Decoupage Spiritual Bouquet

I’ve worked across many mediums in my artistic escapades, but I don’t know how or why Decoupage has eluded me.  Well, now I can cross it off the “attempted” list, but definitely not off the mastered! Our dear friends are moving North, and as they have given so much to us and our Church, it required a special gift.  I wanted to present them with a Spiritual Bouquet. For those unfamiliar what a Spiritual Bouquet is, a brief explanation would be:

The Spiritual Bouquet is basically a gift of prayer from a group of people.  It is comprised of gathering whatever form of prayers or offerings each person wishes to make for the recipient. For example, someone might offer 2 Rosaries and a Holy Communion.  Another person might offer a two acts of charity and a Morning Prayer. Or one might enroll them at a Shrine or with a Religious order for Masses to be offered daily over a certain period of time.  It all varies, as it depends on whatever spiritual offerings the gift-givers desire to make.  These would then be compiled somehow, such as in a card, and then presented as a Spiritual Bouquet to someone.

I searched online for ideas to create a grownup Spiritual Bouquet.  Nothing totally grabbed me, but some ideas did start forming.  I emailed our retreat team and asked for them to respond with their offerings for our friends. Then I created a personalized template, printed out the offering cards, and wrote down each person’s offerings.  I’m going to attempt my first FREE downloadable PDF file of this template for those interested (I took out the family’s name, so it’s a generic form).  Hold your applause, please.  Click this Link:  Spritual Bouquet Cards

I also printed & cut extra to bring to the going-away party for others interested in adding to the bouquet.

Lastly, I decoupaged a small pine box to not only personalize the gift, but give them a spiritual keepsake — also easy to move across the country.

I found on Pinterest how to make my own “Modge Podge” with water and Elmer’s Glue.  I dumped the whole bottle of glue in my fancy pickle jar and then filled it back up 2/3’s with water,  and then shook up.  It worked OK, but I’ve never used Modge Podge, so I can’t do a fair comparison honestly.

Pinterest suggestion to make your own “Modge Podge” with water + glue in a jar

This Divine Mercy card was from the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Krakow, Poland, where St. Faustina lived and died as a religious sister.

Our team logo and a fitting scripture

This St. Therese the Little Flower prayer card was from Lisieux, France, where this Doctor of the Church lived and died.

The Decoupage Pine Box with the Spiritual Bouquet cards

Note: After I glued the items on the wood box, I let it dry for a bit, and then sprayed it with Krylon’s “Low Odor Clear Finish”.  That gave it a protective and glossy finish.

That’s the quick version, friends.  In the end, this makes a nice personalized gift from the heart, full of prayers, and a thoughtful keepsake!

Bless my Ride!

What a beating this month has brought upon our two cars!  Still, in each instance, it could have been so much worse.  I am grateful that God is looking after us, amidst it all.

Here’s the quick rundown:

#1  A little less then a month ago, a drunk driver backed into Ruby, our less-then-a-year old Mariner, in a parking garage.  I am thankful that no one was hurt (but Ruby), the insurance ended up picking up the tab, and someone unfit for driving on a Sunday afternoon was no longer behind the wheel.

Ruby got a lift to the shop

#2  Then, the week after we got Ruby back from the repair shop, she wouldn’t start 2 mornings in a row.  We found out that the starter had gone out.  Grateful that the car is still under warranty, they came out and towed her to the dealership & fixed her up right.  Again no out of pocket cost to us, and she’s been running like a champ once again.

#3  Our little ol’ Corolla was broken into last night.  This morning, my neighbor found our car with doors and trunk wide open, and all our stuff combed over.  Thank God I had cleaned it out about 2 weeks ago!  When I went down to check it out, I could scarcely believe that nothing seems to have been taken.  Even though they went through the glovebox, the Garmin GPS and Radar Detector were still in the car!  Did they get caught in the act and run off?  Did my Rosary, WWJD pillow, prayer card, and Our Lady of the Highways visor clip give them a complex?  Was there really just nothing that they found valuable in it?  I don’t know.  But the car and its contents all seem to be OK, thankfully.

So we’ve now had our three incidents, and I’m hoping that we are square. Definitely feels like now is a good time as any to get some more protection on the cars, and I’m not talking insurance if you know what I mean.  I always have said prayers in my car, but I don’t know if I’ve said a blessing over my car.  I found one at www.catholic.org, and since I know I’m not the only one who needs it – here it is.  May our rides be blessed, my friends!

Blessing of an Automobile

We need this Priest to come out to our complex!

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who has made heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.

Let us pray.

Lend a willing ear, Lord God, to our prayers, and bless this vehicle with Your holy right hand. Direct Your holy angels to accompany it, that they may free those who ride in it from all dangers, and always guard them. And just as by Your deacon Philip You gave faith and grace to the man of Ethiopia as he sat in his chariot reading the Sacred Word, so, point out to Your servants the way of salvation. Grant that, aided by Your grace, and with their hearts set on good works, they may, after all the joys and sorrows of this journey through life, merit to receive eternal joys, through Christ our Lord.

My Favorite Prayer

In her own handwriting, the prayer of St. Teresa of Avila

Shuffling through some of my stowed away things while doing some project work, I rediscovered this gem.  This postcard purchase dates back to 1997, the spring I spent in the Austria study-abroad program, whilst out happily galavanting around the other side of the world.

St. Teresa of Avila was a Carmelite Nun of the 16th century Spain.  In her early years little T showed a real backbone for the Faith from as early as 5-years-old [hit up that link for more on her story.]  Then she put her folks through some real typical teenage rebellion years.  Take heart, Dads who think that sending your daughter away to a Convent will solve everything:  In this case, it not only worked but also cranked out an amazing Saint!

It looks like I now have a powerful new intercessor that meshes well with me, as she is the Patroness of not only headache sufferers (I’ve suffered with Migraines since Junior High School), but also Spanish Catholic Writers.  I wonder if she would adopt a Hungry-Mexican writer?  Hmm, worth praying for a shot at least…

Reflecting on this, it really is an exquisite prayer.  Simple yet profound; full of hope; directing all things back to total trust in Our Father God.  I would expect nothing less then this from one of the three female Doctors of the Church. This card shows the prayer written in St. Teresa’s own handwriting. You may have noticed it’s in Spanish as well, which makes sense since she was born in the province of Avila in Spain.

Take this prayer with you into your day.  May it help you rise above the challenges you may face, the unkind words that may be spoken to you, the busy coldness of the world rushing around you, the things weighing on your mind…  In short, may it lift you up to the God who loves you.

The translation is as follows:

Let nothing disturb you,

Let nothing frighten you,

All things pass away:

God never changes.

Patience obtains all things.

He who has God

Finds he lacks nothing;

God alone suffices.

-St. Teresa of Avila

Venerable Pope John Paul II, pray for us!

Only three more days between us and Divine Mercy Sunday.  That also means that the day that our beloved Pope John Paul II’s Beatification in Rome also lies just around the bend. Many of wish we could be physically be there, but there are other ways to join in on the celebration.

In my work at CCC of America, our team has been working hard on launching the re-release of a special 4-disc documentary series, John Paul II:  The Man, The Pope and His Message.  It will be an awesome resource for all ages, especially since it will have curriculum and other extras to guide discussions!  The release date has not been firmly established, but we are all working hard and are beyond excited about distributing this 5-hour, 10 volume series of intimate moments captured by famed Italian Journalist, Alberto Michelini, and his special arrangements through the Vatican. It is a moving tribute to a true hero that I was incredibly blessed to have met at Mass in his Private Chapel in 1997.

I wanted to pass along a prayer that I was commissioned to write at work for the website we are working on for the Documentary Series.  I thought it may help us all prepare for his Beatification. If you would be so kind as to remember also our efforts to get this special edition ready and out in order to spread his message – we would be indebted for the prayer support, thanks!

Here is the prayer.  I hope it will bear fruit in all of our lives:

PRAYER FOR THE INTERCESSION OF POPE JOHN PAUL II

Trusting in the mercies of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we approach the throne of grace asking for Pope John Paul II to intercede on our behalf.  May his example inspire faith, hope, and charity in our hearts and those around us, since during his time on earth he truly mirrored the Good Shepherd to the Church.

Help us live out his message to “be not afraid,” in word and in deed.  May we follow his lead of “putting out into the deep”, and never grow weary of showing compassion to those in need.  Move within us, increasing our desire to contemplate the face of Christ as he faithfully did.

Advocate of building a culture of life through art and media, through your intercession, please allow us to be vessels of truth to future generations.

Blessed Mother, we consecrate ourselves a new to you this day.  As he entrusted his petitions to your maternal care, we do the same now.  Mary, protect us and guide us to your Son.

Grant us, though the intercession of your servant Pope John Paul II, the graces which we now implore (mention request).  May Your will be done in and through us.

AMEN

St. Andrew, Pray for Us

May this Christmas Novena prepare our hearts to receive the King of Kings

Like his brother, Simon Peter, Andrew began as a Fisherman who, mentored by the Lord, later became a Fisher of Men. Originally a follower of St. John the Baptist, once John declared, “Behold the Lamb of God!”, Andrew accepted his calling as the first disciple of Christ.  It is believed that after Jesus ascended into heaven, Andrew took the Good News to Greece.  Suffering persecution for his faith, he was tied to a cross and left to die.  For two days as he hung there, he continued to preach to those gathered.  A remarkable example of faithfulness to his last breath, St. Andrew, pray for us.

The following Novena prayer was given to me by an employee of Franciscan University, affectionately called the “Queen of Novenas”. As she handed me the prayer card, the beloved Switchboard Operator, Erla, confided that this was a powerful Novena, and to choose my intention carefully. As such, I faithfully uttered it fifteen times a day as my Grandfather suffered from terminal Cancer.  How blessed was I then to share the most tender and undoubtedly the most memorable of all of our Christmas gatherings with Grandpa and our family on the final day of the Novena.

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

Imprimatur
+MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York
New York, February 6, 1897

Further reflecting on the call of St. Andrew (John 1:35-42), there is a simple exchange between he and Jesus that has revealed a more profound meaning to me this day.  As the passage relates, the Lord had sensed Andrew walking behind him, and asked, “What do you seek?”.  Andy responded, “Where are you staying?”  Jesus replied, “Come and see.”  And after they had stayed with him but a short time, Andrew went to his brother, Simon Peter, and told him, “We have found the Messiah.”  In this “the Rock” was led to his Discipleship, to encounter Christ and thus embrace the greatest calling on his life.  In meditating on this passage and prayer as we prepare for His coming, I feel He poses the same question to us, “What do you seek?”  Whatever the intention may be, all of it can be traced back to our deepest longing — for Him.  Desiring to experience more of Him, we may inquire just as Andrew did, “Where are you staying?” Just as He did over 2,000 years ago, he lovingly responds, “Come and see,” and He takes us deeper into our hearts to encounter Him ever anew during this Advent. Growing in our relationship with Him – the King of Kings who resides within us – may hopefully lead us to respond as this Saint did.  Unable to contain his life-altering discovery, Andrew sought out his brother exclaiming, “We have found the Messiah” and led his loved one to Him.

May this Advent be a time of blessing for you, a new journey of deeper discovery after that which you seek.

Happy Feast Day of St. Thérèse of Lisieux

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, pray for us!

“I have glorified you on earth; I have finished the work you gave me to do.  And now do you, Father, glorify me with yourself, with the glory I had with you before the world existed.

“I have manifested your name to those whom you have given me out of the world.  They were yours, and you have given them to me, and they have kept your word.  Now they have learned that whatever you have given me is from you; because the words you have given me, I have given to them.  And they have received them, and have known of a truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.

“I prayer for them, not for the world do I pray, but for those whom you have given me, because they are yours; and all things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I am glorified in them.  And I am no longer in the world, and I am coming to you.  Holy Father, keep in your name those whom you have given to me.

“But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, in order that they may have joy made full in themselves.  I have given them your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  I do not pray that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from evil.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

“Yet not for these only do I pray, but for those who through their word are to believe in me.

“Father, I will that where I am, these also whom you have given me may be with me, that they may see my glory which you have given me, because you loved me from the foundation of the world.  And I have made known your name to them, and will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

I pray that this spiritual journey alongside me guided by St. Thérèse of Lisieux has been one of blessing for you, and that her “Little Way” has become enlivened in you somehow. Happy Feast Day, my friend, and may your novena prayers be answered by a heavenly shower of roses this day!  And I can’t wait to hear about it either, so don’t keep them to yourself – share the blessings you receive!

A Prayer for Freedom in Your Soul

Winding down after a long day, and a great night that involved two wonderful things: Baklava and Greek Dancing, OPA!  So I will leave you with a simple yet profound prayer, courtesy of a dear Cajun friend 🙂

“May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.”

AMEN!