What if our most important and sincere purpose was charity towards others? Mother Teresa of Calcutta was a master in this.

The holiday season predisposes each of us to reflect on many aspects of life that we tend not to dwell on too much during the rest of the year. Perhaps it depends on the dilation of time, which characterises these days different from all other days. Perhaps it is the closeness with friends and relatives, even with people we don’t usually frequent, for lack of time, for distance.

Modern life is strange, often even cruel. Even Christmas, in our cities, seems to lose its connotation as a religious holiday, reducing itself to an occasion of consumerism and waste. The sparkling lights in the shops, the lights that light up the streets, should remind us of the birth of Jesus, the immense gift that God gave us by sending His Son to live among us, to die for us. Instead often, too often, those lights are just an invitation to buy, to give even expensive gifts that too often are not gifts, because they do not come from the heart. The same feeling of warmth, of ‘feeling better’, too frequently remains a superficial manifestation, which does not manifest itself in any way. We eat, drink, exchange gifts, and then we all return to our lives, in which there is no room for those around us, let alone for those who are just farther away from us.

Yet Christmas makes us think, and fortunately. Because for those who truly believe it is the moment in which more than at any other time of the year we can and must welcome the love of God. But that’s not all. At the very moment in which this unique and special love enters our lives and our homes, we become its instrument, small but precious voices, in a choir that sings of justice, peace, truth, for all the men of the world.

Above all, the renewal of the miracle of the birth of Jesus, of that pure and innocent Child in the presence of whom shepherds and Magi bow in the same way, should awaken the best part of us, which Christian theology has wanted to define with theological virtues, that is, those virtues that should be at the basis of Christian living and of the relationship of every man with God.

In the first letter to the Corinthians, we read: “These then are the three things that remain: faith, hope and charity; but the greatest of all is charity!“(1 Corinthians 13:13).

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AMEN necklace in 925 sterling silver with three charms Faith, Hope and Compassion

Necklace with heart and cross embellished by white zircons.

Here are the theological virtues: Faith, thanks to which man entrusts himself completely to God, believing in all that He has revealed; Hope, or trust in the promise of eternal life and the commitment to live in a way that deserves it; Charity, the bond and point of departure, but also arrival, of the other virtues. We want to focus on the latter in this article.

So, what is charity

We have already dealt with the concept of Christian charity previously, reflecting on how it should not be confused with the simple act of giving alms.

Charity is the virtue in the name of which man loves God above all else, and his neighbour as himself.

It is Jesus himself who communicates this new commandment to his disciples:
“At that time Jesus said:” Now the Son of man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him immediately. Children, I am with you for a little while longer. I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” (Jn 13: 31-33a.34-35)

Charity is therefore before anything else love. Love for others, for those who are close, but also for those who are not, but need our help, our love. A love that must be free, authentic, offered and lived in the name of Jesus, with a smile on the lips and a light heart full of happiness.

For this reason, speaking of the difference between charity and almsgiving, we focused on the fact that too often the latter is mistaken for a gesture of love and generosity, while unfortunately, it is only a way to feel a clear conscience, with the least possible effort. Charity is not just giving a few coins that weigh in our pockets. It is welcome, availability, the will to find time and energy to dedicate to others, taking them away from ourselves, sacrificing what we like to do and having to put ourselves at the service of others, the poor, the needy, in the name of a sense of superior justice, of a yearning for what is right, good, beautiful.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta and her work of charity

And we come to Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Who better than she can represent the most shining and emblematic example of Christian charity? Hers is known to all: how from a very young age she manifested her vocation to good, how, as a missionary in India, she received what she called the call within the call, which prompted her to leave the tranquillity of the convent to immerse herself in true poverty, mixing with the last of the last, collecting their suffering and making it their own.

Who better than her can give us an example of what charity is, true charity, of love that is not spared, not sipped, granted based on actual needs and according to defined and precise methods?

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Mother Therese of Calcutta statue

This statue features Mother Therese of Calcutta smiling and with a child in her arms.

Mother Teresa maintained relationships with heads of state and kings, collaborated with local and foreign personalities to open and manage reception and care centres for the poor, the sick and lepers. But it would be blasphemy to want to consider his work as a ‘business’ of any kind. Indeed, through her boundless mercy, her charity made of prayer, but above all of the action, Mother Teresa for years denounced those who with small and large actions had determined those situations of degradation and suffering in which she lived, alongside people who had lost everything, even the dignity of human beings. It was she, this tireless little nun, who fought against the hypocrisy of those who prefer to turn away, hiding behind alibis and excuses for not recognising their responsibilities, or simply their selfishness and their meanness. She took the new commandment of Jesus and lived it on her skin, in her flesh, day after day, until her death, loving anyone who came along her path as Jesus would have loved him, welcoming him, forgiving him, forgiving his sins, taking care of him as a brother, a sister, a son.

As Jesus was the Teacher of love, so was Mother Teresa in teaching people how to live that love most fully and authentically.

Good resolutions for the new year

Returning to us and good resolutions for the new year, how can we move to carry out works of charity towards others? There are many ways to manifest charity, many small daily gestures to live it every day, transforming it into a testimony of faith. It is not so difficult to let Jesus enter your life and make him your model of love. Every time we dedicate time, energy to someone, taking them away from ourselves, without profit, without ulterior motives, we are carrying out an act of charity. If we bring comfort to those who suffer, with our closeness, our words, even with gestures and practical help, we are acting according to the charity and mercy that Jesus wanted to be the basis of our living together.

If around us we see injustice, if we realize that someone does not live worthily, that he suffers from deprivation and shortcomings, and we intervene to improve his condition, we perform an act of charity. Everyone should have something to live worthily because God created the world for everyone to enjoy.

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Alms bag with locket

This bag to take the collection in church is made of a black fake leather fabric.

Our sacrifice, the gesture, the offer, the support, the words of comfort, are the most powerful tool that has been given to us to make the world where we live a better place. It is up to us to use them in the best way, not to waste the gifts we have been made the object of, not to waste God’s love without doing our best to amplify its message and spread it around us. And not just at Christmas.

Christmas is approaching. Do you already know what to give to your loved ones? Christmas shopping anxiety? Here are some very special gift ideas for him and her.

How far are you with gift ideas for Christmas? Exchanging gifts is certainly one of the most beautiful and anticipated moments of the holidays. Too bad that every year we get there with a hint of stress that spoils the harmony and pleasantness a little. This is because nowadays it seems to have become more important to buy the gift at all costs rather than thinking of something that could please the recipient. And it’s not just a question of money, because very often we end up spending even more as if the economic value of the object could compensate for the thought, the affection is the intention we put into it.

Of course, this is not the case.

Trapped as we are in the gears of modern life, often too hectic, we risk losing sight of the true meaning of the exchange of gifts. And it is no coincidence that we have called them gifts, because, as we have already pointed out in a previous article, there is a big difference between gift and gift.

The gift comes from giving, and it expresses much better the true meaning we like to attribute to this gesture. No compulsory duty, no exorbitant expenses, perhaps to cover a paucity of feeling, a superficiality of thought. A gift, a true gift, comes from the heart, and even if its material value may not be great, it compensates with the genuine desire to express sincere affection, to bring luck and hope. In this, we should perhaps take an example from the children, who like the holidays’ approach, are encouraged by the teachers at school to create small gifts for their parents or grandparents. Let’s consider the commitment they put into those chores, the assiduity of thought with which they dedicate themselves to them, thoughts turned to those who will receive them, to the face they will do, to how happy they will be. Perhaps, being able to remember this particular feeling, this somewhat naive expectation, perhaps, but authentic, we too will be able to recover the pleasure of giving something at Christmas, and we will shake off a little this sense of inevitability and anxiety that inevitably infects all as December approaches.

Just to lighten you up a bit, we at Holyart want to offer you some gift ideas for the upcoming holidays. These are gifts for him and her, something that you can hardly find in shopping malls sparkling with lights, but which perhaps will help you to better express the thought you want to communicate to those you love.

Christmas gift ideas for him

Let’s start with Christmas gift ideas for him.

It is known that men now love perfumery products as much and more than women. Face and body creams, perfumes, and of course the timeless aftershave. Why not surprise a special man for you with an equally special and different product than usual? We are talking about the Camaldoli Aftershave, made by the Antica Farmacia dei Monaci Camaldolesi.

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Camaldoli Aftershave, non-alcoholic fluid with aloe vera 100ml

Made by the Antique Pharmacy of the Camaldoli Monks.

A non-alcoholic, delicate fluid, suitable for all skin types and not at all irritating because it is based on aloe vera. Like all the products of the ancient pharmacy of the monks of Camaldoli, this aftershave is also made with natural products, and according to ancient recipes, handed down over time by the wisdom of the monks. Suitable for a man who looks more to the substance than to the appearance, when it comes to using a product on the skin. As for its pleasantness and effectiveness, this aftershave has nothing to envy from the products offered in glossy magazines by winking models.

If, on the other hand, the recipient of the gift appreciates good wine, why not surprise him with a valuable bottle? Also in this case we are not offering you prestigious and inaccessible names, but we are aiming for a truly quality product, like this Pinot Nero Riserva DOC 2016 wine from Muri Gries Abbey in South Tyrol. The MURI-GRIES estate covers over 35 hectares of vineyards in the best production areas between the Bolzano basin and the municipality of Appiano. These are soils of excellent quality, with excellent climatic conditions, and which also offer such differentiation as to allow the cultivation of different grapes and consequently the production of different wines, all of the highest quality.

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Pinot Nero Riserva DOC red wine Muri Gries Abbey

Pinot Nero Riserva DOC red wine from the Muri Gries Abbey in Italy, of 2017.

In particular, this wine made with Pinot Noir grapes from the Appiano Monte vineyards, with a beautiful bright and deep ruby red colour, with its elegant structure and delicate, mineral and a savoury flavour, can be a welcome gift even for the most demanding taster. Its aromas of ripe fruit with hints of cherry and plum jam, spices, a little walnut, well-integrated wood notes go well with pepper steak, grilled meat, hare, roast duck, cheese seasoned. And you do not have to fear that the bottles could break during shipping because the product is guaranteed by “ewine secure pack“, a patented, safe and reliable packaging, which protects the bottle from any type of shock to which it should be subjected during the shipping.

If in addition to loving wine, the recipient of our gift is also a lover of cooking, perhaps an expert cook, this gift box containing 3 blends of chilli peppers from the Monastery of Siloe could be the right gift. All the peppers are grown and packaged by the monks of the Monastery of Siloe in the upper Maremma Grossetana. The flavours contained in the gift box are:
– Verde di Siloe, with peppers of different colours and a medium-high spiciness,
– Rosso di Siloe, with Chili de Onza and Habanero Chocolat peppers and a medium spiciness
– Giallo di Siloe, with typical peppers of southern Italy and medium spiciness.

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Hot pepper gift package- Monastery of Siloe

Gift package containing 3 different mixes of hot pepper of Siloe.

By completely changing the scope and tastes, a men’s jewel is not a gift to be underestimated, especially if, in addition to being a fashionable accessory, it also becomes a way to express oneself, one’s interiority and, why not, spirituality. For example with an Amen jewel. Amen offers a collection of unique and original jewels, which rework the great themes of religion and spiritual expression in a captivating and modern way. Necklaces, prayer rings, bracelets, even rosaries, symbols of faith that become fashion accessories thanks to the proposals of exclusive designers. For example, an Amen men’s bracelet, such as the splendid Amen bracelet made with lava stone grains and St. Benedict’s medal, an elegant and at the same time informal accessory, suitable for a man who is not afraid to always carry a sign on himself of their faith. Made of 925 silver, with lava stone beads of 5 mm in diameter and a medal of St. Benedict with a diameter of 1.5 cm, the bracelet closes with a carabiner. The chain is adjustable.

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Saint Benedict men’s bracelet with lava stone beads, AMEN

Silver bracelet with Saint Benedict medal.

Or an original rosary necklace for men, like the rosary necklace with Pater in beechwood, with a vague ethnic flavour, but strictly produced in Italy. The stylised cross is 4 cm long and is made of silver-plated zamak with an antique effect. An orange tassel adds a touch of colour.

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Rosary choker in wood and silver with 8 mm grains

Rosary with beechwood paters, a stylized cross and a zinc alloy element with antiqued effect and orange NAPPINA.

Christmas gift ideas for her

And what about Christmas gift ideas for ladies? Also in this case there is only the embarrassment of choice, and it ranges from body products to crystal photo frames, to exclusive jewels.

The nuns of Valserena are contemplative nuns belonging to the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance. The monastery is relatively young, having been founded in 1968 by the community of Vitorchiano, among the woods and olive trees that cover the Tuscan hills of the Cecina valley. In their simple life, which follows the rule of St. Benedict, the nuns make cosmetic products for personal hygiene in their laboratory, according to the ancient recipes of the monastic tradition based on herbs and vegetables, but also liqueurs and handicrafts. All the products offered by the monastery are therefore natural and of high quality. Among the many unparalleled products for body care and beauty made in the Cistercian Monastery of Valserena we propose the anti-seborrheic skin purifying face cream, based on cypress and fruit acids. It is a light cream with a dermo-purifying and astringent action for oily, impure, combination or acne-prone skin.

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Skin purifying face cream 50ml Valserena

This is a high quality product, made with natural ingredients.

Women are also sensitive to the charm of jewellery, you know. But will it be true that only diamonds are their best friends? … The Amen line offers a very rich choice of feminine jewels of great finesse and elegance, such as this delightful bracelet with angel and stars in 925 silver and rhodium-plated finishes. The stars are positioned on the sides of the angel and the bracelet can be adjusted from a minimum size of 16 up to a maximum of 18 cm. A light jewel, suitable for women of all ages.

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Star and angel silver bracelet, AMEN

This 925 silver bracelet has a rhodium finish.

Or you can opt for a pair of precious, important earrings, such as the AMEN earrings with a hollow heart inside, also in rhodium-plated 925 silver and with the edge embellished with white zircons. The closure is a butterfly and the heart has a diameter of 1 cm.

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AMEN heart shaped stud earrings 925 sterling silver

Jewel made by the Italian specialized company AMEN according to high quality standards.

The woman who loves to embellish her home with classy and tasteful details will only be able to appreciate a small watercolour print painting handmade in Italy by the artist Verther. The title is Gioia Familiare, measuring 27 x 27 cm, and is embellished with a fine wooden frame with silver foil inserts and rhinestone decorations. Decorative crystals were also applied to the glass.

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Family Joy painting with crystals 27X27 cm

Painting entiteled family joy, watercolour painting sized 27×27 cm.

Always as a piece of furniture for the home, but also to keep the most beautiful memories, a crystal photo frame or stainless steel decorated with crystals, such as the photo frame with an angel can be a nice thought. It measures 15 x 20 and is handcrafted in Italy in stainless steel. The angel holds a star in their hand.

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Angel photo frame gift idea heart 15×20 cm

Gift idea, Angel photo frame in stainless steel 15×20 cm with crystals.

To conclude, whether it is for her or him, the Christmas gift must first of all be a gift, which comes from the bottom of the heart, to bring love and peace to those who will receive it.

What would Christmas be without a tree? But why limit yourself to the usual, classic green fir decorated with balls, lights and tinsel? Here are some ideas for strange and original Christmas trees, real design objects.

So, what do we mean by weird Christmas trees? The Christmas tree is a tradition now so deeply rooted in our culture that it can be taken for granted. What Christmas would it be without the fir trees covered with coloured lights, the festoons of gold and silver, the balls and the delicious and fragile decorations, which remind us of the Christmases of our childhood? Every house, every shop or shopping centre flaunts its own tree, and in some of the most famous squares in the world, the lighting of the illuminations becomes an event of such magnitude as to attract not only citizens, but tourists from all over the world. Just think of the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square in London or that of the Rockefeller Center in New York.

Remaining in the domestic environment, the moment in which the Tree is taken out of the cellar or from the attic, placed in a place of honour in the house, and then decorated, takes on an almost ritual character, which involves the whole family and collects it in a moment of sharing with a unique flavour, an integral part of the Christian Christmas.

And to think that the origins of the Christmas tree are very distant from Catholicism. In ancient Rome there was the custom of decorating temples with fir branches during the Saturnalia, celebrations in honour of Saturn that fell during the winter Solstice, starting from 17 December. In particular, the Romans used silver fir, which symbolised eternal life. But silver fir branches were also used to celebrate the cult of the “Sol Invictus”, the “rising sun”, connected to that of the god Mithras. Still, the Celts celebrated the Winter Solstice with large banquets and gatherings around the fire, in what is known as the Yule festival. Decorations made with evergreen branches adorned the houses and common areas, symbolising the struggle against the dangers of winter.

It is presumable that the Christmas tree as we know it derives from these Nordic rites, given that the first testimonies of Christmas trees in the Christian context date back to the Middle Ages, when, in many villages in northern Europe, the inhabitants began to set up trees decorated for Christmas in the churchyard or inside the churches, or even in the central square. Initially, it was not always fir trees, but also cherry or hawthorn trees, or wooden pyramids, which were decorated with paper, fresh and dried fruit and candles.

Even the typical colours of the Christmas trees, red, green, gold and silver, are linked to ancient traditions, to symbols linked to both a sacred and profane past, the bearer of a legacy of sacredness, fecundity, rebirth.

But today we want to talk about strange Christmas trees, and this allows us to depart from tradition, or perhaps to examine aspects not usually considered. Among our 5 proposals, there is also a Christmas tree in the shape of a cherry tree which, as we mentioned earlier, was one of the most used trees in the first preparations of Christmas trees during the Middle Ages. This is to say that we are open to novelties and stylistic evolution, and that we like to offer Christmas trees that can turn out to be real fashion and design objects, destined to make your holiday home truly unique and original, but that we never lose. It is entirely clear that the goal of the Christmas tree is to recreate the atmosphere that makes this holiday so special inside the house.

Here are five proposals for artificial Christmas trees that we can define as designer Christmas trees, for those who want to dare a little more and have an original and different tree.

1. Christmas tree 180 cm Fancy Silver silver fir with a mouldable tip 300 internal external LEDs

Let’s start with a silver-coloured Christmas tree, 180 cm high. Its peculiarity is certainly that of having a modellable tip. In practice, you can fold it and adapt it to your needs, to create a truly stunning effect. The Christmas tree is enriched with 300 cool white eco LED lights and features a light control with 8 movements. Like all our artificial Christmas trees, it is easy to open with the practical umbrella opening of the branches that allows you to assemble the Christmas tree quickly. Each branch is permanently attached to a metal support. The considerable amount of spikes (about 392) make it an impressive tree used both indoors and outdoors.

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Christmas Tree 180 cm Fancy White white mouldable tip 300 eco LED inside

The lights are icy white.

2. Obsidian Gold Christmas tree 210 cm

And what about this very original Obsidian Gold Slim Christmas tree? The Christmas tree is black, with gold shades and surprising points of light. Its plastic branches are permanently attached to a metal support, guaranteeing absolute ease of opening. The Tree is 210 cm tall. Its most original feature is certainly the colour, which makes it suitable for an elegant environment, no matter if classic or modern.

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Artificial Christmas tree Obsidian Gold slim black gold glitter 210 cm

Artificial black Christmas Tree with 614 gold glittery tips.

3. Luminous tree Cherry 300 cm cold white outside

Here is our Christmas Cherry Tree, illuminated by 1592 LEDs shining in a beautiful cool white. The Cherry Tree is ideal for embellishing the interior and exterior of homes, public places and offices. 300 cm tall, its branches covered with small pulsating LED lights are mouldable and perfect for creating the shape and decoration that you prefer. Cherry blossoms are bright and easily replaceable. Supplied are some replacement pieces with a lot of imbus key to screw the branches to the trunk.
The item is very solid and consists of: trunk with a metal base to give stability with lots of holes to fix it to the floor, 11 branches with cherry blossoms, each with its own plug to be connected to the trunk, cherry blossoms to be replaced in case of need and imbus key. The Christmas Cherry Tree stands out for its elegance and brightness.

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Cherry blossom light tree 300 cm cold white

This LED cherry blossom tree is perfect for indoor or outdoor settings, comes with a IP44 transformer.

4. Luminous Tree Weeping Willow 150cm 360 LED Warm White Outdoor

Always wanting to consider Christmas trees strange and different from the usual, how about this Christmas willow? 150 cm high, it is illuminated by 360 warm white LED lights. Ideal for embellishing the interior and exterior of homes, public places and offices, just as the cherry tree has branches that can be moulded and adapted to any shape. Its simple lines and above all its brightness make it perfect for creating a welcoming and ideal atmosphere for minimal and elegant environments. Lightweight and easy to move, it will illuminate your home all the time of the holidays.

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Christmas lights Willow Tree 150 cm 360 LEDs

Decorative light tree for indoor and outdoor use. The direction of the branches can be adjusted manually.

5. Christmas tree 230 cm high red velvet covered with snow

Classic in shape, this sumptuous fir tree 230 cm high and with the beauty of 1066 points, catches the eye, as well as for its grandeur and the colour of its branches. It is wonderfully red and white flocked! 500 coloured eco LED lights to illuminate it majestically, with 8 different light effects. The umbrella opening makes it practical and easy to open, despite its size, and ensures an ideal shape seal for all holidays. An important and impressive Christmas tree.

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Christmas tree Red Velvet snowy spruce 230 cm

Christmas Tree with 500 coloured eco LED lights, with fake snow.

What is the connection between the fall month with what is probably the most important and popular devotional form in the world? October – month of the rosary: historical memory, visions, a path of faith and fervor that comes from far away and carries the image of the Virgin Mary.

October is the month of the Rosary. We deepened the devotion connected to each month of the year in a previous article. In that occasion, we stated that devotion can be summed up in an act of love and trust uttered by men towards God, and we saw that some devotional forms became real prayers with time, prayers that can be optionally added to the official Liturgy or the Liturgy of the Hours.

The liturgical calendar itself reminds us about all of the holidays and celebrations we can associate with a particular form of devotion during the whole year. Not just that, the calendar of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite identifies a devotion for each month, related to particular holidays and commemorations celebrated during that month.

Therefore, January is the month dedicated to the Most Holy Name of Jesus; February is dedicated to the Holy Family; March is dedicated to Saint Joseph; April to the Eucharist; May to the Virgin Mary; June to the Sacred Heart of Jesus; July to the Most Precious Blood; August to God Father Almighty and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; September to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross; October to the Holy Rosary; November to the souls in the Purgatory and to the dead; December to the Advent, Christmas and the Immaculate Conception.

It would be interesting to deepen the reasons that led to the affirmation of such devotions in the given months throughout the centuries. However, it is not always easy. Devotions have developed throughout time, throughout centuries of Church, and they vary from country to country. Some of them also gained a folklore aspect in time, such as the popular feasts dedicated to Saints, to Jesus and Mary, often merging with previous traditions, in a mix of religious fervor and local festivity. For sure, devotions are so strictly tied to the human side of the Church that they are an essential element, especially in their popular and communitarian dimension.

We said October is the month of the rosary. Where does this choice come from? The reasons behind that are many, mainly connected to historical facts. In fact, on October 7th, 1571, the Battle of Lepanto took place, when the fleets of the Ottoman Empire faced the fleets of the Holy League. The Holy League united forces from the Republic of Venice, Spain, the Catholic State, Genoa, the Knights of Malta, the Duchy of Savoy, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Duchy of Urbino, the Republic of Lucca, the Duchy of Ferrara and the Duchy of Mantua. The win of the Holy League was overwhelming and determined the sunset of the Muslim power in Europe.

As we can easily imagine, this battle had great repercussions on a religious level. Before it even began, when the fleet of the Holy League was about to depart, Pope Pius V blessed the League flag, which represented the Crucifix on a red background, and the apostles Peter and Paul. Upon it, the Constantine motto In hoc signo vinces. Furthermore, the flagship Real showed the image of Mary as sign, with the writing ‘S. Maria succurre miseris’. The legend has it that once the battle was over, much before he could receive the news given the communications problems of the time, the Pope had a vision where he received the news that the League won the battle at noon. He then exclaimed: “It’s 12, ring the bells, we won in Lepanto for intercession of the Holy Virgin“, and he dismissed the people there. The Pope declared later that it was the miraculous intercession from the Virgin Mary that led the Holy League to victory, and therefore he wanted to consecrate October 7th to Our Lady of Victory. His follower Pope Gregory XIII amended the dedication into Our Lady of the Rosary. The belief that before the battle all soldiers of the League had invoked Mary’s protection on them by reciting the Rosary quickly spread, and that was what grant them the victory. Even the tradition of having the bells ring for a long time at 12 would be attributed to the Battle of Lepanto and to the vision of Pius V.

Therefore, October is called the Month of the Rosary, and still today the 7th day celebrates the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary, although not everyone can connect it to the Battle of Lepanto. Actually, the origin of Our Lady of the Rosary is more ancient; it dates back to the apparition of Mary to Saint Dominic in Prouille in 1208, that is, when the Dominican order was born. The battle only defined the day the Church should celebrate the holiday of Our Lady of the Rosary, or Our Lady of Victory.

The cult of Our Lady of the Rosary became even more popular after the Lourdes apparitions in 1858. During these events, Mary herself recommended practicing this devotion.

The Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Holy Rosary in Pompeii is one of the most important places of catholic cult in the South of Italy and one of the most famous and visited Marian shrines in Italy.

In this month more than in any other, it would be appropriate to find some time to recite the holy Rosary. Among all prayers, the Rosary is the one that brings us closer to Jesus the most, and does so through the sweet intercession from His Mother. It is a contemplative prayer, the prayer of a Christian facing the path of faith towards Jesus, following Mary’s footsteps and example. The grains of the Rosary flowing through our fingers set the passing of days and years of a Christian life, marking the path of faith step after step. Everything in the Rosary leads to Jesus, to his image symbolized by the Crucifix, just as the whole life of a devotee must be addressed only towards Him. It is important to recite the Rosary as much as possible in this month, on our own or also in our family and parish.

And to do so, it is better to have the ideal ‘instrument’.

Holyart offers a wide choice of Rosary Crowns, of any material and shape, from the simplest ones to the most precious ones, or even for collectors, made following different styles. Not just that: Holyart also offers rosary cases of all kinds: cases, bags, boxes, table.

The most appreciated and popular are silver Rosaries, handmade in Italy with artisanal designing. They are often adorned with hard stones, such as amethyst, quartz, black onyx, coral, turquoise, but also brilliants, river pearls, mother pearls or Swarovski crystals. They are not just devotional instruments made to pray every day, but real jewels to wear, elegant and refined.

Even the Rosaries with precious stones and hard stones add an objective value to the devotional instrument symbolic value, thanks to the precious materials and the complexity of the workings and decors. Coral, garnet and agate are the most used stones, along with malachite, tiger eye, aventurine, hematite, amethyst, pink quartz and lapis lazuli.

In the same range of rosaries that are also precious jewels; Holyart offers a wide variety of Rosaries made of real Swarovski crystal and silver, handmade in Italy, with metal cross and cross vault.

Rosaries of pearl-like beads, handmade in various colors and materials, with rounded, drop, or even heart-shaped pearls, and Rosaries of glass of various colors, with grains of various sizes and metal binding, are for everyday use and an evergreen fashion.

Handmade cloisonné Rosaries are also very precious and particular. Cloisonné is a peculiar manual decoration technique, where small polished images are decorated with wire. There are also Rosaries made of Murano glass and Murrina-style glass, characterized by bright colors and a quality that is the result of centuries-old traditions and artisanal experience.

Wood is also used in traditional Rosaries, not only olive wood, which was typical of Franciscan rosaries, but also coconut tree, beech and rosewood. Handmade Rosaries with wooden grains impregnated with rose or jasmine scent are very evocative.

There are then Devotional Rosaries and Crowns tied to different traditions and prayers, such as the Rosary of the Virgin Mary untier of knots, the Crown of the Virgin Mary of the Seven sorrows, The Rosary Cento Requiem, The Crown of the peace of Medjugorje, the Decade of the Unborn, and so on.

Lastly, Holyart also offers many models of Electronic Rosary, both with loudspeaker or headphones, equipped with accessories and batteries included in the price. That way, you will not be alone in prayer even when you are unable to join others in this devotional act.

The Garden of Eden represents the first, immense gift that God gave to man and woman. Lost following the original Sin, it remains an emblematic place, a symbol of rediscovered innocence and inexhaustible hope. Let’s find out more about it.

We have already had the opportunity to talk about the Garden of Eden in a previous article dedicated to the story of Adam and Eve. It is in the Garden of Eden, also called Earthly Paradise, that God created the first man and the first woman, the progenitors of all humanity. The Almighty gave them a gift of that wonderful place and all the animals and plants that populated it so that they could enjoy their fruits and live in absolute happiness.

Absolute happiness … This is one of the characteristics of the Garden of Eden: a place of peace, harmony, where all races of animals coexist peacefully, where no flower is poisonous. Suffering is banished, and so is fatigue, illness, pain. Death cannot enter the Garden of Eden, where the tree of life, among others, blooms, to which we have dedicated a further article. God has placed this miraculous tree right in the middle of the garden of Eden, next to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and Adam and Eve can eat its fruit to their fill. In this way, they are immortal, immune to the passage of time, to old age, to disease, to death.

What is the origin of the Garden of Eden? Does it correspond to a real geographical location? And, if so, where was it located?

Meanwhile, let’s analyse the terms. The Hebrew word “pardés”, whose root refers to ‘paradise‘, means ‘garden‘. The compound term “Gan ‘Eden”,’ garden of Earthly Delights‘ (Genesis 2:8-14), was used to define both the earthly and the celestial paradise. The word “Eden” comes from the Sumerian, and means ‘ steppe, plain ‘. Some scholars have conjectured that God chose an area occupied by steppe vegetation to give rise to His Paradise, his garden of delights. Another theory links the Garden of Eden with a location repeatedly mentioned in the Bible called Eden or Edin. It was a region under the dominion of the Assyrians, located in the middle Euphrates, also mentioned in many Sumerian sources.

When we think of the earthly Paradise we don’t have to imagine an uncultivated and wild place. In fact, in ancient times the gardens were fenced places and in which the vegetation was regulated rationally. Therefore, the choice of creating a garden and giving life to the first man inside it would also fall within God’s precise plan.

Where was the Garden of Eden located?

Regarding the location of the garden of Eden, in Genesis, we read: “And the Eternal God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man he had formed … And a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from it was divided into four arms. The name of the first is Pishon, and it is that which surrounds the whole land of Havila, where is the gold; and the gold of that country is good; bdellium and onyx are also found there. The name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. The name of the third river is Hiddekel, and it is the one that flows east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. ” (Genesis 2: 8-14).

This apparently very precise description actually contains references that are almost certainly more symbolic than geographic. At first glance, one might think that the Garden of Eden was located in a river valley, somewhere to the east, perhaps in Mesopotamia, at least according to most scholars. In fact, the region, crossed by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and which occupied the territory where Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran now extend, had very luxuriant vegetation, thanks to the flooding of the two rivers, so much so that it deserved the name of the fertile crescent, sometimes typical of the steppes, which reconnects us to the aforementioned word ‘Eden’.

Other scholars place the earthly Paradise further north, starting from the assumption that if four streams of water came out of it, their source must have been further north than the course of the Tigris and Euphrates. Indicatively, we can think of the northern part of Armenia.

Professor David Rohl, a famous English archaeologist, after years of study, excavation and research, said that the Garden of Eden was located in a valley near today’s Tabriz in northern Iran on the plateau west of the lake by Urmia. The same scholar, the author of a book with the explanatory title ”Genesis was right ”, argues that what is told in Genesis is very reliable from a historical and geographical point of view. So also for Rohl the garden of Eden stood in ancient Armenia, around the basins of Lake Van and Lake Urmia, in the same region where Mount Ararat rises, on which Noah’s Ark stopped at the end of the Great Flood. The ark would still be visible, on top of the mountain, on clear days …

Again, some think that the Garden of Eden was located in the Holy Land, the land of Israel. According to this theory, the river that flowed in the earthly Paradise, and then divides once it leaves, would have been the Jordan. To support this hypothesis is the fact that undoubtedly, in those distant times, the course of the river was much longer. In particular, the Garden could have been located north of Galilee, on the border with Samaria, south of the Sea of Galilee. This area was in the past so strategically important and so fertile, thanks to the waters of the Jordan and the Harod River, that the ancient Jewish sages used to say: “If the Garden of Eden is in the land of Israel, then its gate is Beth-Shean“, referring to the ancient city that stood in that region.

Other scholars place the Garden of Eden in Egypt and identify the four rivers with the Nile, which made that land fertile and rich by flowing for long stretches under it, only to emerge at some points.

Finally, some interpretations exclude any geographical implication, considering the Garden of Eden only in the key to the reading of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from it. The garden would represent the Holy Land and the Temple of Jerusalem, from which the people of Israel, guilty of idolatry, were expelled, losing communion with God.

Regardless of the possibility of giving a geographical location to the Garden of Eden, as described in the Holy Scriptures, its importance remains a priority for every believer. Everything that happened in it, the temptation of the woman, the fall of the man, the expulsion of both, represents the beginning of the existence of humanity as we know it, in a theological key that justifies and explains the origin of all evil. The moment Eve and Adam chose to disobey, eating the fruits of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they lost the right to feed on those of the tree of life. In this lies the deception of the Serpent, who had promised them that, instead, they would be equal to God.

We will have to wait for the advent of Christ to find, in his Cross, the new Tree of life, source of salvation and eternal life.

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The Tree of Life

Hand-painted Greek icon depicting the Tree of Life: Jesus, the tweleve apostles and the Holy Trinity.

The figure of Jesus on the cross represents for every Christian the symbol of love par excellence, the incarnation of his own mission of faith and life. But how can such a terrible image convey such a precious message?

It is not easy to explain this contradiction since it belongs to the church from its origins. It may seem a paradox that Christians have made the cross, the instrument used to kill Jesus, the Saviour, sent into the world by God the Father, their main symbol. Even more surprising how, beyond the powerful symbolism of the empty cross, the figure of Christ on the cross, the more or less realistic representation of Jesus crucified, has become over the centuries an even more powerful emblem of faith. It is a tortured man we are talking about, a man beaten, stripped of all dignity, mocked by those whom he had come to save, and finally killed in a barbaric, horrible way. Yet those who believe in Him cannot help but look at the depiction of His agony without feeling a surge of love.

Because this is exactly what the figure of Jesus on the cross symbolises: a merciful, gratuitous, immense act of love. It is in the mangled figure of Jesus on the cross that the destiny of humanity is fulfilled, in the renewal of that Covenant with God, frustrated by the disobedience of Adam and Eve. The blood of Jesus, his tears, cleanses man from all guilt, opening the way to salvation.

But how did we come to this terrible act of violence, which is perhaps the culminating moment in the history of Christianity? Who crucified Jesus?

Why Jesus was put on the cross

The story told in the Gospels and the sacred texts are known to all. Jesus was dragged before the Sanhedrin court on charges of ” blasphemy”. In fact, as we learn from the Gospels, he had spent the last few years wandering around and preaching the proclamation of God’s Kingdom. But that’s not all. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, and, as such, to have been sent to judge men.
When the priests question him about it, He answers them without fear: “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”. Jesus replied: “I am! And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven”. The high priest tore his clothes, and said, ‘What further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy, haven’t you?” Everyone ruled that he was guilty of death” (Mk 14:61-64).

But the condemnation by the priests would not have been enough to send Jesus to death.
Judea, where Jesus lived, was dominated by the Romans, and it was only for the Roman Empire to decide who should die or not. The Jewish religious authorities had to convince the Roman governor of the extreme danger represented by Jesus so that he too would validate the sentence. Pontius Pilate, cornered by the fanaticism of the priests, will accuse Jesus of proclaiming himself Messiah-King, questioning the legitimate authority of Rome over those lands. This is the accusation with which Jesus will be sent to die, this is the Titulus Crucis, the sign that was placed on the cross to indicate the reason for the condemnation: Jesus Nazarene King of the Jews.

What were the last words of Jesus on the cross

There are several versions in the Gospels regarding the account of the last moments of Jesus’ life. According to some modern historians, these would be insertions made by the evangelists, driven by their own beliefs, and not actual events. Naturally, the importance of the last words pronounced by Jesus on the cross could justify the will, on the part of those who wanted to tell his story and spread his message, to transform them into a sort of prophecy.

But beyond the desertions and theological motivations, the last words spoken by Jesus shortly before his death constitute for every Christian an indispensable reflection of faith.

According to the Gospel of Luke, just before he died Jesus said: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46).

The other sentence pronounced by the dying Jesus is also attributed to Luke: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34), although not all documentary sources confirm it.

According to the Gospel of John, however, the sentence pronounced by Jesus crucified before his expiration would have been: “Everything is finished!” (John 19:30).

Other phrases are pronounced by Jesus on the cross, according to the other evangelists:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Mark 15:34)
“Truly I tell you: today you will be with me in paradise” (addressed to one of the two thieves crucified with him, Luke 23:43)
“Woman, here is your son!”; “Here is your mother!”(addressed to the Madonna and the apostle John, at the foot of the cross, John 19:26-27)
“I’m thirsty” (addressed to the Roman soldiers, who gave him vinegar to drink through a sponge on a reed, John 19:28)

It is clear how, despite the differences between the different versions of the Gospel, all the words of Jesus on the cross are rich in prophetic meanings, which will form the very basis of many aspects of the cult dedicated to him, subsequently. Because it was certainly no ordinary man who died on Calvary that day, and the consequences of that unjust sentence would change the history of humanity forever, in a way unsuspected for those who had persecuted him with such determination. Every single word suggests the profound love that animated Christ even in that moment of absolute suffering, even when he doubts that God, his Father, has abandoned him. Yet, even then, not a word of blame for his tormentors, not a condemnation for the men who are killing him. Because they do not know what they are doing, and therefore they deserve forgiveness, they deserve paradise, that paradise that Jesus gives to the world through his blood, his body, his immense sacrifice.

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Wooden crucifixes in different sizes. Hand made olive wood crucifixes, Body of Christ and crosses in natural wood…

Why is it such an important symbol for Catholics?

We have already answered this question in the introduction, and having dwelled on the last words of Jesus has emphasised even more the profound meaning that leads the crucifix to be one of the most important and precious symbols of Christians. In the figure of Jesus on the cross, there is all the immense love of God for humanity and the remembrance of the hope of the Resurrection.

Representations of Jesus on the cross

The early Christians did not depict Christ crucified. To escape persecution they had to resort to symbols that resembled the figure of a cross on which a man was seated, such as the Greek letters tau (T) and rho (P), Or symbols taken from mythology or other religions, such as the dolphin and the trident.

After the recognition of the Christian religion, however, the representations of the crucified Christ immediately began to spread. Some, very ancient, have come down to us, such as the jasper gem probably of Syrian origin, dating back to the 2nd century AD, engraved with the figure of a naked man with his arms tied to the transverse arm of a cross, or the box of ivory kept in the British Museum in London which dates back to 420-430 AD and depicts the crucifixion, just to name a few.

The evolution of art forms, as well as of the church, with its vicissitudes, led to a distinction of the iconography of the crucifix that continued to change over time. Even today, however, the image of Christ on the cross is the subject of pictorial and artistic representations of all kinds, from Russian and Greek icons, typical of the Eastern Church, to statues and bas-reliefs, to Eucharist-carrying cases. And, of course, crucifixes and pendants of every material and size, to be worn or displayed in your home, to always carry with you and always have before your eyes the symbol of our Lord’s sacrifice of love.