Our Lady of the Pilar continued

Our Lady of the Pilar (note the turquoise background with gold stars..reminiscent of Our Lady of Guadalupe's mantle.)

This is part two to a post I wrote late last year about Our Lady of the Pilar. Specifically, I had shared an amazing story of a well verified and proven miracle that had taken place at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Pilar, Spain in the 1600's.

A young man who had an amputated leg and rubbed the holy oil from this Shrine onto the stump of his leg everyday. Then one evening his original leg (buried in a hospital cemetary, 100's of miles away) was restored to him. This was a throughly investigated and documented event, if you did not read the pages I uploaded on this story, click over and enjoy it as a lenten read-aloud with the family.

The story had come from a Catholic magazine called, Love One Another. I highly recommend a subscription to this family magazine, one of the best I've ever seen.

In their lastest edition they have published part two to this historical story with a modern verification. Here it is below. You can click it open to full screen to read online or to print up and share as a read-aloud.

Just briefly though, a bit of a synopsis. This historical event is further supported by a modern day doctor who specializes in limb attachment. He states that the testimonies shared by those who witnessed the miracle in the 1600's spoke of things they saw, that describe accurately the science of limb attachment. Descriptions that could not have been fabricated since re-attaching limbs is only been made possible in the last 50 years or so. So a must read!

Page one (click open to read online or print)

Page two (click open to read online or print)

Page three (click open to read online or print)


Page four (click open to read online or print)

Page five (click open to read online or print)

Don Bosco, Snakes and the Rosary

Today is the feast of St John Bosco. One of the Church's beloved saints for boys. Don Bosco as he was better known, had great devotion to Our Lady and attributes her intercession to all his success with his boys and apostolic work in general.

Don Bosco was a dreamer, like Joseph in the Old Testament. His dreams were a special charism. Charism's are given to holy people only in order to be of spiritual service to another. He dreamt mainly of his boys that he raised. Like the Cure of Ars and Padre Pio, he was a reader of hearts in the confessional and through his dreams. With this charism he saved many souls of the boys he loved.

There is a great TAN publication that contains many of these dreams that inspire and encourage us today. 40 Dreams of St John Bosco is a book I highly recommend for read-alouds with your children, particularly the boys. This is a book I would have relished as a child, I know!

I want to share with you one of his stories with some great pictures from Australia, taken in the Northern Territory a couple of years ago. They are just perfect for this story, I'm sure the children will 'ooh and aah' over them!

The Snake and the Rosary

I want to tell you a dream I had some nights ago, most probably on the eve of the Assumption. I dreamed that I was at my brother's home at Castelnuovo d' Asti with all my boys. While they were at play, a total stranger came up to me and asked me to go with him. He took me to a meadow alongside the playground and pointed to a huge, ugly snake, over twenty feet long, coiled in the grass.

Frightened, I wanted to run off, but the stranger held me back. "Get closer and take a good look," he said.

"What?" I gasped. "Don't you realize that the monster could spring on me and gobble me up in no time?"

"Don't be afraid! Nothing of the sort will happen; just come with me."

"Nothing doing! I'm not crazy!"

"Then stay where you are," the stranger replied. And he went to fetch a rope.

"Take this end," he said on his return, "and grip it tightly with both hands. I'll hold the other end, and we'll let it dangle over the snake."

"And then?"

"Then we'll snap it across its back."

"You must be crazy; the snake will leap up and tear us to pieces."

Go on! Click it up to full size and give yourself a fright!

"No, it won't. Leave that to me."

"Count me out! I have no intention to risk my life for a thrill of this kind!"

Again I tried to run away, but the stranger once more assured me that I had nothing to fear, because the snake would do me no harm. He talked so persuasively that I stayed on and agreed to his plan.

He went around to the other side of the monster. We stretched the rope and then snapped it across the snake's back. The monster immediately sparang up and struck at the rope, but as it did so, it ensnared itself as in a noose.

"Hold on!" the stranger shouted. "Don't let go!" He ran to a nearby pear tree and tied his end of the rope to it. Then he came to me and tied his end of the rope to it. Then he came to me and tied my end to the iron grating of a window in the house.

The snake kept furiously struggling to free itself, writhing, thrashing and flailing about. In its fury, it tore itself to pieces, scattering its flesh over the area, till it was slashed to a mere skeleton.

The stranger then untied the rope and coiled it up, "Now watch very carefully!" he said as he put it into a box and closed it. By this time the boys had swarmed about me. Within a few moments he opened the box. We looked in and were astounded to see the rope shaped into the words Ave Maria - "Hail Mary."

"How did that happen?" I asked.

"The snake," the man replied, "is a symbol of the devil, whereas the rope stands for Ave Maria, or rather, the Rosary, a succession of Hail Marys with which we can strike, conquer and destroy all of Hell's demons."

What followed is even stranger and more amazing....

Now, while taking with that stranger about the rope, the snake and what they symbolized, I turned around and saw boys picking up scraps of snake meat and eating them. "What are you doing?" I shouted. "Are you mad? That meat is poisonous."

"It's delicious!" They replied.

And yet no sooner had they swallowed it than they would crumple to the ground, and their bodies would swell and harden like stone. I was helpless, because, despite this, more and more boys kept eating that meat. I shouted and yelled at them, and even slapped and punched them, to keep them from eating, but in vain. For every one who crumpled to the ground, another took his place.

Then I called the clerics and told them to go amoung the boys and do all they could to make them stop eating that meat. My order was ineffective; worse yet, some clerics themselves began to eat it and they too fell to the ground.

Nearly out of my mind at seeing so many boys lying about me in such a pitiful state, I turned to the stranger.

"What does this mean?" I asked. "These boys know that this meat will kill them, yet they eat it. Why?"

"Because 'the sensual man does not perceive the things that are of God!' That's why!" He answered.

"But isn't there some way of saving these boys?"

"Yes, there is."

"What?"

"Anvil and hammer."

"Anvil and hammer? What for?"

"To put the boys back in shape."

"You mean I am to put them on an avil and strike them with the hammer?"

"Look," the stranger said, "this whole thing is a symbol. The hammer symbolizes Confession, and the anvil symbolizes Holy Communion. These are the remedies you must use."

I went to work and found the treatment very effective, but not for all. While most boys were restored to life and recovered, a few did not, because their Confessions were bad.

{The poisonous meat of that monstrous snake might well symbolize scandal which destroys one's faith, or immoral, irreligious readings. Likewise, what else might disobedience, collapsing, swelling up and hardening signify but pride, obstinacy and love of sin?

The prayers and sacrifices of the just must first ask that God's grace warm hardened hearts and soften them, so that the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist may exercise their divine efficacy...Thus the hammer's blows and the anvil's support will both bring about the cure of an elcer-ridden but now docile heart. As the sparks fly, the heart is reconditioned.}

Happy Feast Day!

2008 with St Anne revisited

I was getting closer to finishing my Tuesdays with St Anne late last year but I thought it best to stop over the advent period in order to focus on the enormous task of it's preparation and living of it.

My last St Anne posting was the first half of the story of St Anne de'Auray so I thought it best to link back to it for my first posting so as to refresh on the story to date before continuing on with it.

St Anne has blessed me enormously last year, in my own life and many people I know who have called upon her. I have heard some beautiful stories connected to her - prayers answered.

I am still marvelling over how St Anne lifted me up at my lowest point last year when I thought my heart virus was going to carry me away after fighting that thought while struggling physically for many weeks. On that day...no....at that moment, when I cracked and caved, a parcel arrived in the post, two in fact. A box full of Good St Anne booklets....and a beautiful icon of Our Lady holding the Child Jesus with St Anne and St Joachim. (you can see the icon in my Tuesdays with St Anne picture) It had been travelling in the mail for 3 months, all way down from Canada sent by a dear lady from the 4 Real forum, Mary Mary.

In all the moments of that icon's journey across the globe and there are alot of moments in 3 months, it arrived at THAT moment. I will never forget that, ever.

The chaplet of St Anne has been my primary prayer offered to her and it is one of the Church's best little chaplets. The reason being, it can be recited fairly quickly (taking in consideration the busy lives of so many mums!) and it also encompasses simple prayers and words that don't require the necessity of having the prayers of the chaplet on paper nearby.

To recap on it's recitation, it is an Our Father, followed by five Hail Marys, this is repeated another two times (3 rounds all up) and between each Hail Mary you say, "Jesus, Mary and St Anne, please grant......." depending on your particular intention. The first section is dedicated in honour of Jesus, the second in honour of Our Lady, the third in order of St Anne.

Feast of the Holy House of Loreto

Today (10th of December) is the feast of the Translation of the Holy House of Loreto. I talked extensively about this feast last year

Holy Oil of Loreto

I am very blessed to have a very special sacramental from the Shrine in Loreto, Loreto Holy Oil
it is a wonderful sacramental to bless your family members with each day. I remember an elderly friend of mine who had travelled extensively around Europe to many shrines, she said that the Loreto Oil was known as a powerful exorcism oil. This is not surprising. For it is in this hallowed place where Mary was conceived immaculately, where the Incarnation took place and the holiest family on earth lived. It is a place where satan shudders, he was crushed and conquered here.

Holy Oil that comes from holy sites or shrines are one of the Church's sacramentals. Usually pilgrims donate olive oil to the shrines in order that the lamps can remain continually lit. This donated oil is blessed and whatever is left over is distributed as the shrine's holy oil. Here is a wonderful story of the miraculous holy oil from a famous Marian shrine. We can never underestimate it's effects when used with faith and devotion.

This image is of a relic card from the Shrine of Loreto, it contains a small piece of the black netting that is placed over the Statue of Loreto on Good Friday, after that day the netting is distributed to the faithful through these cards, which contain the litany of loreto and a special prayer to Our Lady of Loreto.

Litany of Loreto

This litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary was composed during the Middle Ages. The place of honor it now holds in the life of the Church is due to its faithful use at the shrine of the Holy House at Loreto. It was definitely approved by Sixtus V in 1587, and all other Marian litanies were suppressed, at least for public use. Its titles and invocations set before us Mary's exalted privileges, her holiness of life, her amiability and power, her motherly spirit and queenly majesty. The principle that has been followed in their interpretation is the one enunciated by the same Pius IX: "God enriched her so wonderfully from the treasury of His divinity, far beyond all angels and saints with the abundance of all heavenly gifts, that she . . .should show forth such fullness of innocence and holiness, than which a greater under God is unthinkable and which, beside God, no one can even conceive in thought." Hence, whatever virtue and holiness is found in angels and saints must be present in Mary in an immeasurably higher degree.
Reflection on the titles of the litany will unfold before us the grand picture of our heavenly Mother, even though we know only little about her life. We will also come to see why Mary's example, guidance, and help is the need of the hour.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
Mother inviolate, pray for us.
Mother undefiled, pray for us.
Mother most amiable, pray for us.
Mother most admirable, pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Savior, pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, pray for us.
Virgin most renouned, pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of justice, pray for us.
Seat of wisdom, pray for us.
Cause of our joy, pray for us.
Spiritual vessel, pray for us.
Vessel of honor, pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.
Mystical rose, pray for us.
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of ivory, pray for us.
House of gold, pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, pray for us.
Gate of heaven, pray for us.
Morning star, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Queen of Angels, pray for us.
Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of Prophets, pray for us.
Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of Confessors, pray for us.
Queen of Virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all Saints, pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.
Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us O Lord
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

LET US PRAY
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto us Thy servants, that we may rejoice in continual health of mind and body; and, by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness, and enter into the joy of Thine eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Happy Feast Day!

The children and I travelled to Marian Valley for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Thanksgiving...was continually echoing thorough my soul. Thanksgiving for so many things, through the powerful intercession of Our Lady under this most beautiful title.

This year we sewed miraculous medals inside the scapulars of each member of our family, in order to make sure everyone is wearing one without the worry of the medal falling off.

We have had for a few years now, our Miraculous Medal prayer petition mobile, where we pin the intentions we pray for daily and the prayer we recite is: "Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."

Here is 'dear boy' who turned 4 the day before - 7th of December. Dear Boy was born at 9pm at night, on the eve of the Immaculate Conception, in that year it was the 150th anniversary of the proclaimation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

Our oldest child, ds 14 is also celebrating his baptismal day, today.

We were particularly thankful for the prayers answered for dh's new job. He put in his application at a nursing home directly opposite our home on the feast of the Miraculous Medal (27th of Nov) and he was interviewed the next day and given work immediately on the feast of St Catherine Labore (28th of Nov)

Intially we had made a flying novena to the Infant of Prague and within that time dh because very certain of what line of work he needed to apply for. Then he approached the nursing home across the road during the feast days connected to the prayer, "Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." - since praying for the US elections back in November we have started praying this prayer using our rosary beads, on each Pater bead we recite the Memorare, on the Ave beads we recite the Miraculous Medal prayer.

We have always entrusted dh's work under the patronage of St Joseph, so we visited his shrine at Marian Valley as well.

I said to the children that we have the whole Holy Family to thank for recent graces received and so we will particularly celebrate on the 10th of this month - the feast of the Holy House of Loreto.

Here is the beautiful shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes...when asked by St Bernadette who she was, Our Lady finally replied, "I am The Immaculate Conception" Father talked beautifully on these words today during the homily at the Mass in Our Lady's honour.

Look at that beautiful little ladybug at the bottom of the flowers!

Marian Valley is full of these Agapanthus "Lily of the Nile" - they're blue or white heads are so Marian!

This beautiful shirne is still being built but I am sure it will be dedicated under the title of today's feast.

Oldest and youngest daughters...enjoying the natural beauty of this Valley.

Today I am particularly thankful for this blessing, born in January this year - named in honour of the Annunciation, where the Angel Gabriel announced that Our Lady was "Full of Grace" - this biblical greeting is very unique and is one of the biblical references to Our Lady's Immaculate Conception:

"The English translation, "Hail, Full of Grace," is based on the Greek of Gospel of Luke 1:28, "Χαίρε, Κεχαριτωμένη", Chaire kecharitomene, a phrase which can most literally be translated: "Rejoice, you who have been graced." The latter word, kecharitomene, is the passive voice, present perfect participle of the verb "to grace" in the feminine gender, vocative case; therefore the Greek syntax indicates that the action of the verb has been fully completed in the past, with results continuing into the future. Put another way, it means that the subject (Mary) was graced fully and completely at some time in the past, and continued in that fully graced state."

Our Lady of the Pillar

Today is the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar. This is a very special feast day as it is Our Lady's first known apparition. What makes this apparition so special is that Our Lady was still living on earth when it took place.

She bilocated to Spain where St James the Greater had gone to bring the faith of Christ. St James had not been succesful and was very dejected at this point, camped by the bank of the Ebro River in Saragossa and preparing to return to Jerusalem.

St James was deep in prayer when Our Lady appeared to him and gave him a wooden statue of herself holding the Child Jesus upon a jasper pillar saying, "It will stand from this moment until the end of time in order that God may work miracles and wonders through my intercession for all those who place themselves under my patronage."

She instructed St James to build a church that would stand till the end of time. Tradition tells us that Our Lady had promised St James that when he needed it most in his difficult mission of converting the pagans in Spain, she would come to encourage him. Please drop by and visit Kathryn's posting on Our Lady of the Pillar.

So Our Lady's visit is the beginning of Spain's history of it's christian faith, she ushers in the reign of Christ reminiscent of her words in Scripture, "Do whatever He tells you."

Spain would go on many, many centuries later to bring Christ to the New World (Americas) but where frail man fails, Our Lady comes and once again draws the New World natives and the Spanish to herself and claims them as her own (Our Lady of Guadalupe) with 11 million converted within a decade, something that is not possible or unheard of, in completely human terms. It is her unique mission in life to be that 'Star of the Sea' that lights the way for us all in our turbulent journey through the sea of life, to the Divine harbour - Christ.

Below is an 8 page article on one of the most incredible, well documented miracles of the Church, it took place in Spain in the 17th century. It is a wonderful read-aloud to children on this feast day, and it is a beautiful story involving a crippled, young man, Our Lady of the Pillar and the shrine's holy oil.... (I am hoping that you can click each page open and be able to print on the sheet for easy reading)


Page One

(click open page to read)

Page Two
(click open page to read)

Page Three
(click open page to read)

Page Four
(click open page to read)

Page Five
(click open page to read)

Page Six
(click open page to read)

Page Seven
(click open page to read)

Page Eight
(click open page to read)

Part Two to this incredible story is here.

Part Two Synopsis: This historical event is further supported by a modern day doctor who specializes in limb attachment. He states that the testimonies shared by those who witnessed the miracle in the 1600's spoke of things they saw, that describe accurately the science of limb attachment. Descriptions that could not have been fabricated since re-attaching limbs is only been made possible in the last 50 years or so. So a must read!

This wonderful article has come from the Love One Another publication, a Catholic family magazine produced by the Society of Christ. (Polish, missionary order) It is magazine subscription I highly recommend as it is full of articles such as this one. You can also order back copies. On this page you can download some of the back copies.

Come and visit the Shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar....

Scapulars for the family

Here are the family's scapulars. And for anyone who wears this garment of Mary, you will know just how easily they break and fall apart, medals fall off etc. We really needed 'indestructible' creations.

Finally last year I bought these beautiful scapulars (as seen above) from the States, all with different religious images. I carefully chose out each one for each family member...Sacred Heart for dh as we have great family devotion to the Sacred Heart. I chose the Our Lady of Guadalupe image, and if you have come here often enough, you know why! My oldest son chose St Francis as he is his confirmation saint. My oldest daughter chose Our Lady of Lourdes, due to her Marian devotion. My next daughter chose St Therese since she has had a devotion to her since she was 2years old. Then the two younger boys had St Joseph and St Michael, their name saints.
In this image, the scapular in the top half of the picture is after I've removed the original cord and added my own, the scapular in the bottom half is how they looked when I bought them.

Even though this new brand of scapular was stronger and sturdier than any other scapular we had previously owned, we found that we wore through the cord quick enough, so I cut off all the cords and bought a few meters of strong, flat cord and sewed them down the sides and under the scapular ends with very firm, small stitches, I could make the scapular's a little longer as well.

How I originally sewed on the medals

I had wanted to sew on my two most favoured religious medals to each scapular - the Miraculous Medal and the St Benedict Medal.

The St Benedict Medals were taken to Father for a special blessing (not the normal blessing Father would give) there is a special prayer that Father recites to make this a powerful exorcism medal.

I wanted each child to have a miraculous medal as we have a deep devotion to this most blessed medal, with it's companion prayer, "Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." In recent times the children and I made a Miraculous Medal Prayer Petition Mobile. This mobile was to be a visual reminder in the home for us to recite this little prayer often. But it was important that we all wear the miraculous medal, so I had decided to sew on the medals on the outside, like the image you see above.

The Miraculous Medal Prayer Petition Mobile.

The trouble is, as firmly as I sewed these medals on, they soon started disappearing off the scapulars...it happened to me and then I checked everyone else's scapulars and it was also happening to them.

What could I do?

Finally I worked out the answer.

I decided to carefully slit the back of each scapular as there is a space between the back and front. Then I carefully with small, firm stitches, sewed up the slit after I slid in a medal at each end.


Here is it all sewn up, you can hardly see where I have done it since I matched the cotton up better this time. Those medals are going nowhere!

Making and hanging our rosaries

I am finally getting around to making rosaries for my family. I hope to eventually have a tenner and pair of rosary beads for each person and any chaplet/s anyone would like.

Over the weekend I made rosaries for my two older girls, here they are above and below, (dd8) loves blue and her name is connected to the theme on the silver crucifix. She chose a rosary center with Our Lady with her hands in prayer, to me it looks it could be a Lourdes image, it has beautiful filigree all around Our Lady. She chose Blue Crazy Lace Agate gemstones for the Ave beads. Golden Shadow Swarovski Crystals for the Pater beads, sided by some beautiful Pacific Opal and Crystal Satin AB swarovski crystals, also beautiful sterling silver bead caps - she was SO EXCITED when I finished them Friday night.

Then (dd11) chose her beads and rosary pieces. She chose Pink Crazy Lace Agate gemstones for the Ave beads. Copper Swarovski Crystals for the Pater beads and vintage rose and Satin rose swarovski crystals to side the Pater beads. The bead caps were particularly beautiful, Vintaj's Etruscan Brass Bead Caps. After very loooooong consideration by dd, she finally settled on a Vintage Reproduction Ornate French Crucifix and my favourite Lourdes center. (Well I DID tell her, "take your time, it is a decision for life") Another very happy little girl Saturday night.

For (ds5) I decided to make him a tenner first, as I will probably hold off making his rosary beads until his First Holy Communion, a tenner is more suited..often he can only focus on one decade well, it keeps it simple for him.

The pieces chosen suit his name and he told me, "brown beads and a dark, round Pater bead." I had to search high and low for the perfect Pater bead - a lovely dark brown, carved wooden bead - "Oh yes mum, that's it!" when he saw it. He was so proud of his new tenner and when he gives out his decade of the Divine Mercy Chaplet he carefully gives it out on his new tenner.

For (ds3) I thought I'd make his tenner now, he can at least hold his tenner when we recite the family rosary, he will grow up knowing this is his and it is special. Once again pieces were chosen to suit his name and I picked out MY favourite Pater bead for a man's tenner - a lovely dark carved stone bead. African Red Poppy Jasper gemstones for his Ave beads.

My oldest son (ds13) is now PATIENTLY waiting for his rosary beads...not long to wait now.

Now that we have these very beautiful, heirloom quality beads for our family it is very important that we have a set place to hang them. So I went to Bunnings and bought some lovely brass Fleur deLys hooks (very excited about them being Fleur deLys, VERY Catholic, VERY Marian! Jane, you'll have to track these down!) There is one for each member of the family. On mine I can hang my rosary beads, tenner, St Anne chaplet, Mary Undoer of Knots chaplet, the hook is quite big.

I know it SHOULDN'T matter if our beads are beautiful/quality or not, I mean, look at the saintly people who have been in solitary confinement for the faith (or other extreme circumstances) and they have used a bit of string to create their beads of prayer, I know God views those creations as the most dearest of all. BUT I also think of this beautiful Church saying, "Lex orandi, lex credendi" and the loose translation for us in this instance is, the beauty of the beads reflect and speak to us all of the beauty of the prayers.

St Benedict's Well..

I had posted about our filtered water a few days ago - Healing for Soul and Body. Here is my little bit of crafting since as I was doing some artwork using tile paints for another part of our kitchen and so I thought I'd write the words, "St Benedict's Well" with part of the St Benedict Medal's symbols and lettering on either side of the words. It really reminds the children what is lying at the bottom of the container....

The new lid works much better too! (Just one of our ceramic bowls)

Healing for Soul and Body...

In the last few months I've been thinking about our drinking water....We have always had a filter under our sink but unfortuately at the end of this year our state government is going to introduce fluroide into everyone's drinking water. We do not want to be drinking that fluoride so it will mean will will have to upgrade our filter system to a reverse osmosis system. The thing is, it removes everything from the water including the minerals...but where there's a will there's a way, I say. So I thought if I bought a ceramic kitchen top water container I could add the water from our filter to the container and put Terramin Clay (which we have been using for years now) in the container to put back the essential minerals.

The Terramin Clay is a calcium based clay that has been proven to remineralize the body and remove toxins. NASA sponsered a study in the 60's and discovered the only effective product to reverse the osteoporosis in their astronauts (caused by weightlessness for extended periods) was clay - and the optimal clay was the Terramin Clay.

I was reading my Nourishing Traditions book the other night and flicking through the chapter on minerals to discover this passage:

"The proper way to take in minerals is through mineral-rich water; through nutrient-dense foods and beverages; through mineral-rich bone broths in which all of the macrominerals – sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur – are available in ready-to-use ionized form as a true electrolyte solution; through the use of unrefined sea salt; and by adding small amounts of fine clay or mud as a supplement to water or food, a practice found in many traditional societies throughout the world. Analysis of clays from Africa, Sardinia and California reveals that clay can provide a variety of macro- and trace minerals including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium iron and zinc. Clay also contains aluminium, but silicon, present in large amounts in all clays, prevents absorption of this toxic metal and actually helps the body eliminate aluminium that is bound in the tissues.

When mixed with water, clay forms a temporary colloidal system in which fine particles are dispersed throughout the water. Eventually the particles settle to the bottom of the container, but a variety of mineral ions will remain in the water. These mineral ions are available for absorption, while other minerals that form an integral part of the clay particles may, in some circumstances, be available for absorption through ionic exchange at the point of contact with the intestinal villi.

Clay particles, defined as having a size less than 1-2 microns, have a very large surface area relative to their size. They carry a negative electric charge and can attract positively charged pathogenic organisms along with their toxins and carry them out of the body. Thus, clay compounds not only provide minerals but also can be used as detoxifying agents. As such, they facilitate assimilation and can help prevent intestinal complaints, such as food poisoning and diarrhea. They also will bind with antinutrients found in plant foods, such as bitter tannins, and prevent their absorption."

I had priced ceramic containers and I was looking at $165 or so...wow, alot of money...I thought I'd wait until the end of this year to purchase one, UNTIL I visited a garage sale and found this one (that suits my kitchen decor, how good is that?) it only cost me $20...it was minus it's lid but I just cover it will a plate or bowl.

Then I started reading a new book of mine The Medal or Cross of St Benedict and it mentioned in there that this sacramental medal could be used to dip into water to drink for spiritual and physical healing, I was interested to read the stories of that particular use....So I searched on ebay and bought myself a sterling silver St Benedict Medal with a stainless steel chain (something I could use in water safely.)

I took it to Father to receive the special exorcism blessing (not just a normal blessing) and then placed it in the bottom of my ceramic container (I was joking with some homeschooling mums recently that it is our 'St Benedict Well'.) The Church provides us with so many beautiful sacramentals, it is lovely draw upon and use daily these special gifts, (St Benedict Medal being one of them) that we use with faith and love.

Follow the link to find out more about the St Bendict Medal.

Here is our medal before we have added the clay.

All ready to go!

St Benedict, pray for us!