My First Coloring Book is Ready!

I'm so excited! I finished laying out and writing the words to my first coloring book. Well, I guess it is my second coloring book since I have already collaborated with another Catholic Homeschooler to produce a First Holy Communion copy/coloring book. Today's project, A Simple Catholic Coloring Book, was my own idea, drawings, and layout. It is 64 pages with 30 full-page Catholic images. I drew information from several books in order to make each image have a discussion of what it means to us as Catholics. Here's the cover:

Here's a peek at the inside:

I'll be offering it as a PDF file as well as in hard copy at some point. I'm hoping for some real interest in this and for it to get the ball rolling on my intention to publish several coloring books! 

Tell me what you think or if you'd be interested in purchasing one of these books.

Jesus Conquers All

This is Holy Saturday. Technically, until tonight's vigil Mass at dark, the churches across the world remain empty and barren without Jesus in the Tabernacle in the Most Holy Sacrament of His Body and Blood. The altar is barren of even the altar cloths. Until tonight, we are in dark times because Jesus is dead and the beloved Apostles were in shock and hiding. However, we know the rest of the story as dearly departed Paul Harvey would have said. We know that tonight, the stone will be rolled away from the tomb and Jesus will rise triumphant. The women will arrive at the tomb only to be flabbergasted at the sight of the figure in white sitting on the stone. When they return to the Apostles, Peter and John (the beloved apostle) race to the tomb as well. Peter, although he denied Jesus three times, doesn't hesitate as John does. He barges right into the tomb to see the rolled up cloths and empty space. When the angel tells them Jesus is not among the dead, but among the living they don't waste time asking questions, they simply run from the scene to excitedly share the news with the others. We know that in a few days Jesus appears in the locked room and greets them and breaks bread with them. He continues to surprise them in similar ways for 40 days until they are convinced and strong enough to do without His physical presence. Yet, He knows they still need something more. So He sends the Paraclete - the Holy Spirit - to fill their humble hearts and souls with knowledge far beyond their intellect and power. Truly, from the humiliation and agony of the false trial, scourging, and crucifixion, Jesus truly conquers death with His Resurrection, Ascension, and bestowal of the Holy Spirit.  

If you would like a *.pdf or *.jpg of this image along with others without the prayer or another Catholic/Christian file, please contact me via email or comment. I will do my best to accomodate you.

If you would like to request a Catholic/Christian, garden, horse, vehicle, or other image based on a photograph (even if I have to find the photograph) please contact me and I will see what I can do for you. 

Console Jesus on this Good Friday

As a Penance for my sins after one Reconciliation, I was told to read the book "Consoling the Heart of Jesus" one short section at a time. I finally finished the book and as I was nearing the end, I drew an image of this crucifix and added these words. They are ever so meaningful on this day - Good Friday.

Here is my colored version, followed by a free coloring book version.

The :"I Thirst" line is a summation of one of Jesus's last words. That was when He was given the bitter gall and wine to drink. According to the book, "Consoling the Heart of Jesus", Blessed Mother Teresa had a crucifix with those words in all the rooms in her houses. I added the "Console Me" to remind myself that even though we often only think of God as our cosmic bubble gum machine, God wants us to console Him by accepting His love and mercy. When we close our hearts to His love, mercy, and forgiveness we are not just hurting ourselves, we are also making those agonizing hours Christ spent on the cross worse because we become part of the jeering, spitting, hateful crowd there just to watch Him suffer and die. However, when we look towards Him with love in our eyes, wishing to console Him through His suffering and simply be with Him, We take a measure of the burning love from His heart and it creates a reduction of His suffering. Just as Mary and the disciple Jesus loved stood at the foot of the cross attending Jesus's humiliation and suffering, so too can we and let Him know we love him with that same abandon.

Let us resolve, through this Year of Mercy to open our hearts to God's mercy in all its forms - especially those that are most difficult to understand. Yet, we don't have to understand, we simply have to let go and let God lead us by the hand we trustingly give to Him.

If you would like to request a Catholic/Christian, garden, horse, vehicle, or other image based on a photograph (even if I have to find the photograph) please contact me and I will see what I can do for you. 

Immaculate Heart

I know Valentine's is long over. The feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary isn't until August, but I just had to share this image that I colored on my iPad after I created it. I think it turned out really well. I used it for the background on my iPad for a while... I faded it a bit and then put a prayer over the top of it, so I'd remember to say a (and learn a new) prayer each time I unlocked my iPad. I have an image of the Sacred Heart as well, but I haven't colored it yet.

Immaculate Heart

When I colored this I used blue obviously because that is Mary's color, but also because in the Icon world, blue is associate with Heaven. Red is not only associated with blood, but also for Earth. Since Mary is the Queen of Heaven and Earth it makes sense to surround her heart with those colors. The sword symbolizes the 7 swords Simeon told her would pierce her heart - the 7 sorrows of Mary. The roses are for the various Marian apparitions that have produced roses for the visionaries (I think that is the meaning of the roses). I truly enjoy delving into the reasons behind the symbols as well as the colors to use.

If you would like a *.pdf or *.jpg of this image along with the Sacred Heart of Jesus or another Catholic/Christian file, please contact me via email or comment. I will do my best to accomodate you.

If you would like to request a Catholic/Christian, garden, horse, vehicle, or other image based on a photograph (even if I have to find the photograph) please contact me and I will see what I can do for you. 

All Saints and All Souls Day

Well, I'd intended to have a great celebration this All Saints' day with Simon's First Holy Communion, but a hateful stomach virus forced a postponement until November 8, 2015. However, I will instead let you celebrate with this drawing of the Saints and Souls celebrating Mass in Heaven and on Earth with us. Hopefully you will enjoy it!

I have many more Catholic themed drawings I will be making available for purchase. I will also draw to order if you have a particular image you would like. Additionally, I have the My Little Curly series, heavy equipment (cars/vehicles), and I'm starting a flower series. 

Happy First Communion, Simon!

My little boy has his First Holy Communion this Sunday. He is so excited he can hardly contain himself. In honor of his big days I'm going to have some of my Eucharist themed coloring pages available for free. These have been used in an First Holy Communion workbook that uses the text of the St Joseph Catechism. Well, I had planned to put the images here, but my iPad had other ideas. Safari and my BlogDocs app both refuse to let me add them. So instead I'm going to link to the Benedict Catholic Creations Facebook page with them on it. While you're there you can like my page and stay current there too! Hopefully I'll get my app problems fixed and be able to post the images on the blog shortly. I had a migraine today, so I was unable to think my way around it.

UPDATE: I finally got on the laptop to add the images to this post. Hopefully you can enjoy them. We had to postpone my son's First Holy Communion due to the dreaded stomach virus striking him, his sister, and both my parents as well as other members of the family. We are going forward with it next Sunday, November 8!

Angels adoring the True Presence in the Monstrance

Chalice and Host with wheat and grapes with IHS

Boy praying in front of Chalice and Host

Chalice and Host

Girl praying in front of Chalice and Host