Off to Africa!

These lovely, crisp linens are on their way now through the [less-than-prompt] postal route from the USA to AFRICA! 

Two generous seamstresses donated their time and talent in the creation of these amices, purificators, lavabo towels, and corproals that will soon mantle the very altar of Our Lord's repose and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass - in a mission church.  The good priest who runs the mission has seen such an increase in attendance over the past few months, that more Mass times are necessary to add on the regular Sunday schedule. In addition, an altar boy guild and Daughters of the Mission society are presently in formation, providing excellent activities in sports, carpentry, cooking, and sewing for the young members of the mission, under the direction of the pastor. What a joy to be able to be even the smallest part of this great work in the form of little embroidered crosses to this growing mission. :)

Interested in supporting this African Mission and learning more? Click here to donate through a safe and secure site and enjoy reading about the blessings your donation will provide to the care of so many souls.

For an insider scoop to the work, fun, and stories in the Catholic Embroidery world, follow us on Facebook!

www.catholicembroidery.com

Embroidery for the Elderly

We've been busy here in the Catholic Embroidery workshop! With Easter at hand and a host of Liturgical and Sacramental celebrations in the near forecast, our needles have been flying away, creating designs for Easter, First Communions, Ordinations, and more.

Easter and Marian feasts will be duly celebrated at the nursing home with these appliques

It was a pleasure to work with a local seamstress on designs to complement vestments to be worn at a nursing home throughout the year. These were created just-in-time to be applied to vestments for the upcoming feasts of Easter, Pentecost, Masses of Our Lady in May. I think we covered the next few months' worth of feasts with these beauties! What do you think?

Not a coincidence that this design was created during the recent conclave :-)

www.catholicembroidery.com

Viva San Giuseppe!

Do you have a devotion to St. Joseph? 

Viva San Guiseppe Applique created for a church in LA

If you do, then you have an idea as to the power, protection, and patronage behind the Foster Father of Our Lord. And, if you're new to this devotion and saint, you're in for a real treat! Discovering St. Joseph is like finding a lost father. So close is he to the Throne of God and the heart of Our Lady that in finding him, in him we find the Holiest of Families. 

Today starts the novena to St. Joseph, to end on the eve of his March 19th feast-day. While there are so many novena prayers to choose from, I must share with you our family's favorite. Each member of our family chooses an intention, usually including a need for a male family member or friend (father, uncle, grandfather, neighbor, etc. - because after all, St. Joseph is especially fond of fathers and leaders of families) and we pray the novena prayer below, together. In this way, we're all uniting our intentions into one giant "delivery", heavenward. It is safe to say that not ONE intention has ever been left unanswered, and our amazement never ceases when an uncle or friend converts, a holy spouse is provided for, a job is found, or our own father's graces are multiplied.  From small financial requests to bankruptcy - St. Joseph is there to aid his children, no matter the level of impossibility or need. 

Will you join us this year, in offering to St. Joseph your nearest and dearest of intentions? 

Novena Prayer to St. Joseph: 

O glorious St. Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, to you we raise our hearts and hands to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the benign heart of Jesus all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly for the grace of a happy death and the special favor we now implore. (mention your request)

(7 Times) O glorious St. Joseph, through the love you bear to Jesus Christ and for the glory of His name, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions.

Amen.

These Viva San Giusepee appliques were created for customers participating in the St. Joseph Altar tradition. They will be sewn onto aprons, altar coverings, etc.

www.catholicembroidery.com

Maniturgium Revisited

Do you remember the Maniturgium post we wrote last year? In it, we shared the meaning, use, and sample of our embroidery work on this treasured and unfortunately, often unknown linen. Let's recap...

MANITURGIUM: A fine linen cloth, often embroidered with fine lace or some insignia, used by a newly ordained priest after annointing with holy oils. It was removed from the Rite of Ordination but is often still used by the newly ordained when they return to the sacristy to clean their hands. This MANITURGIUM is then put aside by the priest to be used to place in the hands of his deceased mother before burial." (The Church Visible" by James-Charles Noonan, Jr.)

After receiving so many maniturgium requests over the years, we have finally begun to carry a "set" style for purchase on our website. Not only does this listing introduce the possibilities for customization, it also provides seminarians with a "quick order" format for a beautiful and sacred addition to their priesthood. 

This maniturgium was designed by our studio with and for a seminarian in Pennsylvania, who will be ordained a priest in just a few short months. Please keep Deacon L. in your prayers!

His design was so beautiful and so "perfect" in it's construction that we decided it must be made available to others who would like to enjoy the same, without having to go through the hassle of creating a custom design. (Preparations for Ordinations are complicated enough, right?)

Designs: Quatrefoil IHS Cross (with freedom to change color scheme upon request)
Monogram: Tu es Sacerdos in Aeternum - You are a priest forever

 

As I finished this maniturgium and folded it carefully in preparation for shipment, I couldn't help by thank God for the privilege of serving His priests and being even the smallest part of this treasured linen. 

A Commencement Speech Without Words

Our new Vendee Patches are more than a kid's accessory!

From a valued customer: "I've received the Vendée Cross patch. Thank you very much for shipping it so swiftly, and I must say that it has, indeed, exceeded my expectations. I'm a professor at Loyola Marymount University, here in Los Angeles, and I had hoped to wear the patch pinned to my academic robe at commencement; I shall certainly do so proudly. Many thanks, and every blessing for Lent. " 

Thank you, Professor, for this encouraging example of living the Faith and serving Christ the King in the public forum - and at a Catholic University commencement, at that!

God bless,
Mary

www.catholicembroidery.com 

GIVEAWAY: *Lent and Easter* in Hearts & Homes

Winners announced!! See below:

Many bloggers have written beautiful and encouraging posts and articles on the "keywords" of making a good Lenten preparation for Easter. Words such as "renew" and "prepare" apply to Advent as they do in Lent. After all, this "coming" of Christ as redeemer is also the anniversary of our redemption!

Taking these wise words to heart and home, we're hosting another giveaway, featuring your favorite, Lenten Traditions. Remember all of those great traditions we learned about in the Advent giveaway? Let's talk Lent!

Simply leave a comment to this post with a reflection you put into action during the Lenten season in preparation for Easter. Be they certain family sacrifices, traditions, prayers, works, etc. - we want to hear all about them! In honor of the coming feast of Easter and in thanks for participation from our guests, friends, and commentators, we'll be giving away TWO of the Catholic Embroidery Easter specials to TWO lucky winners:

Pysanky Basket Liner/Cover, embroidered with our traditional Ukrainian Budded Cross design

Congratulations to PATTY, who shared, "In our little family we go out of our way to pray a family Rosary every night. We usually pair it with a novena, which keeps us motivated to make sure to pray every single night. By the time Lent is over, it is a good habit we have formed and we do our best to carry it on the rest of the year."

Lamb of God Apron, embroidered with the Triumphant Lamb of God design on washable white fabric (lol)

Congratulations to Jennifer Gregory Miller, who shared, "A few of our Lenten traditions: We pray a decade of the rosary every night, except Stations of the Cross on Fridays. We have a grapevine wreath with craft picks for thorns. These are removed every time extra prayers, good deeds or sacrifices are performed.

Ladies, please send us your mailing address by March 25th. Thank you all for participating!

**With two winners in the forecast, a second chance at winning is at hand. Simply "Like" us on Facebook and leave a comment here, telling us about it in order to qualify for a second chance at winning these lovely additions to the Easter table.

To ensure that the winners will be able to put these items to good use, the giveaway will end on Laetare Sunday at 11:59PM . International visitors are welcome.

Can't wait to hear about your favorite Lenten traditions!

P.S. Don't forget your St. Patrick Breastplate Pillowcases for St. Patrick's Day!

www.catholicembroidery.com

Trefoil Chalice & Pall Design

Your request is our desire! Our third new design of the week is an answer to many customer requests:

 Finally - a chalice and host design with two tone metallic thread!

Choose our Trefoil Chalice design on your next custom-made missal cover and see the delightful coupling of two-tone thread in-action. A perfect design for First Communion gifts, the Trefoil Chalice would be the perfect gift as Remembrance Embroidered Artwork.
To the right, you'll find it stitched in two tone metallic and ready for application on missal covers!


Created with an additional angular border, the Trefoil Chalice Pall design was inspired by handmade antique embroidery found in Belgian abbeys. While not condusive to the ordinary application, this exclusive design is ready to stitch on the next "Peter's" Pall. :)

Trefoil Chalice and Trefoil Chalice Pall Designs © Catholic Embroidery, 2013

www.catholicembroidery.com