JenAmbrose Design in Progress

So let's be honest, I'm terrible at updating things, this blog definitely included. Last year I made goals for my business, (and actually met them!) But this year the only goal I made was to paint three new Saints every month. And so far I've managed to meet that goal! Today saints 7,8 and 9 are at the print shop. They're Saint Jude, Our Lady of Sorrows, and Our Lady of perpetual help. Hopefully I'll be able to keep up this pace and have three more every month! 

  This is the Mary I strive to be more like! On December 8 th the Catholic Church celebrates Mary being conceived without original sin, making her the perfect created being and able to be mother to our Lord. Because I live in Virginia, I am close enough to visit the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. and it is the most amazing church that I have personally visited in the U.S.   O most Holy Virgin, immaculate in body and spirit, look kindly on me as I implore your powerful intercession. O most Holy Mother, receive my prayers as I present them to God. (state your intentions here) O Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, you intercede for us with your Son. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

  Today is a very special day for my personal faith, the feast day of my confirmation saint, Saint Ambrose of Milan. Because I was confirmed in RCIA almost six years ago, I got to choose my saint as a full-fledged adult. I remember pouring through saint books and one specific part of the story of Saint Ambrose kept calling me. He wasn’t a baptized Catholic when he was elected as Bishop of Milan! He wasn’t even interested in that office at the time. The people saw something in him and he went for it. Similar things have happened in my own life because I often don’t see in myself what others do. With his special intersession, I hope to be able to recognize opportunities when they arise and see in myself what others do, and what God does.

  When I first prayed the consecration to Mary, I chose this feast day, October 7 th , to complete the prayer which seemed fitting because it was a Dominican priest that recommended it to me.   According to Dominican tradition, in 1206, St. Dominic was in Prouille, France, attempting to convert the Albigensians back to the Catholic faith. The young priest had little success until one day he received a vision of the Blessed Virgin, who gave him the Rosary as a tool against heretics.   The priests at my local parish are Dominicans (I live in a college town), and their style of preaching really calls to me.

  I first heard about this Marian devotion when a friend of mine was struggling with a problem and asked me to pray this particular novena. Halfway through I realized I was praying this for myself as much as for them! The most popular image of this Mary is a painting by Johann Georg Melchior Schmidtner where she is seen untying knots in a long ribbon, and was inspired by the work of St. Irenaeus of Lyons where he presents a parallel between Eve and Mary, describing how "the knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith." Her feast day is celebrated on September 28 th , but you can pray for her intersession any time. Mother of fair love, I look to you. Take into your hands the ribbon of my life, and see the snarl of knots that keeps me bound to sin, anxiety, and hopelessness. I beg you, Mother, by your powerful intercession and long fingers...

Thinking about the feast days for this month, I came across St. Rose of Lima. Before writing this I didn't know that much about her, other than that she was a Dominican.  She's also the patron saint of gardeners and florists which is really cool, but what immediately caught my eye in the google search was an article with a special prayer for her intersession for exhausted mothers. As a mom who's attempting to balance work, family and a small art business, I often find myself overwhelmed and yes, exhausted. St. Rosenof Lima, pray for us!  St. Rose, devout Virgin, fragrant rose in the garden of God, sweetly blooming amid the thorns of distressing tribulation and severe mortification, white as snow in the immaculate innocence of your heart, glowing in the love of God that consumed you. Your devotedness to your parents was so great that you labored night and day to relieve their poverty, and most tenderly cared for them in their sickness. Most grateful, most humble ...

  I grew up in Florida, and even though I've been living in Virginia for the last twenty five years, I still refer to myself as a native Floridian. So what does that have to do with being a Catholic Artist? Well, nothing really.  Except that the places that you live shape who you turn out to be as a person, and the art deco architecture of Southern Florida is certainly evident in my painting style, and perhaps also in my fascination with bold vibrant colors. Hale groves is based in my hometown, and every time I go back to Florida I make sure to stop by their store! I'm really excited to have this promo code for you to take 10% off some Florida goodness of your own! Subscribe to JenAmbrose Design in Progress by Email