Bedecked in jewels: the Lord reaches us in many things, including jewelry

The lady at the James Avery in Georgetown reached out and grabbed my necklace, “You are going to stretch out your chain with all those Santos!” I think I have 11 medals - and the Catholic Arts and Gifts is supposed to call me when they get a new Saint John Bosco. The James Avery lady and I got to talking about all of the saints on my chain, and as she touched the one of Saint Michael, I said, “That one is blessed by Pope Francis. Now you have his blessing too.” I’m very happy for the way the Lord has reached me in jewelry, a funny joke after I gave up all almost my other necklaces in honor of Venerable Pauline Jaricot five years ago. He and His saints have encountered me over and over in my medals and in my wedding and engagement ring. A few years ago, I made a commitment to God. Or rather, He made it clear He was commiting to me. I had to mark that in jewelry. I bought a ring with a cross on it from James Avery. And recently, I had such an experience of the Lord that it had to be marked with something from James Avery again. I really love that store. I bought another ring. 

I decided the symbol I needed was an anchor. After a nine month struggle with balance problems that could easily parallel problems of instability in other areas of my life, I decided I needed the symbol of anchor as a reminder of how God gives me His stability. And I wanted it to be blessed. After Mass on the day I got the ring, I waited at Saint Helen for a priest to say a prayer over it. Father Will and Father Joseph were both in the sacristy. I figured God’s will would manifest in the one who came out first. And God’s will was Will. He saw the anchor and declared it for faith, asking God to anchor me, rudder me and give me a firm foundation. Stability. That is exactly what I want. I’m very grateful that the Lord, who made us material and then became material Himself to encounter us, also uses material things to remind us of Him. Catholics and many Christians use crosses, pictures and jewelry as reminders, the same as when you remember your loved ones with little treasures. 

The Lord has blessed me recently with clear awareness of His presence, love and commitment. And I’m grateful to have something to remember that by. 

(Yesterday, the James Avery company announced the death of their founder. God rest his soul. I rejoice in the charism of craftsmanship he shared with the world.)