The Rosary Lady Website Revamp and Relaunch

Autumn Jasper and Carnelian Gemstone Sterling Rosary

February 2015 marked the 18th year since my conversion to Catholicism. It was an issue I struggled with for several years, being a former Lutheran, and originally Baptist. I had a problem with the “idolatry issue”, especially concerning the Blessed Virgin. My stepsons were coming home from school with questions I could not answer, and for their sake, I began catechism lessons. The more I studied the catechism, I understood this issue differently. One of the students in my Bible study group made this comment: “What better way to get to the heart of a Man, than through His Mother.” I really wanted all of our family to feel unified in our religious beliefs since my own sons were attending preschool at our parish. I felt a great urge to be married within the church, for my own selfish reasons, and for everyone involved.

Shortly before my confirmation, I purchased for myself a lovely rosary made from crystal Aurora Borealis beads. I did not know how to pray the rosary yet, but I was going to learn! When my confirmation Mass was over, Father Byrnes presented me with another rosary, one made of Job’s Tears. My oldest son fawned over the gift and said he would like to have one on his confirmation. Many years ago, after searching several shops, I gave up on the idea of locating a Job’s Tears rosary for him. After all, I had some time until his confirmation.

In the meantime, I contacted Our Lady’s Rosary Makers, hoping they would have a lead. They did not, but I ordered a kit for the mission cord rosaries and also the wire rosaries. In no time at all, I was making rosaries myself and quite pleased with the feeling of stewardship it gave me.

A grandmother who attended daily Mass with my youngest son and I asked me to make single decade rosaries for her prison ministry. I gladly obliged. Then my first grader asked if I could teach his classmates how to make the rosary. I solicited the help of another mother who attended Mass with me, and we were on a roll! I began to think of us as the rosary ladies. After first grade, we went to the Kindergarten classes. When the new school year started up again, the second grades made rosaries for the missions in Fiji. We received a wonderful letter from the priest, stating that the rosaries arrived a few days before the students’ First Communion, and they were able to give each of them a new rosary. They even sent a picture of all of them proudly displaying their rosaries.

Each school year, we visited the classrooms and continued to make rosaries for donation to the various missions and pro-life groups. After the 9/11 Tragedy, the second graders made rosaries  to send to a Catholic parish near the World Trade Center. The children were so pleased to be helping others. One year the kids made a personalized rosary to keep for themselves.

In order to help fund my mission rosary project, I began selling the wire rosaries at my sons’ school, for First Communion and Confirmation gifts. Soon I was selling on eBay (momof5boys1) and began my own massive collection of unusual rosaries. A local Catholic store purchased my rosaries and sold them in their store and on their website.

Aside from raising funds for the mission projects, I pray that my efforts will further the devotion to the rosary and the Blessed Mother. It gives me great joy to know that my creations are in the hands of people all over the world and are being used to strengthen their commitment to their faith, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and His Mother. May the Holy Spirit come down upon me and continue to bless me with this gift for years to come, and may our Heavenly Father find pleasure in my works.

Incidentally, my family now has no shortage of Job’s Tears rosaries!

I love to custom design personalized rosaries and gladly welcome all inquiries.  

Yesterday I relaunched my website, it is now mobile friendly and easier to navigate.  I hope you will stop in and have a look.  Please share it with your family and friends as well!  

God Bless and Peace be With You,

The Rosary Lady

Mary, Undoer of Knots

Prayer to Mary, Undoer of Knots

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved children because they are moved by the divine love and immense mercy that exists in your heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exist in my life. You know very well how desperate I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots, Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of knots in the lives of His children, I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with your Son and my Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot.

(Mention your request here)

I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my destitution, and with Christ, the freedom from my chains. Hear my plea. Keep me, guide me, protect me, o safe refuge!

Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. Amen.

Join me in praying the Novena to Mary, Undoer of Knots.  You can get reminders and daily prayers at: Pray More Novenas

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 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 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 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 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

Mornings With Mary ~ Because I Just Can't Let Go

Even though the Virgin A Day project is over, this morning I awoke wondering what other beautiful image of the Virgin Mary could I find.  

I shuffled through my files and came across a photo of a beautiful sunrise from my bedroom window earlier this month.  Of course, I found an image of The Blessed Virgin Mary to put with it.....

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And because today is the Feast Day of Saint Lucy, a photo of my own Lucy.  

Contessa Lucia Conchita Lolita de la Corazon.... Gomez.  

You have to pause before saying Gomez, or she gets upset with you.  She loves her bling, her current choice is a black beaded necklace with tiny Saint medals all about.  This one matched the color scheme better.....

Blessings to you all!

Peace be with you,

Shannon

A Virgin a Day ~ Day 2

Our Lady of Fatima

Another of my personal statues.  This one stood at the foot of our staircase for a long time.  One of the boys knocked her over when they were very young, and pieces scattered everywhere.  Poor Mary is missing a piece, but this statue is my favorite and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Here is the original invitation to A Virgin a Day, join in with us if you'd like!
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calling all virgins...

enchanting, traditional, contemporary, 

exotic, edgy, campy, irreverent, irresistible,

unusual, joyful, rapturous, lovely,

glorious, ordinary, astounding,

simply

 bring her on!

i hope you will join me in a pilgrimage of marys.

feel free to re-post this invitation on your blog,

and link back to

recuerda mi corazon.

as december grows busier we will

quietly greet the new day one mary at a time.

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!

Dominus tecum

      Numerous stories, some apocryphal, some true, abound in the literature describing the spread of devotion to Mary through the use of the Hail Mary.  One legend recorded widely during this period tells the amusing story of Eulalia, who was very devoted to the Blessed Virgin.  One day our Lady appeared to the holy woman.  Although Eulalia was at first alarmed, the legend tells us that the apparition reassured her in the following words:

    "Do not, my daughter, be afraid of the fond Mother to whom each weekday you pay all homage in your power.  But I caution you that if you wish the services you render me to benefit yourself more and to be more acceptable to me, then do not in the future pronounce the words [of the Hail Mary] so rapidly, for let me tell you that when you greet me with the Angelical Salutation, I experience a great thrill of joy, and more especially when you utter lingeringly the words  Dominus tecum [the Lord is with you].  The delight I feel then is more than can be expressed in words.  For then it seems to me that I feel my Son within me even as He, true God and man, was with me when he vouchsafed to be born of me for the sake of sinners.  And this was an unspeakable joy for me at that time, so is it now when Dominus tecum is said to me in the Angelical Salutation."

Taken from The History and Devotion of the Rosary by Richard Gribble, C.S.C.

And the Winner Is.....

I jumped out of bed bright and early this morning and decided today was the day for the rosary drawing.  I made a list of the people who made comments on the post, then used Random.org to generate a random number for the winner.

So, the winner is The Woodwife.  She has assured me she will Pray It Forward with the World Mission Rosary, and keep me informed of it's travels.

Check back from time time, as I will post should anything wonderful happen.  You know whenever Mama Mary is involved, wonderful things do tend to happen.  Since Blessed Mother Teresa is involved, and of course our Lord Jesus Christ this has gotta be good.

Peace be with you!

Feast Day of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

There are so many beautiful images of Our Mother Mary, it is hard to pick one favorite.  Today I have found a few depicting the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.  

I have a special devotion to the Blessed Mother, I have long felt her hands upon mine as I create rosaries in her honor and that of her Son, Our Lord Jesus 

Christ. 

I can only pray that one day I shall see her face to face, and thank her for the blessings she has placed upon these hands.

Can you just imagine the awe and wonder of the Mother of God being taken up into Heaven, whether it be with the aid of Angels or by Our Father's invisible hand?

I am sure the Apostles were all saddened at her passing, but praise God, she is reunited with her Son at last.  

Thank you, Mary, for your "Yes."  Thank you for all that you do for me and mine, and all the world.  

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.