Thursday, December 9, 2010

Prepare Ye - Advent- Inspired Rosary

 
I wanted to make a rosary that would be symbolic of Advent. So this is the finished product. It contains Swarovski Crystal 8mm bicones in Rosewater Opal AB and Tanzanite AB alternating for Aves.  The spacers are Swarovski Crystal 4mm bicones in gold aurum 2X. 

The Paters are lovely hand painted purple ceramic flowers with gold vermeil beadcaps at the base of the flower and Swarovski crystal 4mm bicones in Rose AB 2X for the center of the flower. The Centerpiece and Crucifix are in hand cast bronze. The center has roses on the front and the back shows both depictions of the front and back sides of the Miraculous Medal.  The crucifix is a very unusual but beautiful piece with adoring angels on either side. This comes with a velour  gift box. Available for purchase for $110.00. Thank you.

Spectacular Christmas Rosary





 This Swarovski Crystal rosary is handmade just in time for Christmas. The Aves are Emerald AB 8mm bicones. The Paters are puffy red glass hearts. 








The Centerpiece and Crucifix are gold tone with red and green accents. The center depicts Our Lady holding the Infant Jesus. This comes with a lovely heart shaped gift box. Available for purchase for $110.00. Merry Christmas and God bless.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Custom Mother's / Family Birthstone Rosary

 This rosary was custom-made at the request of a friend in Michigan. We met through our mutual devotion to Our Lady of America, and our amazing spiritual experiences in Rome City.
Mother's Rosary


She requested a custom made rosary with each decade representing one of her five children.  These images are of the finished product. The birthstones include the birth month of her husband and herself and the wedding anniversary month. All of the beads representing Aves, are made of 8 mm Swarovski Crystal bicones with an aurora borealis coating (AB), and are in the following order from the crucifix:
Ruby AB (July) her husband's birthstone;
Rose AB (October) their wedding anniversary month;
Topaz AB her birthstone;
First decade - Sapphire AB her oldest child's birthstone;
Each remaining decade utilizes the birthstones for the other children in chronological order, and are as follows:
 Blue Zircon AB;
 Alexandrite AB;
 Emerald AB;
 Peridot AB.


Rosary Depicting the Birthstones of Each Child in Chronological Order. Sapphire AB for the first decade and oldest child, followed by Blue Zircon AB, Alexandrite AB, Emerald AB, Peridot AB Ruby AB,  Rose AB and Topaz AB located  just behind the crucifix, represent the husband's birthstone, wedding anniversary birthstone, and wife's birthstone respectively.































































 

Alexandrite violet (normal light)




Alexandrite - Blue (Fluorescent Light)








   
                             

  
An interesting feature of the Alexandrite bead is that it changes color depending on the light source. In normal light it appears as a light violet color, but under fluorescent light it changes to a pale blue.   








The Paters are made with two beads - a Clear AB crystal ring (to represent the unity and endless quality of married love) with a rose colored ceramic flower inside the ring - rose is their wedding birthstone color.


The center is a hand cast bronze piece with two turtle doves holding a heart. The crucifix is a hand cast bronze piece with hearts on each tip.

Thank you for your order, Brenda!





The Immaculate Conception and Connection to Our Lady of America

 The amazing history and providential roots of Our Lady of America and the Immaculate Conception, to the apparition site in Rome City, and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. can be found here

What follows is my comment and prayer on this Feast of the Immaculate Conception:                                                                           
 J.M.J.

Thank you for this compelling insight into the unbreakable ties of Our Lady of America and her Immaculate Conception to Sylvan Springs and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC.  It is no coincidence that two of Our Lady of America's most important requests would directly revolve around these two places ... the first in 1956 asking for a statue of her likeness as Our Lady of America to be enthroned by the Bishops of the U.S. and in 2001, when she asked one devotee to "Bring me my children, bring me all my children"  to Rome City.  I pray that all in heaven and on earth pray,  especially on this Feast Day, for the Bishops to be enlightened and act upon both of these important requests immediately, especially invoking the intercession of Our Lady of America,  St. Joseph, St. Michael, St. Bernadette,  Blessed Mary of Agreda and her namesake who lived and worked at the Springs,  the North American martyrs, Bishop Carrol,  Bishop Alerding,   Archbishop Noll,  Sr.Mildred,  Bishop Leibold,  Fr. Hoevel, AB Fulton J. Sheen, Pope John Paul II,  Padre Pio,  Maria Esperanza, and Frank Young,  among others too numerous to mention. I pray too that all those who are experiencing pain or suffering today offer it up as redemptive suffering for these prayer requests.

I find it so providential that this country was consecrated to the Immaculate Conception exactly 300 years after Columbus discovered America proclaiming it for Our Lady and sailing under her mantle of protection.  Providential too that Our Lady was named Patroness of the United States nearly two centuries before she appeared to Sr. Millie, and only 16 years after the birth of our nation!  On the Immaculate Virgin's  first visit to Sr. in Rome City, she referred to her favored state saying, "I am pleased my child, with the love and honor my children in America give to me,  especially through my glorious and unique privilege of the Immaculate Conception".  Over the next two days she appeared as and identified herself as, Our Lady of America with these words,  "I am the Immaculate One, Patroness of your land".  Nowhere else in the history of any apparition has Our Lady  identified herself  as Patroness of any land.  Others may have identified her by region or country,  but she has never  proclaimed it herself  except in this devotion.

Although countless miracles have occurred and continue to occur in Rome City,  I "wait in joyful hope" for the day that she is recognized in the Basilica in Washington D.C.,  as Our Lady of America, the Immaculate Virgin, and the resulting miracles that she herself has promised would be more plentiful  "than Lourdes and Fatima" combined!  I pray too,  for the preservation of the apparition site in Rome City, so that  many more of her children can journey there and experience the gifts she is waiting to shower on her faithful children.

Happy Feast Day Dearest Mother...may you be known across our land and the world as Our Lady of America!  Thank you for all the blessings you have showered upon me and so many other pilgrims at the holy ground in Rome City!  Although the Basilica in Washington D.C. has many beautiful images of  you from apparitions all over the world, it seems unfortunate that our National Shrine has yet to enthrone the devotion specific to these United States, as you have requested -  Our Lady of America, the Immaculate Virgin!  This devotion, which you yourself  have described as so important to the future of our country and of the entire world is long overdue!  

May the Holy Spirit inspire those who can bring this request to fruition.  And  "By Thy Holy and Immaculate Conception,  Deliver us from Evil!"

All for Jesus through Mary!  All for Our Lady of America!