Still one of a kind, still handmade, all Rosaries are now available at St. Paul Books and Gifts, Memphis, TN. Please continue to contact me directly for custom rosaries.
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The story of this rosary is "all things pink" with rhodonite "Hail Mary" beads and tigerskin "Our Father" beads. October is breast cancer awareness month; then it dawned on me how many people I know - family, friends and neighbors - all suffering from some form of this terrible disease. So I thought this would be a great time to call on St. Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer patients, to pray for strength and healing for all people fighting this illness. Also to call on our Blessed Mother to pray for an increase of faith, hope and love in every family, especially the families of the sick so they will not tire of being supportive. St. Peregrine's feast day is May 2nd. The skeleton key cross reminds us that Jesus is the Key to the Kingdom - to Jesus through Mary.
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This rosary begins with blue shell "Hail Mary" beads and continues with lustre glass "Our Father" beads. The Centerpiece is a retablo image named "La Preciosa Sangre de Crist" or the Precious Blood of Christ. As I was putting this rosary together, I thought about how pretty the blue shell beads were on the outside but I really didn't know what the inside looked like; then when I added the lustre beads, I saw the same beautiful color as the shells only they were clean, clear and radiant from the inside out. We are so often like the shells trying to make sure we look a certain way on the outside; however, I think God meant for us to be more like the lustre glass - clean, clear and radiant - the best version of ourselves. We only need to focus on Jesus, his life, death and resurrection; instead of focusing on how the rest of the world sees us.
This rosary is dedicated to the Holy Spirit. The silver "Our Father" beads drew me in with their stem and 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is a beautiful image to picture ourselves as strong trees capable of producing fruits of chastity, faithfulness, gentleness, generosity, goodness, joy, kindness, love, modesty, patience, peace and self-control; but the image is incomplete unless we consider the 7 gifts the Holy Spirit also gives us - wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord - because they are the roots. Without them we would not be able to grow or produce anything worthwhile. Thank you Holy Spirit for not giving up on this fragile sapling. The "skeleton key" cross reminds us that Jesus is the Key to the Kingdom - to Jesus through Mary.
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This rosary begins with an antique jade carved barrel "Our Father" bead and continues with faceted African Turquoise "Hail Mary" beads complementing each other because they are both so primitive in nature. Primitive can mean many different things, but through the decades of this rosary leading up to the Centerpiece, a retablo image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I realized that here "primitive" perfectly describes the love Jesus has for us; older than time itself and completely unaffected by the changes that have taken place since Creation. Yes, his Sacred Heart breaks for us, but his love is constant and un-evolving. The skeleton key cross reminds us that Jesus is the Key to the Kingdom - to Jesus through Mary.
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The story of this rosary begins with three heart-shaped rhinestones set in brass. I was very puzzled as to why I was so drawn to these because there aren't three of any one thing in a rosary. Then I realized they represented the Holy Trinity - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. So these rhinestones are three of the six "Our Father" beads. The red garnet "Hail Mary" beads reminded me of the stones that might be placed in a crown. As the rhinestone hearts surround the Centerpiece, we see the retablo image of the Holy Trinity crowning Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth. Also known as the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin; this feast is celebrated on August 22. The skeleton key cross reminds us that Jesus is the Key to the Kingdom - to Jesus through Mary.
