The Irish Penal Rosary

The Irish Penal Rosary (Irish: An Paidrín Beag) was a single-decade rosary used during penal times in Ireland, when any form of Roman Catholic religious practice and its religious objects were forbidden. This version of the rosary is easily hidden, allowing Catholics to pray with less fear of being detected.
The pink is a single decade Saint Agatha Rosary the patron saint of women fighting breast cancer and other types of cancers facing women. 
The blue and green are specific chaplets for the Novena to Saint Jude, one of the original twelve apostles. He is the patron saint of helpless causes. Saint Jude's Hospital was founded in 1962 by actor Danny Thomas and a few close friends. Saint Jude's Hospital is not affiliated with any religious group. He founded it on the premise that "no child should die in the dawn of life". No child is ever turned away and no family ever receives bill. It cost about $2.5 million a day to operate. 
St. Jude patients with ALL ( Acute lymphoblastic leukemia) have a survival rate of 94%, the best worldwide outcome for this disease. It usually affects children 2-5 years of age. Survival for children increased from under 10% in the 1960s to 90% in 2015, mostly due to research done at Saint Jude's and a few other fantastic hospitals that treat children.

 

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena

St. Andrew Christmas Novena

The Feast Day of Saint Andrew, The Apostle, is celebrated on November 30^th . Unlike most novenas which are said for nine days or nine weeks this one is said for twenty-five days. One would start it on November 30^th,  Saint Andrews' Feast Day and continue to say it during the Advent season up till and including Christmas Eve, December, 24^th. It is known by a few different names; Saint Andrew's Novena, The Christmas Novena or the Advent Novena.

It is believed to have originated in either Ireland or Scotland over a hundred years ago. There are beads specifically for this novena consisting of fifteen beads connected in a loop onto a Saint Andrew medal.

It is a very simple one prayer repeated fifteen times over the course of a day. It is convenient to break it up into three segments such as before each meal or morning, mid day and night time. 

Some believe that reciting this prayer fifteen times a day until Christmas Eve that whatever favor requested will be granted. I prefer to think of it as a way to prepare ones heart and spirit to welcome the baby Jesus into the world. The spirit of Christmas is about the coming of Christ, Our Savior. 

THE PRAYER

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God,to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

Saint Jude the Apostle

I added two St. Jude Chaplets in my Etsy store, Let Our Light Shine, this week.  If you have someone who is praying with hope for a particular suffering or request, one of these chaplets may be for you.
I make the items God lays on my heart.  God Bless.  Jen

https://www.etsy.com/listing/556658050/saint-jude-chaplet-st-jude-rosary-patron?ref=shop_home_active_2

https://www.etsy.com/listing/556662654/saint-jude-chaplet-st-jude-rosary-patron?ref=listing-shop-header-0

https://www.etsy.com/listing/571349679/handmade-saint-jude-chaplet-st-jude?ref=shop_home_active_1

Chaplet of Our Lady of Czestochowa

I recently added the chaplet of Our Lady of Czestochowa to my Etsy collection. Below are the  suggested prayers. God Bless.  Jen

https://www.etsy.com/listing/474896358/handmade-our-lady-of-czestochowa-chaplet?ref=shop_home_active_4

Our tradition explains that Mother Mary sat for the portrait of Our Lady of Czestochowa as Luke the Evangelist painted her beautiful portrait.  The painting was found by St. Helen who brought it to her son, the Roman emperor Constantine.  In 1382, it was taken to Poland and made it through numerous attacks against the Polish people. Our Lady of Czestochowa is also known as the Black Madonna.

Prayers:

On the nine beads, say:

The Our Father - 3 times
The Hail Mary - 3 times
The Glory Be - 3 times

Concluding prayer:

O Almighty and merciful God! You gave the Polish nation a wondrous help and defense in the most holy Virgin Mary and You honored Her sacred image at Jasna Gora with remarkable veneration of the faithful.
Grant in Your mercy that, under Her protection, we may struggle confidently throughout our lives and at the moment of death be victorious over our enemy.  We ask this through Christ Our Lord.  Amen.

Lady of Jasna Gora, our Mother, Queen of the Polish nation! Trusting in your maternal goodness and powerful intercession with your Son, we place before you our humble prayers and petitions.  To you we commend all our needs, in particular... (your intention), and all children of the Polish Nation whether in their native land or elsewhere in the world.
Amen.

(Referenced: 2006 The Rosary Shop)

Saint Francis of Assisi - Animal Lover's Saint

St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and the environment. St. Francis' devotion to God was expressed through his love for all of God's creation. St. Francis cared for the poor and sick, he preached sermons to animals, and praised all creatures as brothers and sisters under God. 

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men." Francis of Assisi

"In 1979, Pope John Paul II paid tribute to Francis' love for creation by declaring him the patron saint of ecologists. In a subsequent speech, the Pope encouraged Catholics to follow the example of Saint Francis by embracing all creatures as members of a single family and by offering respect, dignity, and care to each family member." The Humane Society of the United States

"Lord, grant that I might not so much seek to be loved as to love." Saint Francis of Assisi

"God requires that we assist the animals, when they need our help. Each being (human or creature) has the same right of protection." St. Francis

https://www.etsy.com/listing/572384471/saint-francis-of-assisi-chaplet-with?ref=shop_home_active_1

New designs added today

Fall weather is tip toeing into Florida... As I am thinking about fall decorations, I walk into almost any store and what do I see?  Christmas decorations! It just seems like yesterday that Christmas was months away... and now, Christmas is less than two months away.  Gifts... gifts... gifts.  

With this thought in mind, I have added three more items to my online store.  Christmas shopping is right around the corner so I hope to add more items in the next few weeks. 

First, I have added a St. Benedict Chaplet.  It really is a super chaplet because the St. Benedict medal is used for protection from the devil.  Here is a recent quote from Pope Francis, “The devil is here…even in the 21st century! And we mustn’t be naïve, right? We must learn from the Gospel how to fight against Satan.” If you google, St. Benedict medal meaning, you will have a lot of interesting reading about this saint and his medal.

(SOLD)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/474551992/handmade-st-benedict-chaplet-vintage?ref=shop_home_active_5

The second item I added today was an Anglican Rosary with a Celtic cross.  I wanted to add prayer beads for my Episcopalian friends. Both of these two items are adorned with vintage Swarovski crystals. 

****SOLD****

https://www.etsy.com/listing/474538214/anglican-rosary-episcopalian-celtic?ref=listing-shop-header-2

(This one is sold but another has been added:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/559202451/anglican-rosary-episcopalian-celtic?ref=shop_home_active_1

I have a lot of new designs planned. Have a super week!

God Bless,
Jen

New Pope Francis Chaplet - New Antiqued Copper Bracelet - Awaiting Hurricane Matthew

Hurricane Matthew is right around the corner as we wait on updates in Central Florida.  The last hurricanes (yes, I said hurricanes) that I experienced in force were in 2004 when I had just moved into my current house and FOUR hurricanes came through Florida that year. We had no power for two weeks and spent most of our time, after the first storm, sitting in lawn chairs in the front yard because it was so hot. After those four storms, I purchased storm shutters and have not used them since.  However, this month, this year, they may be pulled out again and I'm hoping they still fit.  Of course, we could just get a little wind, if it stays off shore but I don't think we can ever be overly confident and must prepare with the basics... water, food, and of course pet food.  

In the meantime, I am enjoying adding a couple of new designs in my Etsy shop.  One is a Pope Francis Chaplet which is made with beautiful vintage Swarovski clear crystals.  These beautiful crystals pick up all the colors in the rainbow when they hit bright light.  I took photos in indirect light from the sun and the blue from the sky is picked up beautifully in the crystals.  Pope Francis loves animals and so do I, being a Christian vegan myself, this quote from Pope Francis really stands out to me: “Every act of cruelty towards any creature is ‘contrary to human dignity.'” Please take a look at the new chaplet with Pope Francis medal just added to my shop today.  

https://www.etsy.com/listing/482968359/handmade-pope-francis-chaplet-with?ref=shop_home_feat_1

I also added an antiqued copper bracelet which I enjoyed making out of raw copper wire, then antiqued.  I double wrapped each section and used the unbreakable wrapping technique which gives such strength to each piece.  This bracelet is one of the few that do not have a Christian charm.  I didn't add a charm because it may be used by a woman or a man.  It will just depend on the size of the wrist.  Please take a look at this bracelet.  I want to make one to keep, as I truly love the way it looks.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/469471834/handmade-wire-wrapped-antiqued-raw?ref=listing-shop-header-1

***Free Shipping on all items in my

 Etsy store!***

As we keep our eyes peeled on Hurricane Matthew, I have a few projects planned to keep me busy. Many prayers for all those people in the storm's path and I'm praying for a hedge of protection around my loved ones. 

God Bless!

Jen

Celtic Crucifix Rosary - Free Catholic App - Laudate

For those of you who would like to have a wonderful resource on your phone or mobile device, I have found a great one for you.  It is called Laudate and is available for Android and iPhone. I also installed it through Amazon for my Kindle Fire - free.

It has many resources such as prayers, New American Bible, Saint of the Day, Pray-As-You-Go and many others but the one in particular that I wanted to share is saying the Rosary.  It gives you many choices; which includes the Divine Mercy Chaplet.  For those of us who have not been a Catholic, all our lives, this app gives you many resources at your fingertips. The best part is that it is all in one place.

I'm sharing the One Decade Rosary that I finished and posted in my Etsy store earlier today, as I first mentioned in my post yesterday.  The beads are vintage Swarovski and I wire wrapped the chain with brass artistic wire 20 gauge.  This wrap is known as "unbreakable" with normal use.  I love this combination of wire and beads.  Many prayers will be said on this beautiful rosary.

Rosary - Handmade - Catholic Gifts - Green - One Decade Rosary- Vintage Swarovski Beads - Celtic Cross - Unbreakable Rosary

Prayer for Animals - St. Francis of Assisi

Prayer that may be said on the medal of St. Francis:

God Our Heavenly Father, You created the world to serve humanity's needs and to lead them to You. By our own fault we have lost the beautiful relationship which we once had with all your creation. Help us to see that by restoring our relationship with You we will also restore it with all Your creation. Give us the grace to see all animals as gifts from You and to treat them with respect for they are Your creation. We pray for all animals who are suffering as a result of our neglect. May the order You originally established be once again restored to the whole world through the intercession of the Glorious Virgin Mary, the prayers of St. Francis and the merits of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with You now and forever. Amen. 

Saint Francis of Assisi

St. Francis - Chaplet handmade with vintage amber glass beads

St. Francis Quotes - Franciscan Pet Blessing

I finished a new St. Francis Chaplet tonight for my Let Our Light Shine store on Etsy.  I will list and photograph it tomorrow and share photos.... As I worked on this chaplet, I was reminded of many of St. Francis' quotes.  I will share a few of my favorites.

(As a Christian vegan who loves all of God's creatures so much, this is a favorite quote of St. Francis:)

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men."

"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."

"For it is in giving that we receive."

"Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

"Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love."

" If God can work through me, he can work through anyone."

"It is in pardoning that we are pardoned."

"Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self."

What is an "unbreakable wire" rosary?

This rosary is made using an "unbreakable wire" technique.  The idea is to put each section of the rosary together in such a way that each loop is intertwined with the previous loop.  You actually make the bead section with wire that has been wrapped on each side; keeping the bead in place and without leaving any closures that may open.  The beads are still subject to break so you still need to be careful with your rosary because even if the beads don't break, they could scratch. 

I also use key-chain links on the centerpiece and crucifix so that they do not fall off accidentally.  You have to really focus on what you are doing as you make this rosary because if you are like me, and get distracted once in a while, you have completed the loop, wrapped the wire and forgotten to add the next link... so you have to cut it apart and do that whole section over again.  

https://www.etsy.com/listing/459543576/rosary-handmade-catholic-gifts?ref=shop_home_active_1

Many people love to carry the one decade rosary since it has 11 beads, rather than 59.  It fits in the palm of your hand or around your wrist with the remainder in your hand.  

Many of my rosaries are made out of stainless steel.  The purpose is to be the strongest, yet lightweight, rosary possible.  Stainless steel does not tarnish and will look the same many years from now.  

Another unique feature of this one decade rosary is that it is made using a flat shaped wire.  If you look at the photos closely, you will see that the wire is more flat and curves beautifully around each post.  

Each rosary that I make has at least one vintage crystal bead.  I love the colors and shapes of these beautiful beads and most of my Our Father beads are made with crystals.  The decade beads are vintage glass or smaller crystal beads.  

If you would like to see more information on this particular one decade rosary or others I have in my shop, please click on the link below the photo.  Each rosary is unique and no two are exactly alike.

Remember to pray every day because prayer can move mountains.

God Bless!  Jen

Rosary Redesigned

Rosary Redesigned

Today as I was looking over my rosaries and chaplets that I made for my Let Our Light Shine Etsy store, there was one set of beads that I felt had something missing. It was an entire rosary made with iridescent blue beads.  The photos hardly do them justice as the colors are so strikingly beautiful, it is hard to capture this even for a photographer. In any case, I knew they needed something special.  My goal, when I make each rosary or chaplet, is to create a heirloom rosary and chaplet that will be something very special. 

Originally when I made these beads, the decade beads were so beautiful (blue with shimmering purple and gold) that I decided to leave the Our Father beads the same bead as the decade beads.  As I looked at these beads closely today, I decided the design needed a little tweaking, so I searched through my vintage bead collection, and then removed the Our Father beads and replaced them with beautiful Austrian crystal beads.  These vintage beads, which I collected more than 25 years ago, were full of rainbow colors in the light and would make the perfect upgrade to these already beautiful rosary beads.  

Handmade Rosary with Vintage Iridescent Blue with Purple and Clear Crystal Beads

Lesson learned... even when you have completely finished a design, there is still room to improve.  Don't leave it the way it is unless you are in love with the finished product. Now, it is ready for someone special.  God Bless.  

St. Francis of Assisi Chaplet

St. Francis of Assisi Chaplet with Vintage Crystals

The Chaplet of St. Francis of Assisi:

Prayers: On each set of three beads, pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.  

Concluding prayer is optional:

Most high, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me Lord, a correct faith, a certain hope, a perfect charity, sense and knowledge, so that I may carry out Your holy and tree command.  Amen. 

or

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

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

Chaplet of St. Francis of Assisi pg. 61 taken from How to Make and Pray Rosaries & Chaplets by Tyra and Seth Murray;  The Rosary Shop Copyright 2006  

Let Our Light Shine - Rosary Etsy Store - Blog Overview

Let Our Light Shine - Rosary Etsy Store - Blog Overview

In each new post, I'd like to share my experiences setting up an Etsy store where I am selling my rosaries. I also want to highlight one of my favorite rosaries or chaplets often. 

This particular rosary is one of my very favorites....

My rosary and chaplet store is now open on Etsy.com, Let Our Light Shine, and I wanted to take this opportunity to share a set of beautiful green and iridescent crystal rosary beads that I have in my shop. This rosary is handmade by me.  

****************Let Our Light Shine *******************

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

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

Please read more about this rosary on the link below.  The two photos below are additional photos of the rosary that are not on the store site. Please take a look.  :-)

Handmade Iridescent Green and Clear Crystal Vintage Bead Rosary

The six Our Father beads are very unique.  Four are green and two are clear iridescent crystals.  They pick up color beautifully. Each is from my collection which I have had for over twenty years.  Most of the beads in my collection where already twenty plus years old when I purchased them in the 80s and 90s.  I love the fact that vintage beads are unique and have their own personality. Plus, they make an extra special gift. The photos don't really show all of the color in the beads, but gives you a good view.  Each rosary holds many future prayers and would be a wonderful heirloom piece.  

God Bless!
Jen