Virgin A Day - Day 12

 

Mary Did You Know?

 

If this doesn't leave you in awe of The Blessed Virgin, I don't know what will. 

 

 

 

 

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Today ends the virtual pilgrimage of Mary, as set forth by Rebecca at Recuerda Mi Corazon

Please visit her blog to see the other beautiful offerings for Mary!



Mornings with Mary

 

Virgin A Day - Day 11

Santa Fe NM

 

 

This image seems so peaceful and serene to me. 

 

Our Lady,  fill me with peace today as I go about my way trying to accomplish the various things required of me.  Some days, like today, life seems so very hectic.  Wrap me in your mantle, place your hands upon mine, and whisper in my ear....

 

 

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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

This image came from the internet.  It left me speechless. 




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Today continues the virtual pilgrimage of Mary, as set forth by Rebecca at Recuerda Mi Corazon

Please visit her blog to see the other beautiful offerings for Mary!


Mornings with Mary

Virgin A Day - Day 8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Jean Bellegambe
Saint Anne conceiving the Virgin Mary
Douai, Musée de la Chartreuse


The Immaculate Conception, The Virgin in the Womb

How must Mary have felt to be so special, from the moment of conception.  To be vouchsafed in purity and perfection in order to bear her Son, Our Lord and Savior? 

These mysteries are far more than I can comprehend.  Motherhood of mortals was enough for me. 


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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. 

Virgin A Day - Day 7

 

 

 

Prayer to the Mother of Goodness, Love and Mercy

O Mother, of Goodness, Love and Mercy,
I immensely love you and offer myself to you.
Through your goodness, love and mercy save me.
I want to be yours.
I love you endlessly and want you to keep me.
From my heart I beseech you, Mother of Goodness.
Give me your goodness that I may deserve heaven by it.
I ask you for your immense love to give me the grace that I may love everybody as you loved Jesus Christ.
And I ask you for the Grace that I may be gracious to you
I offer myself completely to you and want you to be with me at every step.
For you are full of grace.
Let me never lose God's grace:
And if I should,
Help me.
Amen

 

 

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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 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

 

Virgin A Day - Day 2 belated!

Today I had the opportunity to join a Vendor's Fair at St Thomas More Catholic Church.  They sell my rosaries in their gift shop.  It was a very busy and wonderful day, beginning for me before dawn and ending after noon. 

 

This is the first opportunity I have had to work on my Mornings with Mary - Virgin a Day post.  Although it is hardly morning, I wanted to share some of the various forms of Mary that I work with on a daily basis.  I hope they bring you as much happiness as they do me. 

 

Please visit recuerda mi corazon to see the other's offerings. 

 

Peace be with you! 

Shannon

First Sunday of Advent

Advent Rosary available at www.therosarylady.com
 

 

 

Advent is upon us.  It is the season of waiting for the birth of our Lord Jesus.  A time of repentance, a time of hope and a time of joy and celebration. 

 

Advent in my home has changed a lot since my children have grown older.  We no longer place as much importance on the Advent candles and wreath.  I find that very disappointing, and somewhat sorrowful. 

 

This year I assume I will pretty much keep Advent within my heart. 

 

Nevertheless, it can be a time of great joy for you and yours.  Hold fast to the teachings and traditions, and set them forth in your childrens' memories.  They can one day follow suit and share the wonders of the Season with their children too. 

 

Week One:  We wait in solemn anticipation, knowing our Lord is out there, somewhere.  Travelling upon a dusty rocky trail, safe within His Mother's Womb.  They must go and  be counted.  HE is all that counts in the end.  We must remember His journey. 

 

Our Blessed Mother must be tired and aching and wishing for an end to this trek.  Father Joseph must be feeling a certain heartache that he should have to put his beloved through such torment at this time of her pregancy.  But they are devout, they know what must be done.  And they do it without complaint, and without remorse. 

 

I wish I could do so also.

 

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you.  Save Souls. 

 

Save all the souls who are lost and abandoned and frightened during this time.  Help them to understand that you are there for them.  Show them the way... of waiting patiently... and watching... for that bright Star that will lead them to the Savior. 

 

Peace be with you!

 

~ Shannon ~

 

 

 

 

 

Virgin A Day - Day One

Last year I had the priviledge of joining in with other bloggers - serious bloggers - unlike myself, in Virgin A Day meme with the lovely Rebecca over at recuerda mi corazon. 

 



I could hardly contain myself, when I realized that December first was almost upon us, and the beginning of another 12 days of "Mary".  I have a special relationship with The Blessed Virgin, she is ever with me, whether I am aware or not.  I just love catching those special glimpses of her....

This is a new image of her I've not seen before.  I found it searching the web, and I don't know the artist, but would like to find out who it is.  I find it interesting that each artist has his/her own idea of how Mary looked.  Although she was definitely not fair skinned such as this depiction, I'm sure Mother Mary appreciates the beauty of it.  I love the sweet smile, it makes me smile too. 

 

 

 

 

Be sure to have a peek at recuerda me corazon for the other offerings of Virgin A Day - Mornings With Mary.  I'm sure you will be pleased with what you find.  Join in if you are so inclined!

 

Thanks again Rebecca, I am pleased to be a part of your project! 

 

 

Peace be with you,

Shannon

Thanks be to God

Amber Glass and Goldstone Gilt Rosary


 

A couple weeks back I slipped, fell and landed heavily on my left hand.  By morning next it was swollen and very painful.  I was concerned that it may have been broken, but as the day progressed it came to be known as just a horrific sprain.

One doesn't realize just how much one uses their hands (or legs or... enter other body part here) until one can no longer utilize it.  Strangely enough, I use my left hand more in rosary making than my right hand.  My left hand's fingers have callouses to prove it.  Rosary pliers can be very brutal!  I am thankful for those callouses, they allow me to work many long hours and protect my hands from pain. 

Since I have been unable to grip anything at all in my left hand for almost two weeks, my rosary construction went to a standstill.  Instead I have worked on other things that do not require usage of my left hand.  Like cleaning house.  Scrubbing can easily be done single handed.  I am thankful that certain areas of my house are cleaner than they have been in quite some time. 

I also spent much time working on the tedious paperwork aspect of running a small business.  Since The Rosary Lady is a sole proprietorship, everything falls upon me for completion.  The family asked if there was anything they could do to help, but sometimes it's just best to do things yourself.  Not to mention I have issues with delegating.  The Lord and I have spoken about this.  One day I hope to be better at sharing the work load.  I am thankful that I have the ability to maintain my small business with a medium amount of insanity.

With Advent and Christmas upon us, I know that many will be requesting custom orders for gifts for their loved ones.  I am very thankful for this.  I love creating custom rosaries, I love the research and thought processes that go into it.  I love making changes and adjustments until the rosary feels just right to me.  I often utilize information gleened from various Catholic resources to make the rosary as individual and personalized as possible.  I am thankful that Mother Mary still places Her hands over mine and guides me to what is best. 

I hope that this particular season finds all of you thankful, even for the smallest thing.  Count your blessings for within them are the greatest of treasures. 

Peace be with you!

~Shannon~

Small Business Saturday at The Rosary Lady

 

Today is Small Business Saturday.  Be sure to visit your local small business, and also those online.  From today thru Monday, I will be offering 10% discount through my Etsy shop.  Enter code upon checkout:  SMALLBIZ10. 

The Rosary Lady is a small business, owned and operated by myself, since the year 2000.  In 2002,  I opened my website, www.therosarylady.com, and in 2011 I opened my Etsy shop, www.etsy.com/shop/therosarylady . 

I enjoy designing and constructing rosaries, and often feel Our Lady's hands placed over mine while doing so.  There have been times when I felt it was time to close the doors on either or both shops, but The Blessed Mother prevents me from doing so. 

I will continue to do her bidding, as long as it pleases her, as I know that praying the rosary is a true and quick way to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord.  I hope that I can be but a small part in bringing others to Him. 

Pray the Rosary Daily and Peace Be With You!

~ Shannon ~

It's Been Forever Since I Blogged....

I'll admit, I haven't yet got this blogging thing down.  There is so much to do in the world of social networking.  Between Blogger, Twitter, Facebook, my website, my Etsy shop and the sales I make at St Thomas More Gift Shop - I cannot do it all.  Or I choose not to do it all.

Some days it's one or two things, some days it's none.  Lately, my focus has been more on my family, and my domestic duties.  Messing up my hand in a fall has put a lot of things on the back burner.  Typing is easier now, but the real joy will be when I can hold my rosary pliers in my hand again!

Rest assured, my inventory is pretty well maintained, so rosary orders will not go to the wayside.

Anyway, there is only 35 days left until Christmas Day, the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord.  If you are looking for a rosary or chaplet for a special gift for someone, please visit my website or my Etsy shop.

New Mary's Graces Team Giveaway!

 

There is a new giveaway today hosted by Donna, my team leader over at  Etsy Team Mary's Graces. 

Holly at Food for the Soul has graciously donated a beautiful Chaplet of St Joan of Arc:

Unbreakable Chaplet of Saint Joan of Arc

I wanted to give this chaplet a strength and beauty as befitting a Warrior of God, such as St. Joan of Arc. The 8mm round & 10mm faceted tiger eye beads seemed, to me, to be ideal for this purpose. There are a total of 19 beads, one for each year of St. Joan's brief life. I wrap-linked each bead with 20g nickel silver wire to give this unbreakable chaplet maximum strength and durability. The center connector, tube bead spacers and 4mm rondelles are lead-free Tibetan silver. The winner will also receive a prayer card, instructions for praying the chaplet and an organza drawstring pouch.

 

Click on the Mary's Graces link above to enter to win this gorgeous chaplet.

 

 

 

Please Help Farrah Soudani and Family

I am sure by now most of you have heard about the horrible shooting massacre in Aurora CO.  Thanks be to God my son wasn't there that evening with Farrah and their other friends.  His guardian angel and some other great angels up there ( thanks BPN Sr) must have been watching over him. 

Unfortunately, Farrah was the first injured in the attack.  It is my understanding that the first gas cannister lobbed into the crowd landed in her lap.  When it exploded, it caused severe damage to her mid section.  Luckily, she was with friends and her boyfriend's father laid across her to prevent the madman from shooting her.

Farrah is still in ICU, several surgeries have been performed and there are likely to be more.  I would like to pass on a website where you can see updates on Farrah, and hopefully make a donation for her medical care.  She had no health insurance, and her bills are going to be extensive. 

Prayers are also appreciated, I firmly believe in the power of prayer to help us in times of distress. 

Here is the link to the fund:  Help Farrah and family - CO Theatre Tragedy

Postcards from Paradise

The Bee Saga Continues

Photos by Fern Bray

How doth the little busy bee

Improve each shining hour,

And gather honey all the day

From every opening flower. 

~ Isaac Watts~

Fun Facts about Honey Bees, Hives and Honey

brought to you by the Utah County Beekeepers Association, www.utahcountybeekeepers.com

• There are three types of bees in the hive – Queen, Worker and Drone.
• The queen may lay 600-800 or even 1,500 eggs each day during her 3 or 4 year lifetime. This daily egg production may equal her own weight. She is constantly fed and groomed by attendant worker bees.
• Bees maintain a temperature of 92-93 degrees Fahrenheit in their central brood nest regardless of whether the outside temperature is 110 or -40 degrees.
• A populous colony may contain 40,000 to 60,000 bees during the late spring or early summer.
• Honey is 80% sugars and 20% water.
• Honey bees fly at 15 miles per hour.
• To make one pound of honey, the bees in the colony must visit 2 million flowers, fly over 55,000 miles and will be the lifetime work of approximately 300 bees.
• A single honeybee will only produce approximately 1/12 teaspoon of honey in her lifetime.
• A single honey bee will visit 50-100 flowers on a single trip out of the hive.
• A honeycomb cell has six sides.
• Bees produce honey as food stores for the hive during the long months of winter when flowers aren't blooming and therefore little or no nectar is available to them.
• Honey bees' wings stroke 11,400 times per minute, thus making their distinctive buzz.
• Honeybees are the only insect that produce food for humans.
• Honey is the ONLY food that includes all the substances necessary to sustain life, including water.
• A typical beehive can make up to 400 pounds of honey per year
• Honeybees will usually travel approximately 3 miles from their hive.
• Honeybees are the only bees that die after they sting.
• Honey never spoils.
• It would take about 1 ounce of honey to fuel a honeybee's flight around the world.
• Honeybees are responsible for approx 80% of all fruit, vegetable and seed crops in the U.S.
• Honeybees never sleep!
• Flowers and other blossoming plants have nectarines that produce sugary nectar. Worker bees suck up the nectar and water and store it in a special honey stomach. When the stomach is full the bee returns to the hive and puts the nectar in an empty honeycomb. Natural chemicals from the bee's head glands and the evaporation of the water from the nectar change the nectar into honey.
• Honeybees have five eyes, 3 small ones on top of the head and two big ones in front.  They also have hair on their eyes!
• Bees communicate with each other by dancing and by using pheromones (scents)
• Out of 20,000 species of bees, only 4 make honey.
• Although Utah enjoys the title "The Beehive State," the top honey-producing states include California, Florida, and South Dakota.

Thanks for visiting!  

This post is linked to Postcards from Paradise

 at recuerda mi corazón.  

Stop in for a visit over there! 

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy,  our life, our sweetness and our hope. 

To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve

to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. 

Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, 

and after this our exile, 

show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, 

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! 

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

that we made be made worthy 

of the promises of Christ.

Amen!

Bee Swarm Takes Up Residency!

I wanted to update the status of the bee swarm that my son found Saturday at his grandma's house.  Since they moved into their hive, they are happy campers.  They are out and about: gathering pollen, drinking water, and checking out us humans in their flight path.

This hive is known as the "North Denver Hive".  It is the original hive for this season.  Surrounded by flowers and bee ponds in Mom's garden, it is doing well.

The second hive "Wash Park", on the other hand, is not thriving as much.  There is a makeshift "umbrella" as this hive is in direct sun most of the day.  The people who had the swarm waited three days before they called for help.  Some of the bees had fallen to the ground, so the group is smaller.  Some bees may have also left.  It is the plight of the beekeeper.  

"East Evans" hive, where the bee swarm my son found now resides.  These silly bees don't use the front door.  

We've decided they must be teenagers, because they are sneaking in the back door....

Today my folks put up a new hive, so they will be ready for the next phone call.  Often when people find a swarm on their property, they contact Denver Bee Club.  Matt and Fern King are the people working with my mom to get her hives filled.  Whenever they are called to pick up a swarm, they contact local apiarists to see if they are ready for newcomers.  


I have yet to see them in action, but I've asked to be notified when the next swarm is delivered so I can be there! 


If you have a chance, check out the Denver Bee Club website.  They have an amazing photo gallery from around the world.  Take a look around while you are there, you will be glad you did. 

   

Painting by Joseph Stella

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

you have given the world it's true light.

Jesus, your Son - the Son of God.

You abandoned yourself completely 

to God's call

and thus became a wellspring

of the goodness which flows forth from him.

Show us Jesus, Lead us to him.

Teach us to know and love him,

so that we too can become

capable of true love

and the fountains of a living water

in the midst of a thirsting world.

Pope Benedict XVI

God Is Love

Postcards From Paradise:

Mom's Urban Wildlife Sanctuary

Bee Swarm

Today my son was mowing his Grandma's yard when he came upon a bee swarm on a low hanging branch of a tree.  I am so thankful to his Guardian Angel and Saint Gobnait (patron saint of beekeepers) for watching over him, he almost drove right into it! 

Luckily, Grandma is an apiarist, and happened to have an empty hive.  Earlier in the year she lost all four hives.  A neighbor continues to use pesticides in his yard, in spite of my mom's pleas to abstain.  The bees bring back the contaminated pollen and it wrecks havoc within the hive.  The bees eventually lose their sense of bearing while out gathering and never find their way back home.  With today's swarm, she is now back up to three hives.  

The boys and my mom donned bee suits and cut the tree branch down, carefully placing the swarm into a box covered with duct tape so the bees couldn't escape from the cracks.  They then took it to the waiting hive on the other side of the property and put the swarm into it's new home.   Not all bees went directly in, Mom had to scoop some strays up and pour them into the hive.  

I can't wait until tomorrow, to check the hive for inhabitants.  I hope they are happy and busy making the beginnings of more honey for our family.  

"The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for others." 

~St John Chrysostom~

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This post is linked up to Postcards from Paradise over at 

recuerda mi corazón

Please visit Rebecca's blog to see more. 

Chaplet of the Five Wounds of Jesus

Prayer in Honor of the Five Wounds

Act of Contrition

As I kneel before Thee on the cross, most loving Savior of my soul, my conscience reproaches me with having nailed Thee to that cross with these hands of mine, as often as I have fallen into mortal sin, wearying Thee with my base ingratitude. My God, my chief and perfect good, worthy of all my love, because Thou hast loaded me with blessings; I cannot now undo my misdeeds, as I would most willingly; but I loathe them, grieving sincerely for having offended Thee, Who art infinite goodness. And now, kneeling at Thy feet, I try, at least, to compassionate Thee, to give Thee thanks, to ask Thee pardon and contrition; wherefore with my heart and lips, I say:

To the Wound of the Left Foot

Holy wound of the left foot of my Jesus, I adore Thee; I compassionate Thee, O Jesus, for the most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for the love whereby Thou labored to overtake me on the way to ruin, and didst bleed amid the thorns and brambles of my sins. I offer to the Eternal Father the pain and love of Thy most holy humanity, in atonement for my sins, all of which I detest with sincere and bitter contrition.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.

To the Wound of the Right Foot

Holy wound of the right foot of my Jesus, I adore Thee; I compassionate Thee, O Jesus, for the most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for that love which pierced Thee with such torture and shedding of blood, in order to punish my wanderings and the guilty pleasures I have granted to my unbridled passions. I offer the Eternal Father all the pain and love of Thy most holy humanity, and I pray Thee for grace to weep over my sins with hot tears, and to enable me to persevere in the good which I have begun, without ever swerving again from my obedience to the divine commands.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.

To the Wound of the Left Hand

Holy wound of the left hand of my Jesus, I adore Thee; I compassionate Thee, O Jesus, for the most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for having in Thy love spared me the scourges and eternal damnation which my sins have merited. I offer to the Eternal Father the pain and love of They most holy humanity: and I pray Thee to teach me how to turn to good account my span of life, and bring forth in it worthy fruits of penance, and to disarm the justice of God, which I have provoked.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.

To the Wound of the Right Hand

Holy wound of the right hand of my Jesus, I adore Thee; I compassionate Thee, O Jesus, for the most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for Thy graces lavished on me with such love, in spite of all my most perverse obstinacy. I offer to the Eternal Father all the pain and love of Thy most holy humanity; and I pray Thee to change my heart and its affections, and make me do all my actions in accordance with the will of God.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.

To the Wound of the Sacred Side

Holy wound in the side of my Jesus, I adore Thee; I compassionate Thee, O Jesus, for the cruel insult Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee, my Jesus, for the love which suffered Thy side and Heart to be pierced, so that the last drops of blood and water might issue forth, making my redemption to overflow. I offer to the Eternal Father this outrage, and the love of Thy most holy humanity, that my soul may enter once for all into that most loving Heart, eager and ready to receive the greatest sinners, and never more depart.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.

Chaplet of the Five Wounds

This chaplet, approved by the Holy See on 11 August 1823 (coincidentally, the anniversary of St. Clare's death), consists of five groups of five beads -- each group representing one of the Five Wounds. The first group of beads honors the Wound on His left foot; the second, the Wound on His right foot; the third, the Wound on His left Hand; the fourth, the wound on His right Hand; and the fifth, the Wound in His Side. Sometimes a medal will be attached depicting Our Lord's Wounds on one side, and His Sorrowful Mother on the other.

While meditating on the appropriate Wound at each group, one Gloria is said on each bead, and between the groups, an Ave is said in honor of Mary's sorrows. The Blessing of the Beads used to count these prayers is reserved to the Passionist Order.

Art and Cultural Exhibition This Weekend

Postcards From Paradise - Wishful Thinking

 My family loves to fish and camp. 

There is something about being in nature

 that opens up ones very soul.  

My watercolors never look this amazing!

Absolute perfection. 

Fellowship and togetherness.

 Every day brings another joy to behold.

The "country" of my birth. 

Filling me with happiness. 

Peace and serenity.

Childlike simplicity.

Nature at it's finest.

Gathering in.

Letting go.

Changing in so many ways.

Promise of salvation.

I will cling to it always.

Peace be with you,

Shannon

************

Visit Rebecca and the others at 

recuerda mi corazón 

for more 

Postcards from Paradise.