Recently we have found the most wonderful community of Catholic Artisans on instagram and we are delighted to introduce you to Rebecca at Delphina Rose Art who has just created an absolutely beautiful Marian Colouring bundle to add to her gorgeous religious artwork on Etsy  ! It is always a pleasure to introduce people to other Catholic Artisans and help them to spread the Good News through the beauty of their work! 

Mothers are such a wonderful gift to the world and to the Church – it is an honour to be blessed with a family and the task of bringing children up with faith, hope and love, and one that we, ourselves, often forget the value of.

This Mothers day has been particularly special for me as the birth of my third child fast approaches and I know I will have the joy and trials a newborn brings once again. The children are so excited to welcome this new member to our family and into our joyful Church!

Our Blessed Mother, we must remember was an earthly Mother also, she had the joys, and struggles we all have! She was given to us as an example on how to follow Christ in perfect love, and how to remain close to God in our struggles. We cannot underestimate the power of her intercession and her example in our lives as mothers, models and examples to our Children.

 I have seen some beautiful reflections on Mothers over the past few days as we approach mothers day, and decided to share two of them – I’d also love to hear yours!

 “The most important person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral — a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby’s body. The Angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God’s Creative miracle to bring new Saints to Heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creatures. God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation. What on God’s good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?”

Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty, on the importance of a Mother.

This next reflection is a little more humourous and aimed at all women – but it really brings home the many facets of life for a woman and also of a mother. God gave women an incredibly beautiful role in the world, one of beauty, honour, dignity and strength:

WOMAN

When God created woman he was working late on the 6th day, an angel came by and asked." Why spend so much time on her?" The lord answered. "Have you seen all the specifications I have to meet to shape her?". She must function on all kinds of situations, 
She must be able to embrace several kids at the same time, have a hug that can heal anything from a bruised knee to a broken heart, She must do all this with only two hands,"
She cures herself when sick and can work 18 hours a day"

THE ANGEL was impressed" Just two hands? impossible! And this is the standard model?"

The Angel came closer and touched the woman, "But you have made her so soft, Lord".
"She is soft", said the Lord, "But I have made her strong. You can't imagine what she can endure and overcome"

"Can she think?" The Angel asked. The Lord answered. "Not only can she think, she can reason and negotiate"

The Angel touched her cheeks....
"Lord, it seems this creation is leaking! You have put too many burdens on her" 
"She is not leaking...it is a tear" The Lord corrected the Angel, "What's it for?" Asked the Angel..... . The Lord said. "Tears are her way of expressing her grief, her doubts, her love, her loneliness, her suffering and her pride."

This made a big impression on the Angel, "Lord, you are a genius. You thought of everything. A woman is indeed marvellous" The Lord said."Indeed she is.

She has strength that amazes a man. She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens.
She holds happiness, love and opinions. She smiles when she feels like screaming.
She sings when she feels like crying, cries when happy and laughs when afraid.
She fights for what she believes in. Her love is unconditional. Her heart is broken when a next-of-kin or a friend dies but she finds strength to get on with life"

The Angel asked: So she is a perfect being? The lord replied: No. She has just one drawback "She often forgets what she is worth".

(unknown) 

“What did you go out into the wilderness to look at?”—Matthew 11:7

Having recently started a full time job, i have been very short of time, but not short on prayer - i found this beautiful reflection on the third sunday of advent - what has been your prayer and reflection this week? 

This advent reflection has been taken from Ignatian spirituality.com

As we begin this time of quiet prayer, I invite you to find a comfortable place to sit with your back straight and your legs planted on the ground. Allow yourself to notice your breathing as you breathe normally. Breathe in. Breathe out.

Take a few moments and close your eyes, preparing yourself to listen to what God may be saying to you during this prayer. As you sit with your eyes closed, use these or similar words: “Here I am, Lord. Here I am.” When you are ready, open your eyes and pray.

Where is my wilderness?

Imagine you are walking down a busy street in a large city. There are people everywhere. It’s hard to move ahead because you are surrounded. The sounds of cars and buses and horns fill the air. Surprisingly, in the midst of the crowd and the noise you are calm. There is so much life around me, you think. How does this make you feel? As you walk further, you notice someone all bundled up sitting on the sidewalk. He is wrapped in a furry blanket on top of multiple layers of clothing. As you look closer, he is holding a sign that reads, “Are you ready to enter the wilderness?” You think, how strange. What do you think this means?

You are curious, so you decide to walk over to him. He looks up at you. His eyes look directly into yours. He smiles. What do you want to say to him? He says to you, “Are you ready? The time is coming and is now. Are you ready?”

“Ready for what?” you answer. He smiles and laughs a little. “Are you ready to enter your wilderness, ready to go into the wild to find what is most real?” His laugh makes you smile. You wonder, where is my wilderness?

The man looks up at you with a look that is full of love and acceptance. “I can only bring the message. It’s up to you to accept it. There is one coming who is fully alive, and he offers that to you. He has been to his wilderness, and he knows pain and suffering.” Where is your wilderness? What in your life do you need to accept? What pains are you holding onto?

He looks up at you and sees how you may be struggling to understand. He smiles and says, “He is coming to take all that you want to hide in darkness and bring it into the light of love and acceptance. Will you let him?” He smiles. You think you see such love in his eyes but you aren’t sure.

As you walk away, you think about what he said about acceptance and love, about pain and suffering. But your mind goes back to one phrase he said. Will you let him?

Will you let him? Will you?

Where is your wilderness?

Concluding Prayer

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.