue of Jesus of the Smile in the Sanctuary of St Francis Xavier in Javier, Spain
on the relic of Sainte Thérèse de l’Enfant Jésus and the Holy Face in the Basilica of Sainte Thérèse de Lisieux, France
on the relics of Saints Zélie et Louis Martin in the Basilica of Sainte Thérèse de Lisieux, France
on the tomb of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop in Sydney, Australia
on the relic of San Francisco Xavier in St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, Australia.

2016

The rosaries were blessed by Pope Francis after pilgrimage through Italy with my sister in September 2016 and energised:

In the Basilica of San Domingo de Guzmán in Bologna
Before the relic in the Shrine of Santa Caterina da Bologna
On the relic in Basilica of Sant’Antonio da Padova
In the Basilica of San Marco in Venice
On the spot of the stigmatisation of San Francesco d’Assisi at La Verna
On the cloak of San Francesco d’Assisi at La Verna
Before the relic in the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi
Before the relic in the Basilica of Santa Chiara d’Assisi
In the cave of San Francesco d’Assisi on Monte Subiaso
On the incorrupt body of Santa Rita da Cascia
Before the tomb of Madre Speranza di Gesu in the Sanctuary of Merciful Love, Collevalenza
In the Cathedral of Orvieto (relic of Corpus Christi)
Before the relics of Jesus’ passion in Santa Croce in Rome
On the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs) in Rome
In the Basilica of St John in the Lateran in Rome
In the Church of San Ignacio de Loyola in Rome
Before tomb of Santa Caterina da Siena in Rome
Before the relic of San Ignacio de Loyola in the Church of Il Gesu in Rome
On the death mask of San Ignacio de Loyola in his rooms
On the tombs of the martyrs Lorenzo, Stefano and Justin in the Basilica of St Lorenzo
On the footprints of Jesus in the Church of Quo Vadis on the Appian Way, Rome
In the Basilica of St Maria Maggiore, Rome
Before the relic in Basilica of St Sebastian Outside the Walls
In Catacombs of St Sebastian, Rome
Before the relics in Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls
On the foot of St Peter in the Vatican.

I also carried the rosaries to the Holy Land for Christmas 2016 and energised them at various holy sites:

On the site that commemorate the ascension of Jesus in the Chapel of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives
In the tomb of Jesus resurrection in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
On the unction stone in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
On the site of the crucifixion of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
On the holy pillar in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
On the stone of agony in the Church of All Nations, Jerusalem
On the site that commemorates the birth of Jesus in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
On the relic of St Mary Magdalene in the Russian Orthodox Church of St Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem
On the foot of St Peter in the Church of the Latin Patriarch of the Holy Land in Jerusalem
On the relic of Santa Maria of Jesus Crucified in the Church of the Latin Patriarch of the Holy Land in Jerusalem
On the Western Wall close to the site of the foundation stone which was in Holy of Holies in the Temple of Solomon
In front of the tomb of King David in Jerusalem

The rosaries were also carried in various other places commemorating the life of Jesus in Jerusalem (Prison of the Christ, Church of the Flagellation, the Orthodox Church’s location of the birth of Mary, VII – Veronica wipes face; VIII), Bethlehm (Milk Grotto; Shepherd’s Field) Nazareth (Mary’s House in the Church of the Annunciation; Church of St Joseph), Capernaum (St Peter’s Church), Tagbha (Miracles of the Loaves and Fishes).

My rosary personal rosary was also energised in Mary’s tomb and on the relic of John the Baptist in the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem.

2018

In front of the altar in the Chapel of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Valletta, Malta
At a blessing at Shipwreck Church, Valletta, Malta
On altar in front of wrist bones of St Paul in the Shipwreck Church
On the column on which St Paul was beheaded (in Shipwreck Church)
In the cave of St Paul in Rabat, Malta
In the Co-cathedral of St Paul in Mdina
In front of the relics of St Paul in the Cathedral Museum, Mdina
In front of the relics of Santa Rita da Cascia in the Cathedral Museum, Mdina
In the cave of St Agatha in Rabat, Malta
In front of various relics, including of St Lucy, in the museum at the Church of St Agatha, Rabat
In the tomb of St Peter in the Vatican and on the statue of St Peter in St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican
In front of the relic of San Ignacio de Loyola in the Church of Il Gesu, Rome
In front of the relic of San Francisco Xavier in the Church of Il Gesu, Rome
In front of the relic of San Luigi Gonzaga in the Church of St Ignatius, Rome
In front of the relic of San Roberto Bellarmino in the Church of St Ignatius, Rome
On the relic of St Andrew Bobola at the Church of St Casimir in Vilnius, Lithuania
In front of the relic of Santa Caterina da Siena in the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Rome
In the procession of the relics for the feast day of St Vincent Ferrer in Valletta, Malta
On the altar in front of the relic of Bl Nazju Falzon (Ignazio Falzon) in the Shipwreck Church, Malta
On the relic of St Gregory the Illuminator in the Yerevan Cathedral, Armenia
In the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Vilnius, Lithuania
On the relic of St Faustina in her home in Vilnius, Lithuania
In front of the relic of St Faustina in the chapel where the image of Divine Mercy was painted in Vilnius, Lithuania
In front of relics in Aachen Cathedral Treasury
In the apparition chapel at Banneux, Belgium and blessed there
On the tomb of St Mary Mackillop, Sydney
On the relic of Sant’Antonio da Padova (when it toured Sydney)
On the tomb on Sant’Antonio da Padova in Padova.

I also left a blessed rosary on the Hill of the Crosses in Lithuania.

2019

In June 2019, I travelled with the rosaries to North America for the Metropolis World Conference on Migration and found myself guided to the shrine of St Frances Xavier Cabrini, the patron saint of immigrants, in New York ahead of visiting the shrines of the Canadian saints in Montreal. The rosaries were energised:

On the relic of St Frances Xavier Cabrini in her shrine in New York City, USA
On the tomb of Kateri Tekakwitha at her shrine in Kahnawake, Canada
On the tomb of St Marguerite d’Youville at her shrine in Montreal, Canada
In front of the tomb of St Marguerite Bourgeoys in her shrine in Montreal, Canada
In the chapel of the saints of Canada in Notre Dame de Montreal, Canada.

The rosaries were with me as I travelled in Jordan, particularly:

To the Sanctuary of Moses on Mount Nebo (Christians believe Moses died and is buried on this mountain); and
Bethany Beyond Jordan (believed by some to be the sight of the baptism of Jesus).

2023/24

Over the Christmas/New Year period, I travelled to Italy with the rosaries. I carried the rosaries to several churches in Rome (the station churches – St Peters; St John in the Lateran, Scala Sancta, Santa Croce in Gethsemane, Santa Maria Maggiore), as well as Santa Maria della Vittoria, St Ignatius and Il Gesu; Calabria, Catania and Assisi.

The rosaries were energised:

With a blessing in Il Gesu
With a blessing in the Sanctuary of Saint Francesco di Paola in Paola
In the chapel of the relics of Saint Francesco di Paola in Paola
On the tombs of San Francesco d’Assisi and Santa Chiara d’Assisi in Assisi
In front of the relic of Santa Rita da Cascia in Cascia.

2024

I carried the rosaries with me to holy sites in Uzbekistan and Japan this year. I particularly focused on sites in Japan honouring St Francis Xavier, placing the rosaries on this relics in Nagasaki (26 Martyrs Museum), Yamaguchi (Church of St Francis Xavier) and Kyoto (St Francis Xavier Cathedral).

2025

On a special holiday I carried the rosaries with me to UAE, Italy, Morocco, France and Spain. The places where the rosaries were energised included:

On the orb of Our Lady of Montserrat in the Basilica in Montserrat
On the sword of San Ignacio de Loyola in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Barcelona
In the Chapel of the Relics and in the crypt in the Basilica of St Sernin in Toulouse
In the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi
In front of the relic of Caterina d’Bologna in the Church of Corpus Christi, Bologna
On the tomb of San Domingo de Guzmán in the Basilica of San Domingo de Guzmán in Bologna
On the tomb of Sant’Antonio da Padova in the Basilica in Padova. Blessed by a priest in the name of Sant’Antonio da Padova.

2026

In February and March I pilgrimaged to Italy (with a side trip to Annecy, France). The principal focus was the veneration of the relic of San Francisco Xavier and sites connected to his life.

In front of the relics of San Ignacio de Loyola and San Francisco Xavier in Il Gesu, Rome
In front of the relics of San Luigi Gonzaga and San Carlo Borromeo in the Church of San Ignacio de Loyola, Rome
In front of the chains of Peter in the Church of St Peter in Chains, Rome
In front of the relic of John the Baptist in the Church of San Sylvester Capite, Rome
In front of the tomb of Pope Francis in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
In front of the relics of the passion of Jesus in the Basilica of Santa Croce, Rome
On the piece of the pillar on which Jesus was scourged in the Church of St Prassede, Rome
On the relics of San Francesco d’Assisi exposed in the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi in Assisi and blessed by a priest in the Basilica. Also carried to Franciscan sites in Rome; Assisi; Gubbio; Foligno and Cordona. On the relic in the Chapel of San Francesco d’Assisi in the Basilica of Sant’Antonio da Padova. Before the crucifix of San Francesco d’Assisi in the Basilicat of Santa Chiara d’Assisi in Assisi
In front of the relic of Santa Chiara d’Assisi in Assisi
On the tomb of San Carlo Acutis and before his relics in the Church of St Ruffino in Assisi. Blessed by a priest in the name of San Carlo Acutis in the Church of St Ruffino
Before the relics of Santa Caterina da Siena in Rome (Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Mineva) and Siena (Cathedral of San Domingo de Guzmán). In front of the crucifix that led to the stigmata of Santa Caterina da Siena in the sanctuary built over her home in Siena. Blessed by a priest in the name of Santa Caterina da Siena in the Cathedral of San Domingo de Guzmán
In front of the relic of Santa Caterina da Bologna in the Church of Corpus Christi, Bologna
On the tomb of San Domingo de Guzmán in the Basilica of San Domingo de Guzmán in Bologna
On the tomb of Sant’Antonio da Padova in the Basilica in Padova. Blessed by a priest in the name of Sant’Antonio da Padova.
In front of the relic of San Giovanni Bosco in the Basiiica of Our Lady Help of Christians in Turin. Blessed by a priest in the name of San Giovanni Bosco
In front of the relic of San Domenico Savio in the Basiiica of Our Lady Help of Christians in Turin
On the relic of Saint François de Sales in the Basilica of the Visitation in Annecy and in front of his incorrupt heart in the Convent of the Visitation in Travis
On the relic of Sainte Jeanne de Chantal in the Basilica of the Visitation in Annecy
In front of the Holy Shroud in the Turin Cathedral.

You might also like:

→ Bones and holy dust – relics of the saints

→ How can medieval practices of pilgrimage and veneration of relics heal the modern mystic?

→ Photographing the Unseen

Energising the rosary beads on pilgrimage

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