Is It 17 Years Already?

I can't believe we are (I am) still here and working with Glory Glory Gifts. This year, marks our 17th year in business. If someone had told me, way back in 2008, that I would still be doing this I would never have believed them. In fact, I remember being at a barbecue back in the early Summer of 2008 and mentioning that I was going to be selling holy land products and people actually laughed in my face. They thought it was a joke. We (me with Tom's help) started very small. I wasn't quite sure how I was supposed to do this, but it slowly evolved from a flea market/fair business to where we are today. The website was started in 2010, while I was convalescing, and had about 300 olive wood crosses & statues, crystal, hematite and scented rosaries, nativities, ornaments, incense, icons, incense burners, ceramic pieces and jewelry available. After working hard to create the website, and upload all those products on there, as well as payment buttons from Paypal, a friend actually said to me that's it? That's all you got? 😃 (I seriously needed to find more supportive friends.) I'm sure that same friend would say the same if she saw today's version of the website, which has only a little over a thousand products. But, my business model today is the same one that I was given back in 2008 and that is to, "bring prayer to those that no longer come to My Father's house." The products are a nice way to subsidize it and are my means to an end. It is solely by the grace and goodness of God that I'm still able to do this, and have done it, through many health and family crises. 

In November of last year, I faced an incredible setback when someone created a fake instagram account, stole my identity of the facebook business page, and then posted erotic and disturbing posts. Meta took down every single thing I ever did on Facebook, including my personal page, biz page and marketplace listings. There was nothing of me, or Glory Glory Gifts left on there.  I ceased to exist on there, after 15 years of hard work and dedication to my thousand followers. It was a tough decision, but, in February I decided to just create a new page on there for myself. Last month, I created the Glory Glory Gifts Prayer Page. I actually prayed for direction and that is exactly what I got, direction. Alleluia! So the new page was born. 

Also last year, our house was completely gutted and the interior rebuilt because of issues. All products were removed from the website and the ebay store was open only a few days over a 7-month period. Literally half of our products were removed from it as well, so our sales were erratic and 1/8 of prior years. Sigh. The very good news is that both sites are once again up and operating and we are all settled into our newly refurbished home space. Products are being added almost daily to our ebay store, we are restocking out of stock items and bringing in new collections! 

The moral of the story? Keep going! If God has given you a mission to accomplish, well then do it through all of the obstacles that you come across. If God brought you to it, He will bring you through it. (Which reminds me, I got a new St. Benedict medal hanging from my neck.) (Look! Squirrel!) 

 This week, we will be replenishing many of our popular items, like our auto statuettes, mini-prayer books and our very popular Blessed Trinity Book of Catholic prayers. They should be in by Friday. 

Moving onward and upward with great enthusiasm, I'm introducing some new products that we are getting in May. How AMAZING are these?  Prices start at $43.99 USD.

 

We also have two new collections of framed art available right now at the ebay store, with gold and silver leaf frames that are 3.5" x 4.5", made in Italy. Currently $24.99 with free shipping.

Beautiful!! Aren't they? You can find all of these products at the Ebay store. We look forward to working with you. https://www.ebay.com/str/gloryglorygifts.

Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Mare

New Birthstone Rosary Beads!

 Just added to our store are beautiful rosary beads in birthstone colors! You can find them all here: https://www.ebay.com/str/gloryglorygifts. 12 months of beautiful colors with Miraculous Medal centerpieces and deluxe crucifixes. All come in clear lucite boxes and are currently $25.99 with free domestic shipping.

Visit the store to find your month! https://www.ebay.com/str/gloryglorygifts.

Happy shopping!

Mare

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

 A prayer for the dying, those in dire need of mercy and for the end times, the Divine Mercy Chaplet is said daily at 3:00 P.M. If you are unable to say it at that time, you can devoutly say, "Jesus, I trust in You" at 3:00 P.M. and recite the chaplet at any other time of the day. It is also recommended that you say it often.

It is said on a traditional rosary.

1. Make the Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. Optional Opening Prayers

St. Faustina’s Prayer for Sinners
O Jesus, eternal Truth, our Life, I call upon You and I beg Your mercy for poor sinners. O sweetest Heart of my Lord, full of pity and unfathomable mercy, I plead with You for poor sinners. O Most Sacred Heart, Fount of Mercy from which gush forth rays of inconceivable graces upon the entire human race, I beg of You light for poor sinners. O Jesus, be mindful of Your own bitter Passion and do not permit the loss of souls redeemed at so dear a price of Your most precious Blood. O Jesus, when I consider the great price of Your Blood, I rejoice at its immensity, for one drop alone would have been enough for the salvation of all sinners. Although sin is an abyss of wickedness and ingratitude, the price paid for us can never be equalled. Therefore, let every soul trust in the Passion of the Lord, and place its hope in His mercy. God will not deny His mercy to anyone. Heaven and earth may change, but God's mercy will never be exhausted. Oh, what immense joy burns in my heart when I contemplate Your incomprehensible goodness, O Jesus! I desire to bring all sinners to Your feet that they may glorify Your mercy throughout endless ages (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 72).

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

(Repeat three times)
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!

3. Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.

4. Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

5. The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

6. The Eternal Father

Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

7. On the 10 Small Beads of Each Decade

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

8. Repeat for the remaining decades

Saying the "Eternal Father" (6) on the "Our Father" bead and then 10 "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion" (7) on the following "Hail Mary" beads.

9. Conclude with Holy God (Repeat three times)

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

10. Optional Closing Prayers

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

O Greatly Merciful God, Infinite Goodness, today all mankind calls out from the abyss of its misery to Your mercy — to Your compassion, O God; and it is with its mighty voice of misery that it cries out. Gracious God, do not reject the prayer of this earth's exiles! O Lord, Goodness beyond our understanding, Who are acquainted with our misery through and through, and know that by our own power we cannot ascend to You, we implore You: anticipate us with Your grace and keep on increasing Your mercy in us, that we may faithfully do Your holy will all through our life and at death's hour. Let the omnipotence of Your mercy shield us from the darts of our salvation’s enemies, that we may with confidence, as Your children, await Your [Son’s] final coming — that day known to You alone. And we expect to obtain everything promised us by Jesus in spite of all our wretchedness. For Jesus is our Hope: through His merciful Heart, as through an open gate, we pass through to heaven (Diary, 1570).

 

We do have rosary beads and Divine Mercy Chaplet beads at our store if you need them! Just click on the link to the right of this post.

 

Our Lady of Sorrows ~ Feast Day is September 15th

"When I tell you this, I am not addressing myself strictly to you, child, but I am making this appeal to the world," the Virgin told the seer Marie-Claire Mukangango – who was later killed in the war. She said the Virgin described the world as in revolt against God, the world “is on the edge of catastrophe.” 

This is a quote from Our Blessed Mother to Marie-Claire Mukangango, who was one of the seers of Kibeho in the 1980's. If you have never heard the events of those apparitions, here is a good link to learn more and to read the messages. http://www.kibeho.org/en/history.php. In brief, Our Lady appeared to 3 young women, Alphonsine Mumureke, Marie-Claire, and Nathalie Mukamazimpaka in Kibeho, Rwanda, beginning in 1981. They are the 3 recognized by the Catholic Church, though many more reported seeing her, as well as a young man. This is the official determination by the church: https://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/OLKIBEHO.HTM.  Over the course of 8 years she appeared to them numerous times and told them the importance of saying the rosary daily, going to mass often but especially every Sunday, doing penance, sacrifice and fasting and reciting the rosary of the seven sorrows. Our Mother even taught one of the seers, Marie-Claire, how to say it so that she could teach others. She told us to love and care for one another and to obey God and his commands. She also said that ANYONE can recite the rosary and the chaplet of the sorrows. You can be any religion and do so.

“ The world hastens to its ruin, it will fall into the abyss… The world is rebellious against God, it commits too many sins, it has neither love nor peace. If you do not repent and do not convert your hearts, you will fall into the abyss."  

"Do not forget that God is more powerful than all of the evil in the world....The world is on the edge of catastrophe. Cleanse your hearts through prayer. The only way is through God. If you do not take refuge in God, where will you hide when the fire has spread everywhere?"

This is a synopsis of her messages:

1. am the Mother of the Word.
2. Repent without delay.
3. Repent when it is still time.
4. Repent so that you may not fall in a gulf.
5. Mortify yourselves in order to help Jesus to save the world.
6. Accept your sufferings with faith and joy.
7. Nobody will enter into heaven without endure sufferings.
8. The child of Mary accepts its sufferings.
9. Pray always without hypocrisy.
10. Pray always for the Church.
11. Pray without becoming weary.
12. Pray always for the world.
13. Meditate on the Rosary.
14. Meditate on the Rosary of sorrows of the Virgin Mary.
15. Repent, Repent, Repent.
16. Stand strong in your faith.
17. Come back to God.
18. Faith and doubt will come in maliciously.
19. I have opened and you did not come in.
20. What are you waiting for? What are you waiting for? What are you waiting for?

With all of the events going on today in the world, the natural devastations, the wars, the hatred and lack of God in thoughts, words and actions, it seems prudent that we listen to the messages of Our Mother and heed her message. She recommended that the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows be said on Tuesdays, Fridays and on her feast day, which is the 15th of September. Since tomorrow is her feast day, I think it is a great time to start this devotion, which does have graces attached to it, I might add. The graces are:

1. I will grant peace to their families.
2. They will be enlightened about the divine mysteries.
3. I will console them in their pains and I will accompany
   them in their work.
4. I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my divine Son or the sanctification of their souls.
5. I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.
6. I will visibly help them at the moment of their death; they will see the face of their Mother.
7. I have obtained (this grace) from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors, will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and I will be their eternal consolation and joy.

 You say the rosary of the seven sorrows as follows:

Beginning

When starting the Rosary of Sorrows, after the sign of the cross, we do not recite the "Creed," but immediately say the following prayer:

Introductory prayer
My God, I offer you this Rosary in honor of the seven principal Sorrows of Mary, for your greatest glory, for my conversion and that of all people through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our salvation and our unique way to come to you, in union with the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen!

Act of contrition
My God, I regret so much to have offended you because you are infinitely good, infinitely kind and you dislike sin. I make a firm resolution, with the help of your holy grace, never to offend you and to do penance. In this state of contrition, I want to live and die. Amen!

Then recite the first sorrow (see list following this paragraph). Say the Our Father and then 7 Hail Mary's. Then say, Pray for us, Virgin most sorrowful, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Proceed with the next sorrow.

1. The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34–35)
2. The Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13)
3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem (Luke 2:43–45)
4. The Meeting of Mary and Jesus on his Way to Calvary (traditional)
5. Standing at the Foot of the Cross (John 19:25)
6. Jesus Being Taken Down from the Cross (Matthew 27:57–59)
7. The Burial of Jesus (John 19:40–42)

Closing Prayer:

Let us pray.

GRANT, we beseech Thee, O LORD JESUS CHRIST, that the most blessed Virgin Mary, thy Mother, may intercede for us before the throne of thy mercy, now and at the hour of our death, whose most holy soul was transfixed with the sword of sorrow in the hour of thine own Passion. Through Thee, JESUS CHRIST, SAVIOR of the world, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen. 

The Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows is a beautiful tradition in the Church and allows a soul to walk the via matris, following Mary who kept all of these sorrows in her heart.

If we all pray, pray, pray as Mother Mary requests, and turn our lives to God, perhaps we can attain peace on earth and good will toward men. Have a peaceful week.

Mare

New Items for August 2017!

We have some new items this month, at our ebay store. Just follow the link above in the social media box. To enlarge the photos click on each. 

Don't be skeptical about our prices!! Our products are the best quality for the lowest prices. Don't believe me? Check out our feedback on ebay while you are browsing our products.

This lovely little finger rosary is made of black wood and is 3" in length. Comes in a lucite box. $2.99 plus shipping.

We have a colorful pocket rosary, also made of wood, which is in missionary colors. This rosary is just $3.99 plus shipping and comes in an organza pouch.

If you saw my post the other day you know I was on a mission to find a Sacred Heart of Jesus badge to carry with me. Now we have them available for our customers too. This beautiful scapular badge is wool and paper and enclosed in a plastic sleeve. It is $4.75 and shipping is on us! Comes with the daily morning prayer.

Although it isn't a new item for us, it has been a long while since we had this in stock for our customers. It's a beautiful, clear crystal, Guardian Angel rosary for the car. Comes on a card. $7.75 plus shipping.

We have a new addition to our glass holy water bottle line. Welcome St. Joseph! The bottle holds 2 oz. of water and is available for $1.75 plus shipping. We also have St. Michael, Our Lady of Lourdes, Sacred Heart, Guardian Angel, and Our Lady of Fatima (while supplies last for this month).

We have also replenished our stock of the black wood rosary bracelet, our gold rosary rings, the 4-way cross/I am a Catholic pendant, and our pardon cross necklaces. So many great items and all are at affordable prices! Visit our ebay store today http://stores.ebay.com/gloryglorygifts/.

Have a great weekend!

Mare

Returning to Jesus, Through Mary

I don't know why people find that concept to be so confusing or even deny that it is even possible. Many people return to Jesus, or find Him, through His Mother.  Today, I couldn't imagine my life without Him. He is the reason why I get up each day and is the absolute center of my life. It hasn't always been this way. It has been a long and windy road for me but it was definitely His Mother that put me on the path to Him and I am most grateful to her for doing so.

Many years ago, going back to the mid-90's in fact, I was struggling with and juggling so many things. My Dad had died in '89 and my Mom had gotten sick shortly after that. Tom was young and we were running to evening and weekend things like basketball and Boy Scouts. I had a full-time, stressful, job was going to school at night, chauffeuring  him around, was a Scout leader and had a significant other. On top of that, I was caring for my gravely ill Mom. The same year that she was sick my best friend also became gravely ill. They passed away within months of each other, in 1994.

Way back then I was not a practicing Christian, let alone Catholic, but I did make it to church every Sunday. I was also heavily into spiritual stuff like psychic readings, tarot, crystals, healing and read everything I could get my hands on from people like Sylvia Brown and John Edward. I also dabbled with the Ouija when I was younger (BIG, BIG mistake).  I read the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Gnostic Gospels, the Infancy Gospels and all of the texts from the Nag Hammadi scrolls. I was definitely heading into more of a Gnostic bent than anything else. That is, until my Mom was in her last days with us.

I remember hospice telling us what to look for. People that are dying seem to be walking that fine line between our reality and the next. By the time my Mom was at that point I had already had the experience with two other close relatives but nothing prepared me for what happened with her. Quite a lot of things happened in the house when she was in her final week, but I will only acknowledge one of them that had a direct influence on my spiritual life. I have to first say that when people are dying, (those that are NOT medicated but going through the natural process), they can see and talk to us, but they also kind of disconnect from us and can see and hear things that we can't. They see those that have passed, they can see angels and other entities and they can hear and converse with them as well. Sometimes they are cognizant of both realities, other times they are in one or the other. I know this all sounds strange, but ask any hospice worker and they will tell you some amazing tales of their own. I saw it with my own eyes, as did anyone else that was in the room with her. I will call the periods of when she was not in our reality as "in the zone."

On that one occasion, I walked into the room, she was in the zone. She had a small, clear crystal, one-decade rosary on her bureau top that I had actually bought for her for Christmas one year. I hadn't picked one up in years, but I did pick up that one and started to pray on it. When I was done, I put it back on the bureau and sat with her, waiting for her to come back. When she did, she took my hand and said, "They said you are doing good with that." I asked, with what? She nodded toward the rosary beads and said, "with them." Well, knock my socks off, why don't you, Mom? She went on to tell me that "they" were praying with me. She was fully aware of them doing just that.

After she passed, I took the rosary. I started to pray on it once in a while. I learned how to say it correctly, reciting the mysteries of Jesus and contemplating them while the beads moved through my hands and the prayers through my heart. In 1998 I started going to the Monday night Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal novena at my church. I wasn't actually wearing one at the time but it was a beautiful service with prayers said to Mary, imploring her to protect us and lead us to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. During the novena, there was a short sermon by the priest and then a benediction, where songs were sung in Latin and the Eucharist was exposed for adoration. It is a beautiful service and I soon found that prayers asked for during the novena were being answered. My reciting of the rosary grew from one decade a day to all five. I can tell you, you cannot say a rosary without growing closer to Jesus as you meditate on so many of his experiences ~ the birth, the agony in the garden, the carrying of the cross, the crucifixion. THIS is how Mary brings people to Jesus through her.  By 1997, I was not only going to Mass on Sunday, I was listening to the readings and hearing them, I was singing the hymns, I was listening to the homily given by the priest, and I was not only saying the prayers but understanding the meanings. With that, something wonderful happened. The Mass became a time of community and joy and a celebration of Christ with us, instead of a place I had to be on Sundays because that is the way it always was with my family. I am going to make a suggestion here. Put the book down and LISTEN during the readings and the homily. Flipping pages and reading along is distracting.  Just listen.

Instead of just having a Bible in the house, I cracked it open and read it from cover to cover. I went to Bible study groups, read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, started to go to the perpetual adoration chapel at a local church and eventually at my own church when it was created. By leaps and bounds, by prayer and contemplation, by opening myself up to my faith and closing myself off to many of the temptations of the world I found Christ Jesus waiting for me.

Now, my days are filled with prayer and my love of the Lord. I say prayers, I share them, I write them and I teach them. In the world's eyes I am not wealthy but in my eyes I am rich and enriched beyond belief.  I am so blessed that I picked up a small rosary so many years ago and answered Mary's call to return to her Son. It has been an incredible ride and an amazing journey. Thank you Mother Mary for loving me that much.

Have a beautiful week, despite the weather.

Peace,
Mare

News for Spring 2016

Hi all, first let me say that it looks like we are going to be doing a fair on Sunday, May 22nd, at Mt. Carmel in Staten Island. It has been years since we have done an outside venue, but I am very much looking forward to it. Details will follow on the time, but mark the date in your calendar.

We have a new line of economical pendants available on the website and ebay. Each comes on a 24" chain that drapes over the head (no clasp) and all are boxed. All are oxidized metal and made in Italy. They are just $5.00 plus shipping. You can find them on our necklace page at http://www.gloryglorygifts.com/necklaces---charms--sterling-crosses--swarovski-.html. They are near the bottom of the page.

We are thrilled that so far this year our sales are topping last years, for the same period. Even more thrilling are the top-selling items are prayer aids and sacramentals. (Okay, so that isn't super exciting for the majority of you, but it just tickles me pink.) Our top seller so far this year is our 4 oz. holy water bottle. That is just $1.60 plus shipping on our Anointing Set/Incense Page at: http://www.gloryglorygifts.com/anointing-sets--incense---incense-burners.html. We also have a 2 oz. cross shaped bottle.

Our second top seller this year is our gold, one-decade, rosary ring. This is just $1.15 plus shipping and comes in an organza pouch. You can find them here: http://www.gloryglorygifts.com/rosary-rings--chaplets--scapulars.html.

Last, but certainly not least, is The Good Shepherd Prayer Book, which is filled with Catholic prayers of all types. 64 pages and pocket-sized edition at 3" x 2". It is just $1.25 plus shipping. You can find the booklet here, on our Rosary Page,  for purchase: http://www.gloryglorygifts.com/5-decade-rosaries.html

Of course, we have lots of other beautiful items on the website too. Check it out and shop today with confidence. We believe in quality products and customer service and satisfaction. We look forward to your visit.

Have a blessed week.

Mare

New Items for Autumn, 2015

I cannot believe it is already mid-October. It seems like it was just yesterday I was sitting outside soaking up the sun on the lounge chair. Wait, it was just today actually. It is gorgeous here on our little island today. It is in the low 70's, the sky is blue and the sun is hot. I am not ready to give up my Summer weather yet, especially after the miserable Winter that I had earlier this year, but nobody asked me. Autumn is here and Winter is just behind it. Which is a good thing. That means that we have new items for Autumn as well as new Keep Christ in Christmas magnets for the season after that. Just click on the photos to see the products enlarged.

For starters, we have some new bracelets and sets to offer you. We have a gorgeous pearl and Bohemian crystal Miraculous Medal set that are $35.00 USD each. Colors available are white with clear crystals and white with sapphire-colored crystals:

We also have a new wrap bracelet that is made of cherry-colored wood with gold separator beads and a Murano-style, heart shaped glass bead bracelet. They are $3.00 and $7.50 respectively.

 ALL of these beautiful bracelets can be found on our Rosary & Prayer Bracelet page at: http://www.gloryglorygifts.com/rosary---prayer-bracelets.html. Just make sure to scroll down!

We have a new ladder rosary as well. Comes in a velvet box and it is a beautiful light sapphire color. Only $25.00. You can find that at our Rosary Bead page at http://www.gloryglorygifts.com/5-decade-rosaries.html. They are very beautiful in person!

Also new for Autumn 2015 are two new designs for car magnets. Let us all KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS and start spreading the word now~~

Our magnets are an affordable $3.25 this year and are ready for you to purchase them and spread the news! You can find the new designs on our Auto Rosaries, Statues and Magnets Page at http://www.gloryglorygifts.com/auto-rosaries--statues-and-magnets-1.html.

That's it for now. We look forward to your visit at GloryGloryGifts.com. Have a peaceful and beautiful week, wherever you may be.

Mare

Do You Really Understand the Rosary?

Often, I meet people that do not understand the Rosary, which is a prayer that Catholics say. Even Catholics do not say it correctly, which doesn't surprise me. Many people that are my age, in particular, seem to have lost the fine art of reciting it or prayer in general. It is not a prayer that is only for Catholics either; I know quite a few others that recite it.

Rosary means garland of roses and roses are associated with Mother Mary. Tradition has it that it was being said prior to St. Domenic's vision of the Blessed Mother in 1221, but no known date or source has been verified. St. Domenic has been credited with spreading devotion of the prayer, though.

The Rosary is a daily prayer, though you can say it as often as you like. To clear up one of the biggest misconceptions about it, it does not elevate Mary above any one of the Holy Trinity. In fact, if you are meditating on Mary throughout it you are saying the prayer incorrectly. While saying the Rosary you, in fact, meditate on a number of mysteries of Jesus' life. The mysteries are broken up into 4 categories - the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious.

Joyful:
The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Birth of Our Lord, The Presentation in the Temple and The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Mondays & Saturdays, also Sundays during Advent)

Luminous:
The Baptism in the Jordan, The Miracle at the Cana Wedding, The Proclamation of the Kingdom, The Transfiguration and the Institution of the Eucharist (Thursday)

Sorrowful:
The Agony in the Garden, The Scourging at the Pillar, The Crowning with Thorns, The Carrying of the Cross, The Crucifixion (Tuesday & Friday, also Sundays during Lent)

Glorious:
The Resurrection, The Ascension, The Descending of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption and the Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven (Wednesdays and Sundays in ordinary time)

You meditate on each mystery for each decade of the Rosary being said. You can dedicate the entire rosary to an intention, or each decade to one. Remember, you meditate on each Mystery and not the intention when you are saying it.

Also important during the recitation is the Our Father prayer. After each decade the Glory be is said, "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen" Hopefully you can now see that the Rosary is a prayer that has the Holy Trinity as the focal points.

Now, about the Hail Mary prayer. The first part:

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee,
blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb", Jesus

is text that is taken from the Bible during the Blessed Mother's visit to her cousin Elizabeth. Her own baby leapt in her womb with joy upon meeting Mary. (Luke 1:39-46). It is recognizing Mary as a woman that is incredibly blessed to be carrying God in her womb. Surely you can see the magnitude of this event?

The last half of the prayer is asking Mary, as our Mother, to pray for us" "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death" Amen. Do you not ask your own Mother, Father, family or friends to pray for you? Why not ask our Blessed Mother to pray for us as well? A beautiful example of Mary intervening for someone with Jesus is at the wedding feast in Cana. Remember that? She was like well, son, they are running out of wine and he was like well, woman, my time has not come yet. Yet he listened and responded to her request to intervene. She will take care of us as well. Just ask her to.

I find it fascinating that people can't wrap their head around Mary being born without sin. If God can create creatures such as angels, which are pure spiritual beings, why wouldn't he create a human that is pure? Mary wasn't chosen to be the Mother of God. She was created to be the Mother of God. I can't see why God would put his son into a broken or stained vessel. That makes less sense, to me anyway. We were all created for a specific purpose in this life. That was Mary's. Back to the rosary.

Prayers have been added to the rosary, after Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France, in 1858. During the visits she asked Bernadette to spread devotion to the Rosary and taught her additional prayers to be said. These additional ones are prayers to Christ and to St. Michael, the archangel, for protection against evil. To learn more about Bernadette and the messages given to her you can visit this website, which is dedicated to her: http://www.marypages.com/bernadetteEng.htm.

I am attaching how to say the rosary, as well as the prayers. It is my hope that I have shed a little light on this glorious prayer and that more people say it. If you are interested in starting to say the rosary and are in need of beads we have lovely affordable ones on the website. Our rosary rings start at just $1.30 and our beads start at $5.00. You can find them on the Children's, Rosary, and Patron Saint pages. http://www.gloryglorygifts.com.

Have a blessed and peaceful day.

Mare

If you cannot see this well, you can also find it on our Prayer Page on the website at: http://www.gloryglorygifts.com/the-prayer-page.html

WE HAVE A DELIGHTFUL ROSARY STARTER KIT TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS BLOG. $2.00 PLUS SHIPPING. White plastic beads in a clear sleeve, with instructions and prayers.

Ponder

To ponder what is peace of mind
A concept lost on some
The ebb and flow when thoughts unwind
A stress moratorium

A concept lost on some
too jaded by materialistic goals
A stress moratorium
still fleeting to these driven souls

Too jaded by materialistic goals
Propelled by typhoons, not a breeze
Still fleeting to these driven souls
A life of peace, a mind at ease

Propelled by typhoons, not a breeze
The drive to succeed outweighs the cost
A life of peace, a mind at ease
Succumbing to greed while Eden's lost

The drive to succeed outweighs the cost
Swimming with the sharks in kind
Succumbing to greed while Eden's lost
To ponder what is peace of mind

A pantoum by Marianne E. Hare, copyright 2003
(published - though I'm too lazy to get up and look for the book the poem was printed in)
THE PLATE DEPICTED IS NOT FOR SALE!

Puddles

Here is a little Villanelle I came up with six years ago after 28 days of rain in May though it fits quite nicely into this years weather pattern as well.

Puddles

What is in a drop of rain?

Falling hard or misting dew

puddles causing much disdain

Tapping on the window pane

in the sky not a hint of blue

What is in a drop of rain?

The forecast is the same refrain

so I dream about a rendezvous

Puddles causing much disdain

Days are becoming most mundane

we could share a kiss or two

What is in a drop of rain?

When will this stormy weather wane

with sunbeams bright and shining through?

What is in a drop of rain?

puddles causing much disdain