A found prayer book

Fifteen years ago, in a small dusty second hand shop in Connecticut, I found this prayer book. I just loved it. The cover is a type of plastic that has a image of the Virgin Mary on it. I think I paid $2.00 for such a treasure. Over the holidays, while taking time to go through storage, I found it and was inspired to use it in some way.

Written inside the book in the owner's handwriting is this inscription.....

"This is the book I was married with October 4, 1909 age 24 years the 5th of October 1909. George was 26 the 4th of July 1909.

Was married 50 years the 4th day of October 1959.....

My baby was born Wed. night January 18, 1911. was baptized in St. Mary's Church of Greenville, Conn. Sun 22. Godfather and mother, aunt and uncle Mr. and Mrs. Mahew.

My baby died Nov. 10 on a Friday night at 8:40 p.m. age 9 months and 22 days buried 12th in the Greenville graveyard.

Our second baby was born Feb 8th on a Monday night 11:45 p.m. 1915. Godfather and mother, Mr and Mrs. Geo. Bellows.

My daughter was married November 28, 1939.

George died January 16th 1961.

Little treasures hidden in small books. Words written by hand to sum up a life. Each event is either written in ink or pencil.

My great grandmother and grandfather along with distant relatives, along with my grandmother are buried in the Greenville graveyard. Another connection I had to the prayer book I found so many years ago.

My original idea for Urban Rosary was to make rosary type necklaces or altar pieces to connect the collector to a thing that they are inspired by. I still haven't had the chance to make the "rosaries" but, I wanted my necklaces or other creations to include things from nature....birds, trees, butterflies, shells....basically icons of any type.

I will be using the cover of the book in my next creations.

Comments

[Shirley]

Once. 58 years ago. I made my First Communion and this picture of the Assumption of Mary was affixed to the cover of my 1st, personal, puffy-qulited prayer book. I had forgotten this book until I spied your site.
Thanks you for the memories.

Best,
Sassi

[heart]

thank you for sharing.

[Michelle Ward]

Cathleen - love that you shared this little found gem and all the reasons it spoke to you. Don't you wonder about the writer who shared those significant dates? Nice to take a journey into the imagination. I look forward to seeing your rosaries as your bottle pieces are divine.

[Linda Vulich]

I loved reading about your prayer book,and was intrigued by the name Mayhew. When we lived in Groton CT we knew a woman who lived next to us by that last name,but she was originally from Willamantic.I can't wait to see what you do with this beautiful book.Also I look forward to seeing your rosaries,which I have just started to collect.