Thy Olive Tree Blog

  • The Power of the Rosary: A Personal Testimony

    by Kate Frantz
    I had recently converted to Catholicism. Often I would pray the Rosary, but this time was different. Before starting to pray, I could feel a special "burning, prompting, pulsing" in my heart. Words can't really describe it. The closest I can come to explaining it would be that anticipatory excitement you get... like a kid before Christmas morning, or when my husband got back from a six month deployment.
    Posted in Prayer, Rosary

  • 4 Great Books for Catholic Families

    by Kate Frantz
    We asked Sam from Cultivating Catholics to pick a few books from our Market to review. Here were her thoughts on four Catholic books she selected that would be great for Catholic families.
    Posted in Book Lists

  • Katie Bogner's Top Picks

    by Kate Frantz
    We asked Katie Bogner, Director of Religious Education, Author and Writer at Look to Him and Be Radiant, to pick her favorite books to review from Thy Olive Tree Market. Here's her list and what she had to say.
    Posted in Book Lists

  • Katie Warner's Top Picks

    by Kate Frantz
    We asked Katie Warner, bestselling children's book author, to browse our Market and pick her favorite Catholic books to review. If you are looking to narrow down your search, take a look at Katie's top picks!
    Posted in Book Lists

  • The Resource I needed During RCIA!

    by Kate Frantz

    What I would have given for a resource like this when I was just getting started!⁠ A Painted Rosary and A Stained Glass Rosary are the perfect tools for learning how to pray the Rosary. Each turn of a page reveals a mystery of the Rosary with its corresponding full-page painting, spiritual fruit, and a Printed Bead Tracker. Simply move your thumb down the page of beads to keep your place. Additionally, all prayers are printed for easy reference.

    Posted in Parishes, RCIA, Rosary

  • Awarded Seal of Approval from The Catholic Writers Guild

    by Kate Frantz
    With everything we design, we aim to stay true and faithful to Catholic Church teaching. Did you know all our Keepsake and Rosary books have the Catholic Writers Guild "Seal of Approval" for quality writing and being faithful to Catholic teaching!?⁠ 
    Posted in Parishes

  • Design Inspiration Books to Spark Creativity in Self-Publishers

    by Kate Frantz
    Are you looking for some design inspiration? Here's my list of beautiful books about color, patterns, book design and more! It's a great list for anyone looking to spark some creativity and brush up on design knowledge, especially for self-publishers.
    Posted in Design

  • My Catholic Keepsake Books Reinforce Importance of the Sacraments to Parishioners

    by Kate Frantz
    My Catholic Keepsake sacrament record book goes all the way through Confirmation. Not only is it a wonderful way to record important faith moments, but it can also serve as a resource for Catholic parishes looking to reinforce the importance of celebrating the sacraments! 
    Posted in Parishes

  • What is Lectio Divina?

    by Kate Frantz
    Lectio Divina is Latin for “Divine Reading.” It is an ancient method of prayer where one reads, meditates, prays, and contemplates the Word of God. In this article, we'll discuss step by step how to pray using Lectio Divina!

  • New Rosary Book Brings Art Out of Quarantine Just in Time for Month of Mary

    by Kate Frantz
    At a time when visiting churches and museums can still be challenging, a small Catholic publisher brings sacred art into homes. On May 1, 2021, Thy Olive Tree launched A Painted Rosary, a prayer book for adults and older children containing the 20 mysteries of the Rosary with corresponding paintings from the 11th-17th centuries. The curated selection of paintings includes both commonly and seldom seen masterpieces.
    Posted in Press Release

  • 7 Catholic Gifts to Build the Domestic Church

    by Kate Frantz
    How often are you gifted something that seems so cool in the moment, but is soon forgotten? The appeal is lost. Or worse, the actual gift is lost! I'm looking at you messy shelf in the hallway closet. We live in a consumer culture of things, stuff and... more things. If you, like me, are looking to make your gift-giving more Christ-centered and more meaningful, consider these 7 gifts. Not only are these items beautifully Catholic, but they innovatively go one step further to serve as actual tools to help you and your family celebrate your faith, build the Domestic Church and grow as disciples of Christ.
    Posted in Domestic Church, Gift Guide

  • Pilgrimages with Children: A New and Redefined Chapter of Life

    by Kate Frantz
    A pilgrimage need not be extravagant or exotic. That is not the purpose. Pilgrimages aren’t vacations, rather they are journeys to holy places and meant to draw us toward God. Using that definition, we can become pilgrims anywhere and bring our children along to share in the experience.
    Posted in Pilgrimage