Preborn Jesus is Literally "Our Centerpiece"

He is at the Very Center of Our Lives and He is our Peace!

Going forward, the centers of the rosaries (voluntarily being made by Pittsburgh rosary makers) will feature the replica of the gold medal of Mary, Ark of The New Covenant that I gifted NFL's Hall of Fame, Franco Harris. It will be connected in the typical "centerpiece" rosary fashion, whereas the original black and gold rosaries had the gold medal dangling from the center.

The new Black and Gold "Ave Marie" rosaries with the gold rosary centerpiece of Mary, Ark of The New Covenant are Christocentric, with Jesus at the heart or CENTER of our rosary! Like opening a Russian matryoshka nesting doll, our eyes are drawn to the center of the medal to Jesus nestled in the sacred womb of Mary.  

As in every single step guided by the Holy Spirit in the unfolding of the Mary, Ark of the New Covenant Medal project, we are happy to announce that a Patroness was given from the great "Cloud of Witnesses" to powerfully intercede for its success. Joyfully, I announce that St. Gertrude the Great is that saint!

Incredibly, I recently read about an astounding vision of St. Gertrude and I was humbly inspired to relate it to our new "Ave Maria" Rosaries and Pittsburgh's Three Rivers: the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers that meet at "The Point."
 

The Vision of St. Gertrude

"On the morning of the Feast of the Annunciation while the Ave Maria was being sung in Gertrude's monastery, she had a vision in which 3 streams gushed forth from the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and gently flowed into the heart of the Virgin Mary. From this heart these streams flowed back to their source. From this, Gertrude learned that every time the Hail Mary is said by the faithful the 3 mysterious streams surround Our Lady in a mighty current rush to her heart. After they have completely bathed her in happiness they gush back into the bosom of God. The saints and angels share in this abundance of  joy, as do the faithful on earth who say this prayer."

From Saint Gertrude: “revelations book iv chapter II”

The scripture based rosary, unlike other prayer beads, is a biblical prayer on a string caressed with the background prayer of the "Ave Maria". The Rosary truly is the great circle of life with every person, living through life's Joys and Sorrows according to the Father's plan, just as Jesus, Mary and Joseph did.

St. Louis de Montfort in Secret of the Rosary shares insight into the Ave Maria,

"Now if we say the Hail Mary properly, is not that a way to love, bless and glorify Jesus and Mary? In each Hail Mary we bless both Jesus and Mary: "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus."

By each Hail Mary we give our Lady the same honour that God gave her when he sent the archangel Gabriel to greet her for him. How could anyone possibly think that Jesus and Mary, who often do good to those who curse them, could ever curse those who bless and honour them by the Hail Mary?"

At the foot of the cross Mary became The Spiritual Mother of All People whether realized or not. And so it is fitting that the back side of the rosary centerpiece contain's the scripture passage,

"All Generations Shall Call Me Blessed."  Luke 1:48

May the inspired Word on the reverse of the rosary centerpiece become something truly beautiful for the Holy Trinity, represented by Gertrude's vision of the 3 streams, and Pittsburgh's 3 Rivers by extension.

From the 3 Rivers, symbolized by the 3 strands of beads that link to the rosary's Mary, Ark of The New Covenant centerpiece let us keep the vision of St. Gertrude's 3 streams ever before us, and let us work to revive the Rosary, our love for Pittsburgh and for each other.

Thanks to the Lumen Mundi Company for delivering our long awaited centerpieces from Italy, very special thanks to all prayerful and monetary benefactors, I am forever grateful to the volunteers with the Pittsburgh Rosary Maker Groups, (especially Patti and Paul), to St. Anthony's Chapel (home to the largest collection of relics outside the Vatican) the main distributor of the black and gold "Ave Maria" rosaries and a heart full of gratitude to Betty, Bonnie and Stephen for their countless efforts and loving support.  

Finally, a most humble offering of thanks to St. Gertrude, Patroness of the Centerpieces for our Black and Gold "Ave Maria"Rosaries for their distribution.

But mostly, I humbly thank God for my divine appointment with Franco, who passed 5 months ago today. May you rest in peace, Franco.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and Persevere in Running the Race that Lies Before Us."   Hebrews 12:1