Wednesday, September 06, 2006

christian jewelry : Catholic Jewelry Advice

Saint medals:

Saint medals are medals with the depiction of a patron saint upon them. Usually worn on necklaces, saint medals are a reminder of a patron saint’s triumphs and sacrifices, as well as an evocation of his or her protection. A saint medal can be the perfect piece of Catholic jewelry, as each saint has his or her own special qualities, just like every individual has his or her own special personality. Patron saints include:

St. Francis of Assisi: born c. 1181 in Assisi, Italy. In 1206 St. Francis made a pilgrimage to Rome, and upon his return devoted his life to poverty and the care of the sick. In 1209 he founded the Franciscan order, and in 1224 he received the stigmata. He died in 1226, and was canonized in 1228. St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals, ecology, and peace.

St Patrick: born c. 389 somewhere in Roman Britain. At the age of sixteen St. Patrick was captured by Irish raiders, and held captive for six years. He was consecrated a bishop by St. Germanus c. 432, and returned to Ireland to succeed St. Paulinus. St. Patrick is well known for converting the Irish to Christianity. He died c. 461. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and excluded people.

St. Helena: born c. 250 at Drepanum, Bithynia. She married the Roman General Constantius Chlorus c. 270, and gave birth to Constantine, who would later become Emperor of Rome, c. 280. In 313 Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, permitting Christianity in the Roman Empire. Around the same time St. Helena converted to Christianity. She traveled to Palestine c. 324, and while there is reputed to have discovered the True Cross. She died c. 330 and was buried at Constantinople. St. Helena is the patron saint of archeologists and converts.

St. Christopher: according to legend St. Christopher was an ugly giant who made his living carrying people across a river. It was his quest to find someone more powerful than himself, and, after many years of searching, he decided that this could only be Christ, since the devil feared the Savior. One day, while carrying a child across the river, the child grew so heavy that St. Christopher feared that they would be drowned. The child then revealed that he was Christ, and that the heaviness was the weight of the world He was carrying on His shoulders. St. Christopher is reputed to have died in Lycia c. 251. St. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers.

These are just a few examples of the many patron saints. There are literally hundreds of saints, and with so many to choose from one can be sure to find a saint medal that represents perfectly his or her own individuality. Here is a good page to view Catholic jewelry.

Where is the best place to purchase Catholic jewelry:

To get an idea of the different styles and prices that are available in Catholic jewelry it is more convenient to view them online before shopping around at local jewelry stores.

Retail jewelers will sometimes carry a small selection of Catholic jewelry, but you are most apt to find a greater selection online. Just type "Catholic jewelry " into an Internet search engine like Google or Yahoo and you will find several reliable websites that specialize in Catholic jewelry.

The cost of Catholic jewelry is dependant upon many variables. In solid 14K yellow or white gold, crosses and crucifixes should cost about $50 to $300 depending on size. Saint medals should cost between $40 and $200, depending on the size.

The ultimate expression of faith:

Catholic jewelry is the ultimate expression of faith. With so many styles and so many stories, Catholic jewelry is easy to individualize. Whether a cross, crucifix, or saint medal, Catholic jewelry always has and always will proclaim the proud heritage of Christians around the world.

by Casey Buell