Now offering Gold Filled!

I am pleased to report that I now can also offer 14K gold filled wire and components in all creations! I have done much research on gold filled items and spoken with many local jewelers who assure me that gold filled will wear just like regular 14K or 18K gold. They say the difference is that it's bonded with heat and pressure not just dipped like gold plated or electroplate. I must admit, it sure looks PURRRRRRRDY! ;)

So now I can offer:

• regular non tarnish silver and gold plated
• copper
• brass
• bronze
• sterling silver
• gold filled

Most of the rosaries and other items will be made with the non tarnish silver plated wire which is really nice and does hold up well. If different, it will be clearly displayed in the description and I'm sure you will notice the difference in price as well! But even so, I am sure I can keep things lower than most because this to me is not a 'business'. It's more of an apostolate ... kind of like a hobby that sometimes sells. The aim being to put rosaries, chaplets and sacramentals into the hands of people that will USE THEM :) I believe this is why the 1st class relic of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos came to me quite out of the blue just after I began this endeavor. So all the rosaries and chaplets are touched to this, making them 3rd class relics automatically!

Don't let my 'lower than most' prices scare you. It certainly doesn't mean my materials are less than theirs or that my workmanship leaves anything to be desired. In fact, I welcome you to hold my work up next to any brick and mortar jeweler for comparison :) You will notice my links, form, focal and components are symmetrical as well as uniform in shape and in proportion to the piece. You will find accurate and true descriptions on all my offerings. Please also look closely at my links, rings and workmanship in general. You'll look long and hard to find an open link, loop, ring or any loose caps! :) My beads do not slide on the wire and as long as the bead permits, I lock link the wire back into the bead. This is different than wire wrapping but it still provides much more security than an unclosed link on a loose bead wire. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, always have been, always will be! And this, most important work for the Lord and our Lady is no exception. If any repair is ever needed, it will be done free of charge of course! More info on the site about materials and guarantees may be found here. There's a slideshow of my work on the right hand side bar here on the blog for your review → →

When you purchase a BATTLEBEADS item, you can be certain that the FULL description is true and accurate. You will always know exactly what materials are incorporated in your piece without any guessing!

I really am amazed with the contacts I've accumulated from sometimes unknown and unexpected sources since I began this endeavor. Truly, the Lord works in mysterious ways, as we all can attest to, I'm sure! There have been prayers shared, prayers answered, prayers offered and prayers received ... we're all one in the Body of Christ and what a treasure to share in the Communion of Saints, both here, in heaven and purgatory!

I will be accumulating more GF components as well as SS. Right now I have some of each, but I will most certainly be getting more in the near future.
I also got in some very nice brown #36 cord which is wonderful for adjustable rosary bracelets as well as the larger wood beads rosaries. I have LOTS of great Swarovski Element crystals as well as Preciosa, Hematite (not the fake hemikyke) in magnetized and non magnetized, miracle beads, Job's Tears, Onyx, Lapis Lazuli, Cultured Freshwater Pearls, Swarovski Crystal Pearls ... too much to list!

Well I don't want to write a book here, please visit the website and if you don't see something that strikes you, I've been told that I'm really good at turning ideas and dreams into reality ;)

Meanwhile, let's all keep looking up, as they say .. in joyful hope and grateful thanks to the One Who deserves our ALL in time and through eternity!

WORLDWIDE ROSARY May 13TH!

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Special Rosary on May 13th, the Day that Our Lady First Appeared at Fatima
Catholics around the world are planning to pray a special Rosary on Thursday, May 13th to honor Our Lady of Fatima and to beg her to intervene in the world, to stop the growing spiral of sin, revolution and violence.
The driving force behind the Worldwide Fatima Rosary on May 13th is the thought that Our Lady will be pleased to see one million people praying the Rosary all together on May 13th, which is the very day She pleaded: “Pray the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world!”
In fact, most Catholics are quite familiar with the goodness of the Blessed Mother, and how easily She is touched by the prayers of Her children, and how She intervenes on behalf of Catholics by public prayer, especially by the praying of Her Rosary.
Two signal example so this are the great naval battle at Lepanto where Catholic forces defeated a larger Turkish fleet in 1571, and the unexpected and miraculous liberation in 1955 of Austria from the unjust post-war Soviet Communism occupation.
If Our Lady has worked such wonders in the past, She can and will help us now to solve the growing problems of the world – if we do what She asked for at Fatima!
Everyone can be a vital part of this worldwide Fatima rosary by praying the Rosary, and inviting others to pray the Rosary also.

 Invite friends to pray the Rosary on May 13th

If someone is not familiar with the Fatima message and the power of the Rosary, now is a good time to educate them about why we are saying the Rosary on May 13th, the day Our Lady appeared to the three shepherd children at Fatima in 1917.
They can be told that we are:

• echoing what She asked for at that apparition…

• offering sufferings and reparations for the sins against Our Lord, as acts of supplication and for the conversion of sinners

• praying the Rosary to obtain peace for the world

They can also be told that world events will only get worse, and there will be no peace until we pray the Rosary and stop offending God. Simple!
Ultimately, we pray this Worldwide Fatima Rosary on May 13th with absolute and unshakable faith in Our Lady’s promise to defeat Satan: “Finally, My Immaculate Heart will triumph!”
May we all live to see it.

Hope for the Future ...

"To Bear the Wounds of Christ" Retreat for Priests, Deacons, Religious August 3-4, 2011

Please contact all priests that you know and tell them of this very special "once-in-a-lifetime" FREE event in Vandalia, IL!

On August 1, Fr. Ermelindo Di Capua, from the Shrine of Padre Pio in Italy, will arrive in Vandalia with St. Padre Pio's glove and part of the scab from the stigmata he bore for over 50 years. Fr. Ermelindo actually lived with Padre Pio and served as the liaison between the Saint and the English speaking pilgrims who came to San Giovanni Rotondo to seek the counsel and blessing of Padre Pio. Fr. is currently assistant editor of the periodical, "Voice of Padre Pio".

Father will stay at Our Sorrowful Mother's Ministry from August 1-8. When he travels to many places in the world to speak on Padre Pio and bless the faithful with relics, he brings one of the gloves that covered the Stigmata of Padre Pio (a 2nd class relic), and a small piece of scab or blood serum from the Stigmata (a 1st class relic).

A very special 2 day event is planned for August 3-4 at Mother of Dolors Church in Vandalia, IL for priests and religious. The relics and glove will be on display in the church for veneration and prayer. Please plan to attend this once in a lifetime retreat with Msgr. Swetland of Mt. St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, and host of EWTN's "Catholicism on Campus" and Fr. Ermelindo Di Capua from the Shrine of Padre Pio in Italy. Details and registration information are below.

• Msgr. Stuart Swetland, STD, will be retreat master for this amazing retreat with special guest Fr. Ermelindo with glove and relics for your veneration and prayer.

• This FREE Retreat is from 10am on Wednessday to 4pm Thursday.

• We have secured a discounted rate for lodging at the Vandalia Holiday Inn with complimentary breakfasts. Please call and make your personal reservation soon (618-283-0010). Home cooked lunches and dinners will be provided for you during the retreat for $8 per meal.

• Priests, please bring your own alb, stole or vestmentts.

• Register early, as seeating is limited. Call Mariann at 618-292-8039 or Ann at 618-267-3876, or you may reserve your space online. If registering online, simply register for the August 3rd retreat.

Reserve Online
http://osmm.org/CustomContentRetrieve.aspx?ID=3886795

Event will be held at:
Mother of Dolors Church
322 N. 7th St.
Vandalia, IL 62471

Cardinal Burke to pray outside Texas abortion clinic MAY 9th

Top Vatican official Cardinal Raymond L. Burke is set to pray and speak out against abortion at Planned Parenthood's new facility expansion in Texas.
“Cardinal Burke is a man of great passion for the pro-life cause and is one of the highest ranking U.S. bishops in the church,” said event organizers from the Catholic Charismatic Center on April 28.

The cardinal serves as prefect of the Apostolic Signatura for the Vatican in Rome.

Cardinal Raymond L. Burke / Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo

“His particular presence at this abortion facility will be a very significant moment of official opposition to the abortion industry in America.”

Hundreds are expected to join Cardinal Burke on May 9 outside the Houston clinic, which recently built a sizable addition specifically for late-term abortions.
The prayer vigil is part of two pro-life events slated in the next week which include a “Night for Life” benefit on May 8 with Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and head of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

The gala will help fund the Pro-life Apostolate of the Catholic Charismatic Center.
“The presence of these two prominent voices for the unborn in this country lends special significance to this Gala and the message that will be spoken regarding Planned Parenthood’s huge expansion in Houston making it the abortion capital of the United States and South America, will be heard by many,” organizers said.

My note: Most of us can't be there, but we can all offer rosaries on that day for support ... please, let's commit to do this ... spread the word! May this courageous action produce great fruit and keep all safe!

Houston, Texas, May 5, 2011 / 12:48 pm (CNA/EWTN News)

A Re-cap of Blessed John Paul II's life with Fr. Fortuna

Today was a most blessed day indeed with it being the most precious Divine Mercy Sunday and also the day when we saw Pope John Paul II beatified.

Pope Benedict XVI prays at the casket of Pope John Paul II in front of the main
altar in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican May 1. Pope Benedict
declared his predecessor blessed during an outdoor Mass outside the basilica.
(CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

My dear mother, who was 100% Polish, must be beaming from ear to ear today between Saint Faustyna Kowalska bringing us the message of our Saviour's Divine Mercy and Karol Wojtyła for living it his whole life. We are so very blessed in our Catholic Faith to have a share in the communion of saints. Do we really know how significant and amazing this is? To be one with and to be able to call upon all those that are SO CLOSE to our  dear Lord for help and strength in our daily travails.

You will note that Fr. Fortuna is from my old stomping grounds New York City ... um ... the Bronx to be exact ;) (Clearly indicated by the discerning ear immediately!) At any rate, his words are inspiring and the video is very nice, so enjoy. And don't forget to include all the saints (and yes, even our loved ones too) in your prayers for strength, help and the will to accept God's perfect Will in all things.

_{Father Stan Fortuna, is a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal.
For more about his work and his music, visit his website, Francesco Productions.}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~And from the actual Beatification:

Divine Mercy Novena April 22 - 30 - Day 9

Ninth Day:

Today bring to Me *SOULS WHO HAVE BECOME LUKEWARM, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.' For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy.

Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls, who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.

Pray the Chaplet. 

*To understand who are the souls designated for this day, and who in the Diary are called 'lukewarm,' but are also compared to ice and to corpses, we would do well to take note of the definition that the Savior Himself gave to them when speaking to St. Faustina about them on one occasion: There are souls who thwart My efforts (1682). Souls without love or devotion, souls full of egoism and selfishness, proud and arrogant souls full of deceit and hypocrisy, lukewarm souls who have just enough warmth to keep themselves alive: My Heart cannot bear this. All the graces that I pour out upon them flow off them as off the face of a rock. I cannot stand them because they are neither good nor bad (1702).

Divine Mercy Novena April 22 - 30 - Day 8

Eighth Day:

Today bring to Me THE SOULS WHO ARE DETAINED IN PURGATORY, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice.

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.
Pray the Chaplet.

The Pope is Worried

Can the Pope come right out and yell WAKE UP PEOPLE? .. Not likely, but if you listen to his words, he IS and has been speaking quite plainly for those that have ears to hear!