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Agnes' Gift: A heartwarming story about the power of the Rosary
Sometimes God seems nowhere to be found. Then, in an instant, the thin veil that separates Heaven and Earth is peeled back, and we see that He is closer than we ever imagined.
Since Confirmation, Jenna hasn’t thought much about her Catholic faith. With her world turned upside down from her parents’ divorce, her brother’s disappearance, and a move to a new neighborhood, God has never felt more distant.
Upon moving, Jenna befriends Agnes, an elderly neighbor full of life and faith. She finds hope and healing through Agnes’ friendship — until one heartbreaking night, she loses Agnes, too. Now, on Christmas Eve, gazing upon a gift from Agnes under her tree, an angel appears to take Jenna on an extraordinary journey through the mysteries of the Rosary, and she must decide if there is more to the Faith of her childhood than she previously thought. Are these ancient mysteries, which meant so much to Agnes, relevant to Jenna’s life, too?
Agnes’ Gift is a heartwarming story about the power of prayer and friendship. The reader begins an adventure into the Gospel through the eyes of a struggling young adult, weaving together the story of Jesus and the timeless questions of a contemporary teenager. It is ideal for people of all ages who want to learn more about the ageless wisdom of the Rosary, rekindle a love for it, or wishing to take a fresh look at the Christian faith.
Since Confirmation, Jenna hasn’t thought much about her Catholic faith. With her world turned upside down from her parents’ divorce, her brother’s disappearance, and a move to a new neighborhood, God has never felt more distant.
Upon moving, Jenna befriends Agnes, an elderly neighbor full of life and faith. She finds hope and healing through Agnes’ friendship — until one heartbreaking night, she loses Agnes, too. Now, on Christmas Eve, gazing upon a gift from Agnes under her tree, an angel appears to take Jenna on an extraordinary journey through the mysteries of the Rosary, and she must decide if there is more to the Faith of her childhood than she previously thought. Are these ancient mysteries, which meant so much to Agnes, relevant to Jenna’s life, too?
Agnes’ Gift is a heartwarming story about the power of prayer and friendship. The reader begins an adventure into the Gospel through the eyes of a struggling young adult, weaving together the story of Jesus and the timeless questions of a contemporary teenager. It is ideal for people of all ages who want to learn more about the ageless wisdom of the Rosary, rekindle a love for it, or wishing to take a fresh look at the Christian faith.
256 pages, Paperback
Published October 7, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 27, 2018
I found this book to be quite unique. As a fictional story there isn’t really a huge plot but this book overflows with deep poignant messages. This young adult novel would be perfect for anyone wanting to deepen their Catholic faith or someone with questions regarding the Rosary. There are so many fantastic discussion points throughout the book that it would be a fabulous book for a bookclub, a youth group, or to read as a family.
The story centers around Jenna, a modern-day teen, who is struggling through some very tough family issues. And the one person in her life who was really there for her during those difficult times, her neighbor Agnes, recently died. Now Jenna finds herself, in more despair than ever, sitting alone on Christmas Eve.
Before Agnes passed away she left Jenna a Christmas gift. While Jenna contemplates the unopened package her guardian angel appears to her. He leads her on a miraculous journey to experience firsthand all the mysteries of the Rosary.
I thought this was a really beautiful way to explore the Rosary. Experiencing the moments in the lives of Jesus and Mary this way was very unique. Pondering how they and everyone around them might have felt during these mysteries of our faith was quite powerful.
My favorite was the second Luminous Mystery, the wedding feast in Cana. The portrayal of this scene made me think about the relationship between Mary and Jesus in a slightly different way and in turn how Mary cares for and understands all of us.
This is not a light read. There are many thoughts and mysteries to ponder and messages to dwell on but it’s a wonderful book to help you grow in your faith.
The story centers around Jenna, a modern-day teen, who is struggling through some very tough family issues. And the one person in her life who was really there for her during those difficult times, her neighbor Agnes, recently died. Now Jenna finds herself, in more despair than ever, sitting alone on Christmas Eve.
Before Agnes passed away she left Jenna a Christmas gift. While Jenna contemplates the unopened package her guardian angel appears to her. He leads her on a miraculous journey to experience firsthand all the mysteries of the Rosary.
I thought this was a really beautiful way to explore the Rosary. Experiencing the moments in the lives of Jesus and Mary this way was very unique. Pondering how they and everyone around them might have felt during these mysteries of our faith was quite powerful.
My favorite was the second Luminous Mystery, the wedding feast in Cana. The portrayal of this scene made me think about the relationship between Mary and Jesus in a slightly different way and in turn how Mary cares for and understands all of us.
This is not a light read. There are many thoughts and mysteries to ponder and messages to dwell on but it’s a wonderful book to help you grow in your faith.
February 5, 2017
3.5 stars because I like the book but think it's miscategorized. It reads like a cross between women's inspirational fiction and a memoir of a spiritual encounter with one's guardian angel rather than YA. I can't discount the possibility of such an angel encounter because I believe I've had my own and I've learned of others from friends. But I wanted to know more about the teenage Jenna before, during, and after her Confirmation, as she underwent this huge step while experiencing the emotional trauma of personal disappointment and loss. The book focused a great deal more on the angel than on Jenna's story and was mostly narration. For a Catholic book that presents good information about the rosary and the Bible stories known to Catholics as the Mysteries of the Rosary, the story format might make them more interesting to the reluctant teen. I might suggest it for Catholic parents and educators to reach teen students. However, I would not try to convince young readers that this is a YA novel like they typically read. Still, I recommend it for Catholics.
August 2, 2018
An Inspiring Read
Not only is this an inspiring story to read, but once you start it is hard to put down. I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for an up lifting book to read and if you don't understand why Catholics pray the Rosary, this book gives a great explanation through a beautifully written story! Enjoy!!!!
Not only is this an inspiring story to read, but once you start it is hard to put down. I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for an up lifting book to read and if you don't understand why Catholics pray the Rosary, this book gives a great explanation through a beautifully written story! Enjoy!!!!
February 13, 2019
Not theologically deep or even that plot challenging or character developed, but faith and love filled. So much so that God’s love touched me to tears. I felt God and the Author’s love throughout. This is what the rosary really is, a lifeline of love and a journey through Scripture daily. You can take others with you and pray for them. May I never forget this love.
July 15, 2018
This was a sweet book. If you believe praying the rosary is worshipping the Blessed Mother, this book will show you how inaccurate that premise is. Praying the rosary is walking through Jesus' life. This will give me much to ponder in my heart about Our Lord's life next time I pray the rosary.
January 9, 2023
I have never written a review, and rarely (if ever) tear up while reading a book, but this book touched me. I pray the rosary almost daily and reading this has helped make the mysteries even more relatable to every day life.
February 9, 2025
This book is fantastic!! If you are struggling to pray or pray the rosary this book helps you to understand the mysteries more easily and shows the wonderful power of prayer. Maybe the best book I read all year.
November 27, 2025
Beautiful read
Beautiful meditation on the rosary applied to everyday life I couldn't put it down such a prayerful read
Thank you to the author on a different angle on applying the holy rosary to day to day struggles
Beautiful meditation on the rosary applied to everyday life I couldn't put it down such a prayerful read
Thank you to the author on a different angle on applying the holy rosary to day to day struggles
October 29, 2017
Agnes' Gift: A Heartwarming story about the Rosary
Never have I read a more beautiful story about praying the Rosary. The idea was well presented, show?if i hon
Never have I read a more beautiful story about praying the Rosary. The idea was well presented, show?if i hon
June 18, 2021
Great blessings
I wasn't sure if I really wanted to read this, however when I started it I could not put it down. I will be reading the rest of her books.
I wasn't sure if I really wanted to read this, however when I started it I could not put it down. I will be reading the rest of her books.
August 23, 2021
Great book
June 9, 2022
I loved this book! This is one book I will read over and over again. I don't want to spoil the contents, but it will lead you closer to God and look at your Catholic faith in a different light!
November 24, 2020
Great book about the basis of the rosary!
The author does a great job guiding reflection on each mystery of the rosary through a Guardian Angel. Highly recommended!
The author does a great job guiding reflection on each mystery of the rosary through a Guardian Angel. Highly recommended!
December 27, 2016
very good
August 8, 2017
Beautiful book. The mysteries of the rosary really came to life and the meditations were wonderful.
April 20, 2017
Agnes' Gift: A heartwarming story about the power of the Rosary by Kristelle Angelli is a story about Jenna, a young woman that renews her Catholic faith through a series of life altering events (her parent’s divorce, her brother’s disappearance, and the death of a close neighbor), an encounter with her guardian angel, and a revisiting of praying the rosary. By stepping through the mysteries of the rosary, first the joyful mysteries, then the luminous, sorrowful, and finally the glorious mysteries, the book takes on a structure and rhythm that is reminiscent of the prayer that it reflects.
I found “Agnes’ Gift” to be very Ignatian in its approach to using imaginative prayer to re-envision the scenes upon which the mysteries of the rosary are based upon. Doing so, I as the reader saw many of those events with new eyes as I looked at them from the perspective of Jenna. As a lifelong Catholic myself, I caught myself picking up on nuanced details of the often heard Gospel stories which I never recognized before. For example, the observation during the Wedding at Cana that Jesus and Mary would have been very close to one another in age (by modern standards). Or how disappointed Joseph would have been when Mary went into labor in Bethlehem, where they only had a manger to lay Jesus in, even though as a professional carpenter, Joseph probably had a new crib waiting for Jesus at home. Moreover, the retelling of the stories in this manner goes a long way toward actualizing them. It is so easy for us to hear the Gospel accounts over and over again, and in so doing, to treat them as fairytales rather than recorded history. Angelli’s retelling reminds us that the stories are about real people, in dirty, gritty circumstances, often facing very unpleasant situations. It is to Angelli’s credit that she paid such attention to detail that she was able to offer something new to narratives with which we are so familiar.
Sprinkled throughout the novel are short yet profound bits of spiritual wisdom. I particularly appreciated the observation “Many search for God in dramatic events, but he is more often veiled in simplicity and humility.” Also “The time is approaching when you will have to decide whether you trust Jesus enough to follow him into the unknown.” These additions are what make “Agnes’ Gift” so much more than just a repackaging of millennia old Bible stories.
A characteristic that I really appreciate about this book is the treatment of Jenna’s lax faith life. Angelli paints Jenna in a very realistic manner as a young woman that grew up in a Catholic household, but has “outgrown” her faith as she has moved into her own young adulthood. She does this subtly by referring to “the prayers she once knew”, mentioning that Jenna would “occasionally go to Church with her family”, and the surprise that her friend expresses when she meets Jenna in Church. Hand-in-hand with these observations are the reasons people like Jenna so often express for why they have left the Church. Jenna reflects on her struggles with a God that “allows a lot of unnecessary suffering”, Jenna acknowledges that she “had mixed feelings about faith”, and that she “had spent the last couple of years angry at God”. Angelli demonstrates a strong understanding of many real people that share these same struggles as Jenna.
Overall, “Agnes’ Gift” is an insightful and enjoyable reflection on the many Biblical accounts that constitute the mysteries of the rosary. I think that the novel itself is a worthwhile form of prayer and reflection that helps recast the Gospel stories in a new light. It would also make for excellent spiritual reading during the seasons of Lent or Advent.
I found “Agnes’ Gift” to be very Ignatian in its approach to using imaginative prayer to re-envision the scenes upon which the mysteries of the rosary are based upon. Doing so, I as the reader saw many of those events with new eyes as I looked at them from the perspective of Jenna. As a lifelong Catholic myself, I caught myself picking up on nuanced details of the often heard Gospel stories which I never recognized before. For example, the observation during the Wedding at Cana that Jesus and Mary would have been very close to one another in age (by modern standards). Or how disappointed Joseph would have been when Mary went into labor in Bethlehem, where they only had a manger to lay Jesus in, even though as a professional carpenter, Joseph probably had a new crib waiting for Jesus at home. Moreover, the retelling of the stories in this manner goes a long way toward actualizing them. It is so easy for us to hear the Gospel accounts over and over again, and in so doing, to treat them as fairytales rather than recorded history. Angelli’s retelling reminds us that the stories are about real people, in dirty, gritty circumstances, often facing very unpleasant situations. It is to Angelli’s credit that she paid such attention to detail that she was able to offer something new to narratives with which we are so familiar.
Sprinkled throughout the novel are short yet profound bits of spiritual wisdom. I particularly appreciated the observation “Many search for God in dramatic events, but he is more often veiled in simplicity and humility.” Also “The time is approaching when you will have to decide whether you trust Jesus enough to follow him into the unknown.” These additions are what make “Agnes’ Gift” so much more than just a repackaging of millennia old Bible stories.
A characteristic that I really appreciate about this book is the treatment of Jenna’s lax faith life. Angelli paints Jenna in a very realistic manner as a young woman that grew up in a Catholic household, but has “outgrown” her faith as she has moved into her own young adulthood. She does this subtly by referring to “the prayers she once knew”, mentioning that Jenna would “occasionally go to Church with her family”, and the surprise that her friend expresses when she meets Jenna in Church. Hand-in-hand with these observations are the reasons people like Jenna so often express for why they have left the Church. Jenna reflects on her struggles with a God that “allows a lot of unnecessary suffering”, Jenna acknowledges that she “had mixed feelings about faith”, and that she “had spent the last couple of years angry at God”. Angelli demonstrates a strong understanding of many real people that share these same struggles as Jenna.
Overall, “Agnes’ Gift” is an insightful and enjoyable reflection on the many Biblical accounts that constitute the mysteries of the rosary. I think that the novel itself is a worthwhile form of prayer and reflection that helps recast the Gospel stories in a new light. It would also make for excellent spiritual reading during the seasons of Lent or Advent.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews