The Unwound Sheep Co

07/14/2026

On July 14, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American to be canonized. Known as the "Lily of the Mohawks," Kateri lived a life of holiness and virtue, despite obstacles and opposition within her tribe.

Kateri was born in Auriesville, New York, in 1656 to a Christian Algonquin woman and a pagan Mohawk chief. When she was a child, a smallpox epidemic attacked her tribe and both her parents died. She was left with permanent scars on her face and impaired eyesight. Her uncle, who had now become chief of the tribe, adopted her and her aunts began planning her marriage while she was still very young.

When three Jesuit fathers were visiting the tribe in 1667 and staying in the tent of her uncle, they spoke to her of Christ, and though she did not ask to be baptized, she believed in Jesus with an incredible intensity. She also realized that she was called into an intimate union with God as a consecrated virgin.

Kateri had to struggle to maintain her faith amidst the opposition of her tribe who ridiculed her for it and ostracized her for refusing the marriage that had been planned for her. When she was 18, Fr. Jacques de Lamberville returned to the Mohawk village, and she asked to be baptized.

The life of the Mohawk village had become violent and debauchery was commonplace. Realizing that this was proving too dangerous to her life and her call to perpetual virginity, Kateri escaped to the town of Caughnawaga in Quebec, near Montreal, where she grew in holiness and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.

Kateri lived out the last years of her short life here, practicing austere penance and constant prayer. She was said to have reached the highest levels of mystical union with God, and many miracles were attributed to her while she was still alive.

She died on April 17, 1680 at the age of 24. Witnesses reported that within minutes of her death, the scars from smallpox completely vanished and her face shone with radiant beauty.

More: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/kateri-tekakwitha-662

07/11/2026

Today is the feast day of St. Benedict. The St. Benedict medal is one of the most powerful sacramentals in the Church. Please read and share.

07/08/2026

Coming up on June 17th is the feast day of the Martyrs of Compiègne, the 16 heroic nuns and religious who died in the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution for one simple reason: they lived a devout, prayerful, Catholic life. The article below from Word on Fire tells their moving story in brief, but I highly recommend the following books:

The Song at the Scaffold, by Gertrud von Le Fort, for high school to adult audiences. The author tells their stirring story in approachable prose. **TAN currently has this title as one of their July $5 deals, which is what made me think to make this post.

The Carmelites of Compiègne, by Marie and Olivier Malcurat, for ages 9 and up. Published by Magnificat, it has a comic book style to it with excellent illustrations. I haven’t personally read it, but Magnificat’s publishing is very spiritually and factually reliable.

https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/spirituality-the-carmelite-martyrs-of-compiegne/
https://tanbooks.com/products/books/the-song-at-the-scaffold/
https://bookstore.magnificat.net/all-products/the-carmelites-of-compiegne.html

The ex*****on of the Carmelite Sisters of Compiegne is a sign that manifests the necessity of religious freedom in ensuring a just social order.

07/04/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

The United States has produced several saints? Among them are:

St Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first saint born on US soil, was born in 1774, just before the beginning of the Revolutionary War. She played a major role in building this country’s education system.

St. Junipero Serra, also known as the “Apostle of California” because of his missionary work in what is now the state of California.

Bl. Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus.

Venerable Fulton Sheen, who brought Christianity to millions via television and radio, will be beatified on September 24th.

Now, more than ever, the United States is in need of our prayers. May, through the intercession of these saints, God bless our nation and heal her from all attacks of the evil one.

Source: https://catholicexchange.com/how-many-saints-are-from-the-states/

Send a message to learn more

06/02/2026

"Behold the heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love; and in return, I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrilege, and by the coldness and contempt they have for me in this sacrament of love."

This month, the month of June, is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the 17th century, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was granted several visions of Our Lord, during which He revealed His Burning Love for all mankind.

The twelve promises for those who have a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus are as follows:

1. "I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their homes.
3. I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.
5. I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
6. Sinners will find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
9. I will bless every place in which an image of my Heart is exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart.
12. I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment."

The Chaplet of the Sacred Heart: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4457359958/

Sources: https://ascensionpress.com/blogs/articles/the-sacred-heart-of-jesus-a-powerful-catholic-devotion-explained
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Heart

05/16/2026

Wedding season is approaching! As Fulton Sheen said "It takes three to get married." Help that special couple put faith first with beautiful bride and groom wedding rosaries.

Now until May 31, SAVE 10% on our Wedding Rosaries sets with code WEDDING10. Plus, you'll get FREE SHIPPIPNG.

These heirloom rosaries are made with the same sturdy construction as the rest of our devotionals and are meant to stand the test of time and daily use.

Both rosaries have wedding ring Our Father beads, a wedding center, and a very powerful Pardon Indulgence Crucifix. The bride’s rosary is composed of 6mm white Trochidae shell beads, with bead caps, while groom’s rosary is composed of 6mm silver obsidian, also with bead caps.

Check out the listing below.

This Rosaries item is sold by TheUnwoundSheepCo. Ships from Briggs, TX. Listed on Mar 20, 2026

05/13/2026

“Pray, pray much, and sacrifice for sinners, for many souls go to hell because there is no one to sacrifice and pray for them.” (Fourth Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima – August 19, 1917)

Today, May 13th, is the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima, marking the date of the first of six apparitions to the children Lucia Santos, Francisco Marto, and his sister Jacinta. These apparitions happened on the 13th of every month, concluding with October 13th and the famous Miracle of the Sun (excluding the fourth apparition, which happened on the 19th of August).

There are two Fatima Chaplets. The “short” Fatima chaplet is composed of powerful prayers given to the children by the Blessed Mother and the Angel of Peace in 1917. The “long” Fatima chaplet is prayed on a standard rosary.

View all our Fatima Chaplets: https://www.etsy.com/shop/theunwoundsheepco/?search_query=Fatima

Source: https://americaneedsfatima.org/articles/the-apparitions-of-our-lady-of-fatima

05/08/2026

DID YOU KNOW
Czech glass beads are among the finest in the world? These Czech glass beads (also known as Bohemian glass beads) are LEAD FREE and fashioned from sand, chalk and certain salts to create a crystal-clear glass which is used to make beads, glassware, jewelry, chandeliers, and so much more! The color, achieved by adding minerals, will not bleed onto any surface, making them ideal for everyday use items, such as chaplets and rosaries. They are shaped by “pressing” and are fire-polished to achieve maximum shine and hardness.

We use a variety of Czech glass beads in our chaplets and rosaries, ranging from cobalt blues to siam reds. They are pressed in a variety of shapes such as roses, crosses, twists, and many more!

Sources:
https://www.czechbeads.com/Manufacturing-Process
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_glass

03/25/2026

“There is a legend to the effect that when, to escape the wrath of Herod, Saint Joseph and Blessed Virgin were fleeing into Egypt with the Divine Child, they stopped at a desert inn. The Blessed Mother asked the lady of the inn for water in which to bathe the Babe. The lady then asked if she might ot bathe her own child, who was suffering from leprosy, in the same waters in which the Divine Child had been immersed. Immediately upon touching those waters baptized with the Divine Presence, the child became whole. Her child advanced in age and grew to be a thief. He is Dismas, now hanging on the Cross at the right hand of Christ!” - Ven. Archbishop Fulton J Sheen, “The Seven Last Words” 1933
https://theunwoundsheepco.com/Product.php?id=54&table=chaplets