Blood on the Rosary cover art

Blood on the Rosary

Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Blood on the Rosary

By: Sue Smethurst, Margaret Harrod
Narrated by: Casey Withoos
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $42.99

Buy Now for $42.99

About this listen

A brave nun. Her twin brother. The secrets and lies that would tear them apart.

There is a special bond that twins share, an ethereal connection that can’t be put into words.

Margaret Harrod shared that unique bond with her twin brother, Michael.

As children they were inseparable, and at age 22, together, they gave their lives to the Catholic Church. Margaret became a nun and Michael a Salesian priest - it was the proudest day of their deeply religious parents' lives. Margaret cherishes those carefree childhood memories because the brother she adored is now in jail. Father Michael Aulsebrook pleaded guilty to multiple charges of molesting children, some as young as seven. And the unlikely whistle-blower was his courageous twin sister.

It cost Margaret everything, but she couldn’t stay silent any longer about the damage her brother was wreaking in his community. Margaret knows of that damage firsthand, having had that trust betrayed herself.

Blood on the Rosary is a heartfelt, brave and inspiring memoir that tells Margaret Harrod’s story - how she sacrificed everything she held dear in the pursuit of the truth and how she bravely fought her church and her community to bring paedophile priests, including her beloved brother, to justice.

©2019 Sue Smethurst and Marg Harrod (P)2019 Bolinda Publishing
Heartfelt Inspiring
All stars
Most relevant  
A sad but inspiring read. A remarkable personal story of survival & courage to keep going. Thank you Margaret.

amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I can't begin to imagine what it would be like when some of the most trusting people in your life become your biggest abusers. I'm still quite speechless not only at the gruesome shocking accounts of sexual abuse that occurred but by also the courage to come out of deep buried post traumatic stress disorder to tell your story. My heart goes out to Margaret and all those who suffered at the hands of paedophile clergy ... I'm absolutely speechless at your courage to come forward and share your story. Thank you for telling us ... and I'm sorry that you had to relive memories that would have been torturous to unearth and experience again. My prayers and thoughts are with you. I went to a Marist brother Catholic boarding school and was never abused and have fond memories of my time. However after reading this book I can with hindsight look back and see where "stuff" may have happened. I can think of one person in this regard who's behaviour as I look back now was a bit creepy. I hope I'm wrong though and that nothing happened back in the 80s during my high school/college days. I hope. Male dominated institutions involving authority, public trust and respect always have an open door to abuse of some sort. But when it's the clergy ... the damage is so much more. I'm sorry for what you went through ... it's with heartfelt thanks I say thank you for sharing your story. God bless you.

OMG ... I'm absolutely speechless

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Margaret, this was such a gift to readers. Thank you for sharing. I watched you on One Plus One and couldn’t wait to hear your story on audible as I drive to and from work each day. But it wasn’t read by you. You have such a raw honest authentic voice when you speak about your journey, if you write another story please narrate it yourself. :)

Margaret you found your voice

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Such bravery and courage it would have taken to put this down on paper! Well done Margaret, you are one amazing woman!

Inspirational

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Sad story that had to be told. May all those who survived abuse find peace.

Beautifully read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Margaret works at my gym. I was absolutely shocked when I found out that she had written a book. I was even more shocked when I heard the words of the woman I had seen that morning working out!

This is an absolute must read for anyone. It is an incredible story from an incredibly brave woman who found her voice. It will encourage many others to find theirs and I know it already has. This story needed to be told and I’m humbled to have heard it.

Must read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I couldn't stop listening to this, even though it was so painful to hear, I needed to hear this woman's life story. I cried through most of it and have realised that I am incredibly lucky for my life and that my children will never be exposed to the horrifc monsters that Margaret has had to face. You are an incredible woman, Margaret, I applaud you and your husband, thank you for baring your Soul and I truly hope this book helps other people xx

goosebumps and tears

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

What a harrowing and brave story. It is unbelievable that Margaret could survive this. She deserves everyone’s thanks for having the guts to live this life and tell her story. Really sympathetically read too. I loved it and hope people will listen to/read this very important story.

Believed!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

To Margaret, I am so grateful that you have had the courage and determination to put pen to paper and write with Honesty and Truth in this book. I am only two years older than yourself and have suffered at the hands of a Catholic (trainee) Priest on an Altar's Boys Picnic. As a result of the Royal Commission into childhood sexual abuse from the Catholic Clergy - I have reported (to the Police) what happened to me when I was only 10 years old.. The Catholic's wielded a great amount of power in those days - the only power the Catholic's are left with now, is money(!)

Tears rolling down my face

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Thanks to Margaret, the hidden secrets of Catholic priests have been told by a damaged, but very brave woman. Thanks to Margaret Harrod's honest and heartfelt story, although difficult to listen to at times, will help other damaged souls come forward.
Compelling, honest and truthful, this biography is worthy of 5 stars!

Bravely told!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.