| Author | |
Donna
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 25 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1151
|
| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 6:53am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Our Lady's love is beautiful. Thanks Dawn!
__________________
Donna
DH, Keven
Jason, Stevie, Marie, Jackson, Clara, and Aaron
Jacob, Sam, and Regina with God
Grandbabies Leigha and Elsie
Moments Like These
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
|
| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 7:02am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Well, here's another twist to the story ...
My parents came back for coffee after Mass yesterday and I showed my mother the medal. She took one look and said, "This isn't my medal!" 
She said hers was much smaller and plainer than this one, and she is going to look to see if hers is still in her collection of jewlery, etc.
So now, I don't know what medal I (thought) I remembered (though she did point out she gave me a JPII medal at the time, which I have and keep on my key ring), and now I see that my memory was faulty (not that I'm surprised  ).
But the mystery still exists - we have no idea where this medal came from. My mum looked it all over and said it looked very old to her, like an antique. (Here I was all ready to clean it, and she said, no! It is part of its appeal.  )
Whatever its origin, I adore it already. I bought myself a small silver chain at Target yesterday just so I could start wearing it immediately ...
MEBarrett wrote:
| You should try making a necklace with beads the way Elizabeth made us those lovely bracelets in August. I love mine and a complimentary necklace is on my list of projects. |
|
|
I love mine, too, Mary Ellen! I wear it everyday.  I have no idea how to bead a necklace, though.
Elizabeth, yours is beautiful. (I remembered that post - your poor boys!). Did you make that triple chain yourself?
Thank you everyone, for sharing in my story. Our Blessed Mother is so, so good to us all. My heart is very full this morning. 
__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Maryan
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 02 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3145
|
| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 8:01am | IP Logged
|
|
|
How mysterious!
__________________
Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Angel
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 22 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2293
|
| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 10:23am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Dawn, that makes the story even better! 
So, you shouldn't clean an old medal? Mine is tarnished and I have been planning to clean it. I have no idea how old mine is, as I found it in my mother's jewelery box when my grandfather gave it to me (when I was a teenager.) My father had left the box untouched when my mother died, and my grandparents had taken it for me when I was older. Therefore, I know nothing about this medal. I wore it when I was in college with not an inkling as to what it was (Obviously I knew it was a Marian medal of some kind, but I had no clue what a Miraculous Medal was at the time.) The chain broke and I took it off right after my first child was born. (I felt, rightly, that Our Lady had protected us both, so I have no idea why I never put it on again. Maybe I felt that it had been proved that I would not be repeating my mother's history?)
Interestingly enough, Garrett was born on the anniversary of the Miracle of the sun at Fatima, and my dd's birthday is the same as St. Catherine Laboure's, with whom she also shares a name (unplanned).
So maybe I should just find any chain to put the medal on, since it will probably take me ten years to bead a necklace for it!
--Angela
Three Plus Two
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Matilda
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2007
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1827
|
| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 10:45am | IP Logged
|
|
|
An an alternative for anyone who doesn't like to wear necklaces, I have always worn my MM on a charm bracelet. As far as cleaning it goes, I would think it would matter what kind of material it was made out of but I would love to know from someone who is more familiar with jewelry. I have some older pieces from my grandma.
Dawn,
This new twist in the story of your medal is amazing. Do you think the medal could have belonged to one of your house's previous owners?
__________________
Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11 , 10, 9 & 5 ) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
|
| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 10:50am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Angel wrote:
| So, you shouldn't clean an old medal? Mine is tarnished and I have been planning to clean it. |
|
|
I was planning to do the same thing, Angela! It is quite darker than the chain I put it on, but I do love how it looks. Both Bill and my mum agreed I should leave it as is, though. 
Angel wrote:
| So maybe I should just find any chain to put the medal on, since it will probably take me ten years to bead a necklace for it! |
|
|
This is exactly why I bought the chain yesterday. I knew it would take me *forever* to find (or make) just the right necklace, and I really felt called to wear it immediately.
Does anyone have advice for Angela and me re ~ cleaning medals, beading neckaces or maybe just the MM in general?
__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Matilda
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2007
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1827
|
| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 10:52am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Dawn, would you consider posting a picture of it? It might help to see what it looks like.
__________________
Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
|
| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 10:55am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Matilda wrote:
Dawn,
This new twist in the story of your medal is amazing. Do you think the medal could have belonged to one of your house's previous owners? |
|
|
We considered that. They were Christian, but I'm not sure if they were Catholic. Bill said on a number of occasions he has thoroughly cleaned that cabinet out (which, btw, closes tightly and is no way left open).
I can only imagine I somehow had the medal (because I have a faint memory of one in my dish, though I realize now it was not my mum's). I have never purchased one myself or have any recollection of receiving one, though.
How it got down to the basement bathroom is beyond me. I'm just thrilled that it came flying out when it did! 
__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
|
| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 10:56am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Matilda wrote:
| Dawn, would you consider posting a picture of it? It might help to see what it looks like. |
|
|
I keep cross posting with you, Matilda!
Yes, I will post a picture very soon.
__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 11:08am | IP Logged
|
|
|
What a lovely story, Dawn. Just gives me goosebumps!
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
|
| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 11:48am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I just put up a picture here.
__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Matilda
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2007
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1827
|
| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 12:23pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Dawn,
Sounds to me like a bona fide miracle. That medal found you for a reason. How awesome!
__________________
Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Tina P.
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1638
|
| Posted: April 03 2008 at 10:53am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Dawn wrote:
Angel wrote:
| So, you shouldn't clean an old medal? Mine is tarnished and I have been planning to clean it. |
|
|
I was planning to do the same thing, Angela! It is quite darker than the chain I put it on, but I do love how it looks. Both Bill and my mum agreed I should leave it as is, though.
Angel wrote:
| So maybe I should just find any chain to put the medal on, since it will probably take me ten years to bead a necklace for it! |
|
|
This is exactly why I bought the chain yesterday. I knew it would take me *forever* to find (or make) just the right necklace, and I really felt called to wear it immediately.
Does anyone have advice for Angela and me re ~ cleaning medals, beading neckaces or maybe just the MM in general? |
|
|
DON'T CLEAN IT! Your medal has what is called a PATINA and it quite plainly shows the love and use (finger oils) it has received over the years. If you clean it off, it destroys all that history. I love my old medals. I love the black creases, the rust colors, the faded silver (it almost looks like pewter in some places rather than silver). It means that others from, in some cases, a hundred years ago have venerated the same saints.
Can someone explain beading to me? I have a beautiful cut-work MM that I'm afraid to wear because it flew off the chain once. I found it, just in front of me a the time, but I am loathe to lose it forever if it should happen again.
__________________
Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
Mary's Muse
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
donnalynn
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 24 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 581
|
| Posted: April 03 2008 at 6:08pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks for bumping this up Tina!
How did I miss this?  What a gift!
__________________
donnalynn
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
|
| Posted: April 04 2008 at 7:31am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Tina P. wrote:
| DON'T CLEAN IT! Your medal has what is called a PATINA and it quite plainly shows the love and use (finger oils) it has received over the years. If you clean it off, it destroys all that history. I love my old medals. I love the black creases, the rust colors, the faded silver (it almost looks like pewter in some places rather than silver). It means that others from, in some cases, a hundred years ago have venerated the same saints. |
|
|
I didn't clean it! I love it just the way it is. We still have no idea where it came from though.
__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Hidden Treasure
Topic: A neat little story
