Custodians of Beauty

Today, on the feast of St. Maria Goretti (my confirmation saint), our lilies are in full bloom! The orange, deep red, white and yellow lilies are bursting with color this week. It's always been a desire of mine to own a home with a yard that is sprinkled with flowers that grow all summer long. Growing up, my mom would cut a fresh bouquet from what we had growing around the house and place it either on the dining room table or at the family altar next to a statue of Mary. I hope to carry on this tradition for my girls. This framed image titled, "Aspiration" 1897, was given to me from my Aunt Mercy the year of my 16th birthday. It's a print of the watercolor painted by British artist, Henry Ryland. It now hangs in the girls room of our new house. Interestingly, the year this was painted, the young Maria Goretti was only 7 years old. It is a beautiful and stunning image. My hope is that it will inspire my girls to live a life of holy purity and encourage them to...

When I came across Nancy's  40 Catholic Saints in Cross Stitch , there was no question. I purchased her patterns that day. How could you not? These mini saint designs are awesome! The simple details for each one are fantastic. St. Rose of Lima wears a flower crown, St. Brigid holds a reed cross, and St. Pio reveals his stigmata. There are quite a few saints in this batch which made it easy for me to pick out a few to frame and give as gifts. www.dosmallthingswithlove.com  Cross stitch pattern for Maria Goretti I decided on St. Maria Gorretti for my first cross stitch saint, since she is my confirmation saint and because during the  Pilgrimage of Mercy: Tour of the Major Relics of St. Maria Goretti ,  I was blessed to touch the reliquary containing her bones. I didn't have the exact colors called for in the patterns. That being the case, my saints outfits vary slightly. The burlap was leftover from a rug project I did a few summe...