Grace...

What happens when mantilla models get the giggles?

Why, you end up with too many silly pictures, of course!

The likes of which are illustrated here for you. he model was getting very silly indeed.

I thought I'd share these because they're fun, but too silly for my website.

By the way, the model's got on the Grace veil here in these pics--most of them, anyway. The top one's Antonietta, now that I'm taking a closer look. But I'll save Antonietta for another week... Anyhoo, 

I'm liking the fringe trim on this veil. In fact I'm liking it so much that I'm planning to do another style veil with this trim in the near future. I think the fringe is different--different in a good way.

St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) 

was the second youngest of twenty-three children born to the Benincasa family. 

She was a mystic and a very strong and emotionally intense woman. Below is a very Baroque picture of St. Catherine in ecstasy. 

St. Catherine of Siena was involved in the political affairs of her time and influenced the Holy Father's decision to return the papacy from Avignon back to Rome. No small thing for a woman of her day. 

She's often depicted with a mystical crown of thorns as seen above, or, as seen below with lilies, a symbol of virginity. In the Medieval painting below, Catherine has the habit of a Dominican. She was a third order, a lay Dominican. As such, Catherine was dedicated to helping those most in need in her city. Catherine was well renowned in Siena, and had a small following of priests and religious, as well as lay persons. 

Catherine's mystical experiences were recorded in her "dialogues", which are classic literature, still in print and well worth the read.

                   A Prayer of Saint Catherine of Siena to the Precious Blood of Jesus

Precious Blood,

Ocean of Divine Mercy:

Flow upon us!

Precious Blood,

Most pure Offering:

Procure us every Grace!

Precious Blood,

Hope and Refuge of sinners:

Atone for us!

Precious Blood,

Delight of holy souls:

Draw us! Amen.

- Saint Catherine of Siena