Our Lady S Garden

Step away from the screen--from your television, your computer, your smartphone, your tablet--and take some time for creative mindfulness with a coloring book that will help slow your busy brain. Adults and young people alike will appreciate the opportunity to take time to meditate and pray, to share in the creativity of beloved Brazilian illustrator Veruscha Guerra, and to discover a new way of being with Our Lady in this very special garden.

Some years ago, a priest came to our parish, St. John of the Cross. We were having some prayer service, and we were saying the rosary. He would say a brief meditation before each Hail Mary bead and then he would say the Hail Mary. This lasted a few decades and was the seed that the Lord planted in my mind. Little did I know it would come to fruition in this book of meditation on the holy rosary the Holy Spirit was inspiring me to write. Unlike the other meditations that were placed before each decade and by the time one has said half of the decade, the idea of the meditation was forgotten. This, on the other hand, was constantly being read to keep focused on that particular decade being prayed. So how is the story of the rosary being recalled? By the keeping in mind each division as it in turn presents itself. These divisions being: Joyful, Illuminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious. By keeping all these in mind, we are bringing to mind how all of this happened for our salvation. By having the meditation before each Hail Mary, the whole picture of that decade is being constantly built up until the decade is completed. This tends to keep one's mind on his prayers and not to wander aimlessly. Thus, the whole story of our redemption is set before the one praying the rosary. This all started with the Redeemer, promised in the garden of Eden, and whose coming was kept alive all through the Old Testament, finally came to our world in the womb of the Virgin; thus, the Joyful Mysteries. It describes his living among us in the little house of Nazareth. It does not give all the details of his early life in helping his foster father, Joseph, in the carpenter shop. We wonder if he performed any acts of wonder when he played with his little playmates. He comes to focus again when he starts his ministry of our salvation: the Illuminous Mysteries. He goes to where John is baptizing at the River Jordan. Here the blessed Trinity is first exposed to the world and the story goes all through the Mysteries of Light which culminates at the last supper where he offers his life in the form of bread and wine for his people and then lays it down on the cross for all the world to see. In the Sorrowful Mysteries, we see this was the second chance for the sons of Adam to partake of the fruit from the tree of life, and a reminder that Adam and Eve neglected this fruit in the garden of Eden and chose instead to eat the fruit from the tree of evil or death. Thus, did Jesus go through all the torments of his passion culminating in his death on the tree of the cross for the life of us all. Next, the Glorious Mysteries tell of our Redeemer's victory over death and to lead his people, the Church which is his bride, to be with him forever. He and his mother, Mary, preceded us into the kingdom of Heaven to live the life he earned for his body the Church forever. This is the story of our salvation. It started back in the Old Testament, kept alive all through those times until he came "to do the will of him who sent him." This is the glorious story of our redemption. It is placed before us every time we "tell" our beads. That's what telling our beads really means. Remember this the next time you pray your rosary. Heaven is watching you.

This delightful rhyming book introduces Catholic children to the Blessed Virgin Mary in a fun and simple way—through her clothes! When Our Lady lived in Nazareth two thousand years ago, she was very poor and probably didn’t have many nice things to wear. But now that she’s in Heaven, she has an enormous mansion. And in that mansion she has an incredibly beautiful wardrobe filled with a great variety of dresses, veils, slippers, sashes, robes, rings and crowns. Over the centuries, Our Lady has visited the people of Earth many times. On each of these occasions she has dressed very differently. Our Lady’s Wardrobe tells the story of some of her most famous apparitions, highlighting the clothes she wore and the things she did. By reading this book, children will not only learn about the Mother of God, but will also learn the main purpose of her life—to love and serve her son, Jesus Christ, and to lead others to do the same.

Bring in the energy of wild places and work in harmony with the land to grow your own food and live sustainably. In this beautifully illustrated book, award-winning garden designer Mary Reynolds encourages us to create a bond with the land to restore its health and feel its energy. Drawing inspiration from permaculture traditions as well as the ancient multi-tiered approach of forest gardening, Mary demonstrates how to create a magical garden that is an expanding, living, interconnected ecosystem. The Garden Awakening is both art and inspiration for any garden lover seeking to create a positive and natural space while incorporating sustainable living such as growing your own food. It combines practical step-by-step instructions with spiritual, ancient Celtic stories to help you awaken any garden space, nurturing it to benefit both the land and the people in it. This design approach allows ecosystems to be whole and in balance while providing a place for human beings to live happy and productive lives. Transform your garden into a vibrant, wild area that embraces the spiritual side of nature with this wonderful read.

Marys flowers by Vincenzina Krymow Illustrated by A. Joseph Barrish, S.M. With Meditations by M. Jean FriskSince medieval times, flowers have taken their names from the virtues of Mary, or events in her life. Learn the legends that fostered such names, and their biblical origins. Spend time with the meditations they inspire.Marys Flowers: Gardens, Legends and Meditations is a treasury of botanical history and lore. Thirty beautiful illustrations based on medieval woodcuts bring each bloom to colorful life. Even if you don't plant a Mary garden of your own, you will find a virtual Eden within. Visit awhile with these pages and keep company with Mary.

A family's breast cancer journey as told through the innocent and sweet voices of two young brothers. -- Amazon website.