PRESS RELEASE: New Book Promotes Forgotten Marian Devotion
Publication Date: May 4, 2026
WINCHESTER, VA — A new book on an overlooked Marian devotion originating with the Dominican Order was released May 4 by Seek What Is Above, a Catholic initiative based on Colossians 3:1-2.
“The Fifteen Saturdays of the Most Holy Rosary” is a series of 15 meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary derived from the writings of St. Bartolo Longo, who popularized the Fifteen Saturdays by publishing a book with the same title in the late 1800s.
Originating with the Dominicans in the 17th century, the Fifteen Saturdays is a Catholic devotion centered on the Mysteries of the Rosary. It consists of praying for a special intention and meditating on the Mysteries for 15 consecutive Saturdays.
The devotion has become less widely practiced in the last century, despite receiving praise from Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Francis.
In Seek What Is Above’s new edition of the Fifteen Saturdays, the meditations are paired with a one-of-a-kind series of 15 Mysteries of the Rosary paintings from St. Paul’s Church, a historic Dominican church in Antwerp, Belgium.
The 17th-century paintings represent a collaborative effort by 11 notable Antwerp painters, including Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck. The artwork was commissioned with the intent of providing the congregation with a means of entering more deeply into the Mysteries while praying.
Seek What Is Above chose the 15 Mysteries paintings to accompany the meditations based on Longo’s writings because they are both intended to aid the faithful in meditating on the Mysteries of the Rosary.
“The visual and written representations of the Mysteries complement one another perfectly, both of them rich and beautiful in their own right. Together, the cycle of paintings and meditations provide an unforgettable and unique opportunity to reflect on the lives of Jesus and Mary,” the book states.
The release of “The Fifteen Saturdays of the Most Holy Rosary” anticipates Pope Leo XIV’s planned visit to the Sanctuary of Pompeii on May 8, the feast day of Our Lady of Pompeii.
Longo, who was canonized by Leo XIV in October 2025, played an instrumental role in founding the Sanctuary of Pompeii and obtaining the miraculous image of Our Lady of Pompeii that it houses.
Our Lady of Pompeii is closely associated with the title Our Lady of the Rosary, and Longo incorporated the former into his Fifteen Saturdays. Several other Italian saints were devoted to Our Lady of Pompeii, including St. Padre Pio and St. Carlo Acutis.
Seek What Is Above aims to reintroduce the Fifteen Saturdays to a wider audience and promote devotion to the Rosary through the publication of its new book. The 15 meditations may be used as part of the Fifteen Saturdays or read on their own, and they contribute to fulfilling one of the requirements of the more popular Five First Saturdays: 15 minutes spent meditating on the Mysteries of the Rosary.
The book is available for purchase in paperback or eBook format on Seek What Is Above’s website.
Media Contact
Margaret Peppiatt, Founder and Owner, Seek What Is Above
About Seek What Is Above
Seek What Is Above is a Catholic initiative based on Colossians 3:1-2, encouraging people to lift their minds and hearts to God. It aims to uplift souls on the road to heaven through exposure to truth, beauty, and goodness.
