Summer Sabbatical for the Rosary Collectors

 The Rosary Collectors are taking a summer sabbatical and will not be publishing new blog posts until September 2018.  We thank our readers for their comments on the Rosary Collector Blog and look forward to working with them again.

You can learn more about antique and unusual rosaries, crosses, and medals by reading The Rosary Collector’s Guide, the hardcover reference book published by Schiffer Publishing.  With over 200 color photographs, The Rosary Collector’s Guide provides information on rosaries owned by England’s King Henry VIII to those honoring Pope Francis.  The Rosary Collector’s Guide is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Walmart.com, the Catholic Faith Store, and other book stores and religious article stores.

You can write to the authors of The Rosary Collector’s Guide at rosarycollector@aol.com

The Kitchen Madonna

 

When we think of the Holy Family, we remember Mary’s ability to create a nurturing environment for Baby Jesus.  Religious articles which depict Mary’s role as a homemaker are known as Kitchen Madonnas.

The Kitchen Madonna above was made in the 1950s.  The fireplace symbolizes the warmth of the home.  Mary holds a loaf of bread to show her willingness to provide for her family.

The plaque above recreates the same scene but this item was made in the 2000s.

As we complete our daily tasks, Kitchen Madonnas remind us of the spirit of the Holy Family.

 

  To learn more about religious articles, read The Rosary Collector’s Guide by Gloria Brady Hoffner and Helen Hoffner.  Published by Schiffer Publishing, The Rosary Collector’s Guide contains over 200 color photographs of rosaries, crosses, and center medals.  The Rosary Collector’s Guide is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and other book stores and religious article stores.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy Sunday will be celebrated in the United States on April 8, 2018.

 

On April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II declared, “Throughout the world the Second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday, a perennial invitation to the Christian world to face, with confidence in divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that mankind will experience in the years to come.”   The pope made that proclamation during the mass in which he canonized Saint Faustina. ( The Feast of Mercy, EWTN, http://www.ewtn.com).

Saint Faustina was given the name Helen Kowalska at birth and took the name Sister Maria Faustina when she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.  It is said that Christ came to her and asked her to spread word of his mercy.  This Polish nun was instructed to have a painting made showing Christ with blood and water flowing from His sides and the words, “Jesus, I trust in you.

  Many rosaries have been created as remembrances of Divine Mercy.  The rosary shown above has a center medal showing Christ and it comes in a box that honors Saint Faustina.

Pope Francis declared a Jubilee Year of Mercy that stretched from 2015 to 2016.  The Ghirelli Company created a rosary to honor that special time.  The Ghirelli Year of Mercy Rosary has a cross that shows both Christ and Pope Francis.

The center medal of the Ghirelli Year of Mercy Rosary shows the Prodigal Son to emphasize the beauty of mercy and forgiveness.

 

The Divine Mercy Rosary shown above has beads of red and white to symbolize the blood and water flowing from Christ.  The center medal has Saint Faustina on one side and Christ on the reverse.

Catholics are encouraged to say the prayers known as the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at any time of the year.  Divine Mercy is especially remembered, however, on the Sunday following Easter.

To learn more about rosaries, center medals, crosses, and crucifixes, read The Rosary Collector’s Guide by Gloria Brady Hoffner and Helen Hoffner.  This hardcover reference book published by Schiffer Publishing contains over 200 color photographs ranging from the carved boxwood rosary owned by England’s King Henry VIII to rosaries honoring Pope Francis.  The Rosary Collector’s Guide is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, The Catholic Faith Store, and other book stores, religious article stores, and online sellers.