Starting to Draw Again!

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Hello friends! As some of you know, my brother Esteban over at Sketched Drawn and Painted, is an artist (and very good!). I used to draw and paint in middle school art class, but then high school and college came along and I decided I didn't have any time. Fast forward eight years, and...I've started drawing again, partly in thanks to Esteban's encouragement (he's always telling my siblings and I how anyone can draw, "just look at it in shapes") and partly because I can bring a hobby to the monastery. I wanted to begin working on my skills before my free time is limited. :) 

I wasn't planning on doing a post so unfortunately, I don't have any progress pictures. Esteban wanted me to do a guest post on his blog, so it's reposted here but you can go check out that post here.

Last October, I decided to draw St. Therese of Lisieux because she is one of my favorites and it was the month of her feast day, but...it took me five months to finish! The wimple was definitely the hardest. What's a wimple, you may ask? It's part of a religious sister's or nun's (yes, there's a difference!) habit that covers the head, neck, cheeks, and chin. It was originally worn by women in the medieval times, but now (sadly) only a select few communities of religious still wear them. 

Anyway, I think I asked Esteban about 100 times "How do I make the folds/wrinkles while still keeping it white?". His answer for every question: "Draw what you see, not what you know!". That phrase is going to be stuck in my head forever. After a few times of erasing it entirely, I was happy with the result. :) It really does make a difference when you break it up into shapes and different shades. 

About a month later, I drew St. Catherine of Siena for her feast day, but she's also one of my favorites (and a patron saint of mine...does that give my first name away?). I gifted this one to a friend who's also named after her. This one was definitely much harder to draw- closed eyelids, hands, Crown of Thorns, Rosary, flowers, and the crucifix. I'm really happy with the result though! I added my favorite quote from her: "He will provide the way and the means, such as you could never have imagined. Leave it all to Him, let go of yourself, lose yourself on the Cross, and you will find yourself entirely." 

Finally, my most recent drawing...St. John Bosco! You guessed it, he's also one of my favorites! There are so many wonderful saints for every occasion in life, so how could I just pick one favorite? ;) He was by far the hardest because I had to draw ears, folded hands, and hair. I think I prefer drawing veils over hair... my drawing vs. the reference photo.

However, I was happy with the result because someone guessed it was St. John Bosco based on the curly hair, one of the hardest parts! Also, I made some great progress comparing start to finish. I tried to draw on smaller paper and Esteban looked at it and said very nicely "It would be easier to draw him on bigger paper." He was right! Thanks, Esteban! ;) 

I just laugh at this drawing now, but I had to start somewhere! 

Next up, I'll be drawing St. Gemma Galgani because...she too is one of my favorites!

What do you think? Which drawing is your favorite? Have you ever drawn anything?

-Miss K

Rudolph, A Saint?

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Every Christmas, there is a little known saint who shares her feast day with Our Lord's Birth. That saint is St. Anastasia. Did you know there is another lesser known Christmas saint?

Everyone has heard of Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer. But...do you recall St. Rudolph, the Bishop of Gubbio? Chances are you haven't since there is very little known about him. 

*I was reminded today that there are only 100 days until Christmas, so I wanted to finish this post...started back in December of 2023*

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In the 1030s, a very holy bishop was born...the end! 

Just kidding! :D If you got my hint, there isn't much information about him because he lived so long ago. However, we do know that he became bishop at the very very young age of 25. He must have had a very holy life leading up to this point, right? Wrong! He actually converted to Christianity at the age of 17, after meeting St. Peter Damian. (Don't you love the saint friendships in our beautiful Communion of Saints?) 

His conversion was so radical that he not only joined St. Peter Damian's Benedictine order and became a monk, but also gave away his castle that he had inherited from his family! He also practiced some very rigorous penances, such as wearing a hair shirt; abstaining from meat, eggs, and cheese; walking barefoot; and sleeping on a wooden board without blankets. 

Because of his piety, the Church made an exception to his young age and consecrated him a bishop at only 25 years old. He continued in his severe penances and only ate food that was given to his servants. He loved caring for the poor and most vulnerable. He is often called "a miracle of unselfishness". 

To the sadness of the world, St. Rudolph lived a short life- he died on October 17, 1066. St. Peter Damien wrote that St. Rudolph was "quod in eremo didicit, in ecclesia non omisit", in English "what is learned in the hermitage, do not forget in the church". 

Feast day: October 17

Patron of: Gubbio, bishops, and preachers

Sources:

https://www.keytoumbria.com/Gubbio/Eremo_di_Fonte_Avellana.html

https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4647

Let us be inspired by St. Rudolph's piety in all things, doing all of our work simply for the greater honor of God! 

St. Rudolph, pray for us! 

Are you familiar with St. Rudolph? 

-Miss K

Saints from A to Z: Letter C

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I've finished another post that has been in my drafts for two years! Esteban has been asking me to post some of these biographies to go along with his art, so without further ado...one of my favorite saints! He's a sort of a "twin" saint to St. Augustine, as he had a huge conversion later in life. 

Clues:

CLUE 1: My early life was hard- my mother died when I was only 12 years old and my father was often away as a solider. 

CLUE 2: St. Philip Neri was my spiritual director who encouraged me to enter the priesthood. 

CLUE 3: I was a priest in Italy, who founded the Camillians. 

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It is Saint Camillus de Lellis!

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Can a gambler become a saint? Let's look into the life of St. Camillus de Lellis because that is how his road to conversion started- with a love for gambling...

St. Camillus de Lellis was born in 1550 in modern day Italy. From a young age he endured much suffering: his mother died when he was barely a teenager and his father, being a solider, was often away at war. Eventually, Camillus himself joined the army with his father. As one can imagine, this was a horrible idea and led to much trouble, but God was watching out for him all along. 

At the age of 17, a disease on his leg gave him an incurable sore, one that would last his entire lifetime and be the source of his conversion. (Isn't it truly amazing the way God works good through evil in every instance of our lives?!) While doctors had difficulty curing his leg, Camillus never gave up and found work at a friary. There he had his conversion when a friar spoke the words "God is everything. The rest is nothing. One should save one's soul which does not die". At this point, he realized how much he had wasted his life, how much more he could do to help others grow closer to Christ. 

A few years after his great conversion, he entered the Capuchin friars, but was sent away due to his incurable sore on his leg. He tried to enter a monastery another time but was sent away, again for his leg sore. 

Finally, God blessed him with his love for the sick- he became the hospital director. Since his conversion had such an impact on his life, he began to live a life of penance and was charitable to all who encountered him. He treated each patient as though he were speaking with Christ Himself. One event led to another...

until he met St. Philip Neri, who became his spiritual director and sent him to seminary. At the age of 34, St. Camillus de Lellis was ordained to the priesthood. He founded his own order, called the Order of Clerks Regular, Ministers of the Infirm (M.I.), now known as the Camillians. He devoted himself to caring for the sick and dying out of pure charity; no one was left alone. Camillus and all of the brothers in his order took a forth vow of "service to the sick poor, including the palgue-ridden, in their corporeal and spiritual needs, even at risk to their own life, having to do this out of sincere love for God." 

In his final illness, Camillus was administering to the needs of others, despite his great pain. He had such great compassion for their physical needs, but he wanted more than anything to save their souls and bring them to Christ before death. 

Patron of: hospitals, nurses, the sick, and physicians 

Feast: July 18

Sources:

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-camillus-de-lellis/

A Solider Surrenders by Susan Peek (I HIGHLY recommend this book! This is how St. Camillus became one of my favorite saints of all time. :) )

Let us be inspired by St. Camillus and not be discouraged by our past failings and sins, but be enlightened by the mercy of God and persevere in all things! 

 Be sure to check out Esteban's drawing of St. Camillus here. 

St. Camillus de Lellis, pray for us! 

Who is your favorite saint who was a priest? 

-Miss K

Sunshine Blogger Award

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Hello dear readers who are still here! It has been THREE years already since I last posted. Life has kept me busy, but God continues to teach me new things every day. Over the past year, I've especially learned that in all things He is good and never fails to prove His Infinite Love! I'm excited to announce that I will be entering a Benedictine monastery next month. Please keep me in your prayers as I prepare for this next step! 

My first tag has been in my drafts since 2023, so I thought I'd finish it up today. :) Thank you to Sarah @ In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary for tagging me! 

Rules: 

-Thank the blogger who nominated you in the blog post and link back to their blog. 

-Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you. 

-Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions. List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog. 

Sarah's questions:

1. What is your favorite time of the year? Not necessarily a season (unless that truly is your favorite) but maybe a holiday, feast day, yearly event, or liturgical season. What makes it your favorite?

I'll say it now, but I don't pick favorites...:) If I HAVE to pick one, I'd say Lent especially the Holy Triduum. Without it, we wouldn't have the glorious liturgical season of Easter. The last few years, I was blessed to attend the pre-1955 liturgies, which are absolutely glorious! I love the Holy Thursday Procession and hearing the Pange Lingua and also the Altar of Repose. It is such a glorious yet somber day as we await Our Lord's Death and Resurrection. 

2. If you could learn any musical instrument, what would you choose? 

I already play flute (and I can play a bit of saxophone) but the violin would be cool to learn. Side story: when I was a toddler, I loved watching my older siblings play violin and made everything into a toy violin, including race car tracks. When I finally got old enough to play, around five years old, I hated practicing so much and didn't notice my mom returned my violin until a month later. Haha! It's a good memory to look back on and see how much I love music now! 

3. Describe your dream sitting room/living room. (Pictures are a bonus!)

Hmm...my dream living room has always included a huge library... with my entrance to the monastery, I'll have access to the biggest library I've ever been in! I've always loved going to homes with fireplaces too. 

4. What do your daydreams usually consist of?

My daydreams right now consist of seeing my future life in the quiet monastery...waking up at 5 am, not having any free talking until 4 pm, having 12 hours of Grand Silence, offering night Holy Hours for our priests...I can't wait to embrace the silence and live with Our Lord under my roof! Here's the monastery I'll be entering: 

5. Where's your favorite spot in the world to pray and talk to God?

My favorite spot in the world to pray and talk to God is in front of the Blessed Sacrament. I love Eucharistic Adoration, especially our parish's perpetual adoration chapel!

6. What's the most recent quote you wrote down somewhere or saved on Pinterest/Instagram?

I'll share the two most recent. :) My desktop background currently has a quote and photo of now Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati: 

"When God is with us we don't have to be afraid of anything." 

I'm also working on a drawing of Saint John Bosco, who is one of my favorite saints! I added one of his quotes decoration at my farewell party. 

7. Describe a delightfully ideal Saturday afternoon for you. 

I would say a delightfully ideal Saturday afternoon would be anytime I'm exploring God's beautiful Creation with my family. I recently went on a week camping trip with some of my siblings and I am still amazed at this incredible sunset by the lake! 

8. Out of horses, giraffes, dolphins, and elephants, which one would you choose for a pet and why?

Horses! This might be the easiest question on the list because horses used to be my favorite animal and I had a childhood obsession over horses...just ask any of my siblings, they know. Without my obsession, though, I'd still pick horses because they're a good source of transportation while still having fun. 

9. What is your favorite medium of art whether you actually use it or just appreciate it? Acrylics, watercolor, pastels, charcoal, mosaics, etc...?

My favorite medium to appreciate is watercolor because it is just so versatile; while my favorite medium to actually use is graphite pencil. 

I started drawing again for the first
time since middle school...St. Therese
of Lisieux!

10. What is your favorite smell?

Incense and candles! There's nothing better than a High Mass with lots of incense. 

11. How do you come up with your blog post ideas? 

I originally started this blog to post biographies for my brother's art work but I also post about anything that comes to mind. Stay tuned for some more biographies and reflection posts! 

Thank you again, Sarah, for tagging me! 

I nominate: 

Esteban @ Sketched Drawn And Painted

Samantha @ Bookshire

Chloe @ Movies Meet Their Match

Megan @ Only Mildly Mad

Lizzie @ Starlight & Saucepans

And anyone else who would like to nominate themselves! :)

My questions: 

1. Where is your favorite place to read? 
2. If you could be the patron saint of anything, what would it be and why? 
3. Swimming pools or lakes? 
4. You have to spend an entire day in one room of your house. Which room would it be? 
5. Would you rather lose your hearing or your sight? 
6. What is a song that's always stuck in your head? 
7. Who is the most inspirational person in your life? (real or fictional)
8. What is your favorite book series? 
9. If you could learn a new language, what would it be and why? 
10. You have the option to travel back in time for a month. Would you stay in the present or choose a time period?
11. Why did you start your blog? 

I'd love to hear from you! What have been up to lately? Do you enjoy fall? 

-Miss K