1978. An infamous serial killer by the name Ted Bundy made waves for his murderous spree at the Chi Omega Sorority House of Florida State University. His spree left two young women dead, and many others traumatized. However, that very night those two young women met their ends, one more woman was supposed to be among the death count, but she was spared.
Bundy, armed with a bloodied weapon from the previous attacks, barged into the room of another girl. However, as he kicked down the door, he was stopped by a mysterious force – his weapon thrown from his hand – then he himself was thrown from the room. Terrified, he left the room alone.
Inside the room was a young girl, and in her hands, a rosary. This young girl had promised her mother that she would pray the rosary every night before going to bed. During that night, she fell asleep with her rosary in hand, and when Bundy entered the room, that mysterious force came from none other than our Blessed Mother, who lovingly watches over those who pray her rosary.
Policemen found the young girl in her bedroom paralyzed with fear. She refused to speak to anyone but a priest. So did a monsignor come and listen to her recall her story, and the young girl recalled her promise to say the rosary every night.
As Divine Providence would have it, that very same monsignor visited Bundy before he was sentenced to death. It was there that the priest revealed to Bundy, who could not help but recall what happened that night he broke in the sorority house, the power of the Rosary, which the girl held in her hand that night.
This account reminds us all of the immense power of the Holy Rosary. The prayer itself is very simple – a loving repetition of Hail Mary’s – as one reflects on the life of Christ. Just as mustard seeds can become catalysts of faith, so is the Holy Rosary our defense and shield, not just against things that harm the soul, but also against those that can injure and kill.