The Feast of the Immaculate Conception

"I am the Immaculate Conception."

Today being the Feast of the Immaculate Conception I wanted to discuss the meaning of the Immaculate Conception because it is one term which is misunderstood by many people.   The term refers to Mary being conceived without any stain of original sin.

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eve, that sin has been passed down to all of mankind, except Our Lord, and Our Lady.   Our Lord is sinless because He is God.  Our Lady was preserved from this sin because it was God's desire that Our Lord be conceived within a spotless vessel.  Would it be fitting for God to dwell in anything unclean?  The answer is 'No' and this has been the understanding that has been widely held since the early church.  It was written in many Church documents prior to its infallible proclamation by Pope Pius IX in 1854.  (See the documented early writings at this link, http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/maryc3a.htm)

Pope Pius IX proclaimed the doctrine as such, "the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, and in view of the foreseen merits of Jesus Christ, the savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin."

One of the reasons that Catholics have become confused is because todays Gospel reading is that of the
Annunciation, where the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will conceive and bear a Son and He will be called Jesus.   This reading is quite appropriate because the fact that Mary will bear the Savior is the reason she was Immaculately conceived.  But unfortunately because the reading is also about Our Lords conception, it causes people to think that it is His conception that this feast refers to.  There is no specific bible passage that discusses the Immaculate Conception of Mary, because this doctrine is not found specifically in Scripture but is based on what the Church has always believed to be true.  This is the teaching tradition of the Church; and of course, the Catholic Faith is based on Scripture and Tradition.

The Church has chosen Dec 8 as the day to celebrate this event, because it is 9 months prior to Mary's birthday which is Sept 8.

Feast of St. Andrew ---Christmas Novena begins!

Today is the feast of St. Andrew and it is a wonderful Advent tradition to begin the following Novena and recite it each day until Christmas Eve.

 Christmas Novena

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 piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew, on November 30th, until Christmas will obtain what is asked.)

Here one of the St Andrew Chaplets which I made for this Novena.  The Purple Jasper beads are befitting the liturgical colors of the Advent season. 

My new Website!

Announcing the opening of my new website!  I am excited to have my own website and domain.  I plan to be hosting give- aways and more fun things.  Follow this blog for updates...
and Check it out!  www.GracefulRosaries.com

A gift for my sister's 50th Birthday

A gorgeous bronze St Teresa of Avila medal on a Pink Crazy Lace Agate necklace.  My sister Teresa has always had a special devotion to St. Teresa of Avila.  

 

 

 

When I asked my sister about making her a rosary for her birthday, she said, 'the fancier the better'.  She also wears a lot of fuschia pink colors.  When she first saw the Pink Crazy Lace Agate stone she was immediately attracted to it.   So based on those parameters, I designed the above rosary and necklace for Teresa on her 50th birthday.   Happy Birthday Teresa!

Pietersite Wire Linked Rosary ---solid brass

This is another rosary in my new line of wire linked rosaries.  All the metal parts (crucifix, center, bead caps and wire) are solid brass.  The Hail Mary beads are beautiful Pietersite gemstones.  The Our Father beads are faceted Fancy Jasper Gemstones.  This is an heirloom quality man's rosary.  It is a nice large bead that you can really feel!

New Heavy gauge wire linked Rosaries! --Crazy Lace Agate

Each person has their own preference for their style of rosary beads.  For the very traditional taste, I am now offering wire linked rosaries in a heavy 20 gauge solid brass wire.  Each bead is individually wire linked and tucked into a small jump ring, to give it added durability.



This rosary is made with 8mm Blue Crazy Lace Agate beads for the Hail Mary beads.  The Our Father beads are 10mm Blue Crazy Lace Agate gemstones.  The crucifix, medal, bead caps and wire are all antiqued solid brass.

It is available in my Etsy shop.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54889385/handmade-blue-crazy-lace-agate-wire