Mornings with Mary ~ Eastertide Beauty

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Linking up with recuerda mi corazon.

Mornings with Mary ~ Week 2

Last week I was watching a movie about Blessed John Paul II and this image scrolled across the screen.  I had to pause the movie, grab my iPhone and snap a photo of it.  I was enthralled.  I had no idea who created this lovely image, or where I could find out more.  

This is the image panned out.  Finally it dawned on me to Google "Par Marie A Jesus", which means "Through Mary to Jesus".

I came across this website where you can see all of the other beautiful images of The Basilica of the Rosary.  

It really is a site to behold.  

Mother Mary and Her rosary call to me, even when I least expect it.  

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Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for more Mornings with Mary.  

Virgin A Day - Day 6

Ave Maria Grotto

 

One year my sons and I were on our way from Memphis Tennessee to Destin Florida and managed to somehow end up in Culman Alabama where the Ave Maria Grotto is. We often took long cross country drives and would stop by in interesting places along the way. We have come across many gems doing so.  This was no exception.   Brother Joseph Zoettl created this amazing site during his many years serving as a Benedictine monk of St. Bernard Abbey.

 

The above grotto is one of my favorites, because it does depcit the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child.  There are so many other great creations you really should click the link above and visit their page, and see it in person if ever you are that way.  It's been six years since we were there, I would love to see it again someday. 

 

Today's post is linked up with recuerda mi corazon.  Please visit there also to see more images of the Blessed Virgin.  

 

 



 

 

Virgin A Day - Day 5

 

PRAYER TO MARY, QUEEN OF THE HOME

O Blessed Virgin Mary, you are the mother and queen of every Christian family.  When you conceived and gave birth to Jesus, human motherhood reached its greatest achievement.  From the time of the Annunciation you were the living chalice of the Son of God made man. You are the queen of the home.  As a woman of faith, you inspire all mothers to transmit faith to their children. Watch over our families.  Let children learn free and loving obedience inspired by your obedience to God. Let parents learn dedication and selflessness based on your unselfish attitude.  Let all families honor you and remain devoted to you so that they may be held together by your example and your intercession.

Amen.

 

Let us offer to Our Mother today:

The effort of doing our ordinary work well,

on time, with competence and finesse.

 

 

 

For more Virgin sightings, visit recuerda mi corazon

 

 

 

Peace be with you,

 

Shannon

 

 

 

 

Virgin A Day - Day 4

Our Lady of Advent

Another image I have not seen before.  I searched  Our Lady of Advent because there was a lovely statue bearing the same name at the vendor fair I attended this weekend.  That image came up, but so did this one.  According to the website I borrowed it from, this statue comes from Ecuador. 

 

I absolutley love images of the Blessed Mother while she was pregnant.  One doesn't see many of them, but more and more lately they are coming to my attention.  Expecially at this time during Advent, as Mary waited in anticipation of the birth of the Christ child.  I cannot begin to imagine how she must have felt, times are so different now.  Just think about it for a bit.... words cannot express....

 

Join me again tomorrow for more Mornings with Mary - Virgin a Day hosted by Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon.  Although lately my posts shop up later in the evening....

 

Peace be with you,

Shannon

Virgin A Day -Day 3

Mary Undoer of Knots

 



“We trust you, Mother; You can help us. Undo, then, the knots of this life!”
 



 

 

For more Mornings with Mary, please visit recuerda mi corazon. 

 

Peace be with you,

 

Shannon

 

Haiku My Heart

words that supplicate,

praise...  and thank Mother of all

beads for my prayers

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Please visit  recuerda mi corazón

for more haiku my heart 

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Please also see yesterday's post to read about the custom ladder rosary pictured in today's post.

Peace be with you,

Shannon

Postcards from Paradise

I am so tired of Winter. 

I spent the morning scrolling through my screensaver file looking at photos of anything but snow and ice.  

To me my crocus coming up again would be true Paradise.

Please visit recuerda mi corazón ~ for more Postcards from Paradise. 

Postcards from Paradise

The Hubby and I went for a drive this morning and happened upon this beautiful sight.  We saw the artists building the wall of snow yesterday and had no idea this is what they were intent on doing.  

Considering it's 31degrees outside the wording is a bit tongue in cheek, but to a Polar bear, I suppose it would be a heat wave. 

See, I knew on Friday's post today would be less grey! 

These are my postcards from paradise.

Visit Rebecca and the other participants of Postcards from Paradise at recuerda mi corazon for more beauty.

Rebecca, thanks as always for having me!

Peace be with you,

Shannon

Haiku My Heart ~ Friday

Today I was reminded of the many times I would receive a text message or phone call from one of my family members.  Being a rosary artisan, beads and "bows" are everywhere in my home.  Sometimes I just can't explain how they appear where they do.  One day my son texted me from school to say he found a bead in his backpack.  I guess that's just Mother Mary, reminding him to pray his rosary?

 My beads are everywhere

In my sons' back packs at school

and on ev'ry rooms' floor

Visit Rebecca's site:   recuerda mi corazón .   

Join in on her Friday event Haiku my Heart.  

~Totus Tuus~ 

Peace be with you!

Shannon

Virgin A Day ~ Day 11

These are my hands.  The hands of a rosary maker.  In the beginning, I felt Mary place her hands over mine and ever so gently show me "this way, this is how it is done".

Rosary making came very easy to me.  Others said how wonderful they thought my "bows" were, and marveled that they were so "perfect".  I told them always, "it is not me, it is Mary."  Yes, we are on a first name basis, she whispers my name all the time.  I recite a litany of "Hail Marys" whenever I am in need.   We are very close, we two.

Mary nudged me to have my rosary pliers blessed, which I did, way back in 2000?  Father Fryar (who later became Monsignor Thomas Fryar) looked at me sideways, shrugged, and blessed my tools. Tools which were held in my hands.  These hands.  Blessed by Father, blessed by Mother, and blessed by God himself, I'm sure.  My tools have never needed sharpening, nor replaced.  A fellow rosary maker told me he replaced his pliers every couple of years.

These hands have made thousands of rosaries over the years, rosaries that have gone far and wide to those who will pray to Mary for her intervention in their lives and sorrows, and in thanksgiving for their joys and happiness.

When I look at these hands with these pliers, I see Mary. Can you see her too?

Peace be with you!

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Tomorrow will be the last post featuring Virgin A Day ~ Mornings with Mary ~ recuerda mi corazon ~ remember my heart

This image is borrowed from Rebecca of recuerda mi corazon.  

Virgin A Day ~ Day 10

Joseph Stella's rendition of The Blessed Virgin really speaks to me.  I love the vibrant colors, the flowers, the fruits, the birds....Especially the vines painted....growing on her hands.

Isn't she just lovely?

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Rebecca's meme, A Virgin A Day ends on the 12th of December.
Follow the link below to see more of the lovely offerings from her "tribe".  

"remember my heart"

Peace be with you,

Shannon

Virgin A Day ~ Day 7

Can you just imagine what this little one is saying?  How wonderful that in her innocence, she knew right where to go for quality conversation.  

Hail Mary, Full of Grace

the Lord is with Thee,

Blessed art Thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, Mother of God

Pray for us now 

and at the hour of our death.

AMEN

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recuerda mi corazón

Virgin A Day continues until December 12, join in!

Virgin a Day ~ Day 6

I saw this painting in another post this weekend.  You can read the whole article here, as it is in a Catholic publication, and I realize not everyone is interested in that.  Although the story of how the painting came to be is quite interesting. 



Morgan Weistling "Kissing the Face of God"

There are plenty more Virgins to be seen at  recuerda mi corazon, where the rest of the gang is posting their images of Mary.  Stop in, you will be happy you did. 

Virgin A Day ~ Day 4

Queen of Peace

I love how her hand beckons to me, "come my child".  I would follow her anywhere.....

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The Virgin a Day virtual pilgrimage continues today and daily until December 12, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Visit Rebecca's site recuerda mi corazon for even more beautiful images of Our Blessed Mother.  This has truly been an inspiring endeavor so far! 

Peace be with you, 

Shannon

A Virgin a Day, Mornings with Mary

Rebecca over at recuerda mi corazon has invited others to join in on her Virgin a Day, Mornings with Mary project, twelve days of sharing Virgin Mary images leading up to her feast day on December 12.  

This is my offering for today, since I am The Rosary Lady, it only seems fitting. 

Our Lady of the Rosary

This is a beautiful statue I have in my office.  I love how Mary and Jesus are both holding onto the rosary.  I love the peaceful expression on their faces, too.  

Be sure to visit Rebecca's page, so you can view the virtual pilgrimage of Marys .  They are truly lovely!  

Ave Maria!