The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter! (This will all look and work better if you click on the actual post and do not remain on the main page.)
Today I bring you two giveaways along with fun and fabulous links! These items are timely for Christmas and I know you will love them. Just leave a comment to tell me which one you would like — I'm giving away one of each.
First, get excited about this Collection of Christmas Carols! (It's here as well, on Amazon *edited to say, but get the other one from Lulu, because being able to lay it flat on the piano is a great plus*.) Ben Bloomfield has collected and published in a handy coil binder form a great collection of Advent and Christmas carols. Accomplished composer and music director Samuel Schmitt says, “A wonderful collection – excellent selection and arrangements.” (He also said something about the music being beautifully engraved — I'm getting this from Ben's brother Will's Facebook post — and I don't know what that means so I'm leaving it out. It's not on a stone tablet or anything… ) The carols and chants are all arranged for singing in parts.
We all need this, people! We desperately need to revive all the carols, with all their verses, and all their parts, STAT. If I hear one more funky (or standard, for that matter) version of Let It Snow or Santa Baby or let's be honest, Jingle Bells, curse them, I am going out of my everlasting mind — and I don't even hardly go shopping! — and meanwhile, all the poetic expression of the deepest truths of our faith set to the most lovely tunes ever heard are being lost. It used to be that every child in America sang these traditional carols from before he could toddle along to the neighborhood wassail. No longer.
Let's fix that in our very own homes! By getting this book!* You can certainly view it here — undoubtedly you could print it out and bind it yourself. However, I would wager that would cost you more than its price, which is quite reasonable. Love, love, love it.
*It takes a few days to print and then to ship, so that's why I'm giving you this early distant warning!
Second, have you ever seen a Rosary abacus sort of thing like this before?
It's a great idea, isn't it? If you are praying while you are doing something that doesn't allow you to hold your rosary beads, or if you need to step away and will lose your place, this sliding bead arrangement comes to the rescue. You can prop it up with the prop thingie in the back, or hang it with the hanging… thingie (do they have technical terms??). A child could keep track for you as well.
Best of all, buying these supports a new monastic foundation in Tasmania. We have become aware of the Notre Dame Priory through a dear friend who keeps us updated on this important initiative for the Church. You can read all about it here and here. The important thing to know is that these men are devoted to the Liturgy and to the Benedictine life — just what we need, no matter how far away, geographically, it seems to be. (Maybe it's close to some of you?)
“Our most important prayer is the solemn celebration of the Sacred Liturgy with the Holy Mass and Divine Office eight times a day, source and summit of the life of the Church. Our first and most important work — enshrining the apostolic and missionary dimension of our life in the tradition of such great Benedictine figures as St Augustine of Canterbury, St Boniface, Archbishop Bede Polding, Bishop Rosendo Salvado — is to provide silent and guided retreats, both in the future monastery precincts and in other venues where silence can be maintained, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, an invaluable aid for the conversion of souls and their ongoing progress in reaching sanctity.”
The Kitchen Rosary is made by a benefactor who donates everything, so every penny goes to the Priory! Wouldn't this make a beautiful gift for someone on your list?
Just leave a comment telling me which of these you would hope to win (or if you don't care which), and we will draw at some point in the middle of the week.
On to our links!
- A long and thought-provoking read on the “three necessary societies” — yes, it's true that the challenges to our life together here on earth have changed, but that's the beauty of principles, isn't it — they don't change.
- David Clayton is working on Pontifex, an online university for the promotion of Catholic culture. I like this article about the sacred art in Durham Cathedral, in the St. Alban's tradition. As always, David's interest is not merely academic — he is encouraging us to incorporate traditional forms in our own perception and execution (if we execute) of art.
- The National Gallery director on religious art, family singalongs, and the Marian painting that survived the Puritans. A little cultural curriculum is tucked in this article!
- I always find Christopher Caldwell incisive, and here he is both whimsical and serious, remembering what writing a paper check was like and wondering if it was really all bad: “You get lured through the door of innovation with the option of doing things a new way, and while you’re figuring out whether you like it, the door through which you entered slams shut.” Privilege Your Check.
- Here is a really charming and short video that envisions a portion of the first violin score for the fourth movement of Ferdinand Ries’ Second Symphony as a rollercoaster! (Click over to our site to view if you don't see the video below.)
While you’re sharing our links with your friends, why not tell them about Like Mother, Like Daughter too!
We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).
Ash A says
I would love to win the kitchen rosary! As a busy mom it’d be perfect to have no excuse to pray one everyday.
Erin says
Both look lovely!
staralfur21 says
Would love the kitchen rosary!! I can see my kids all wanting to move the beads across. This is brilliant!
Frannie Ruth says
Hi! I’ve been following your blog off and on for some time now.
I would love an attempt to win the rosary abacus. I see similar products in others’ kitchens and I think it’d be super cute to have on my desk. 🙂 thank you for this chance! What a fun giveaway!
Nicole Alvarez says
I would love the Kitchen Rosary.
Clara says
Auntie Leila, these are lovely! I would like to win either one.
Great links – I’m especially looking forward to the articles on the three societies and the National Gallery.
My husband and I still write checks for most of our bills. 🙂
Meghan says
I would like the book of Christmas carols!
Lynn Herrera says
Oh my goodness, I would love the Magnificat Kitchen Rosary! What a lovely, sensible idea.
Toni Graham says
I would love the Christmas Carol book. Happy Advent, Leila, to you and your family!
Chris Billecke says
I would love the kitchen rosary. How beautiful, and such a great way to help us pray!
Caitlyn says
We would love to have the book of carols! I’m looking forward to singing the traditional carols with our kids. I’m amazed at their capacity for memorizing the words to songs. Margaret, 6, is singing in Mark Langley’s children’s choir here in Cleveland and loving it! Thanks Leila!
Cami says
Carols! Carols! Carols! I’ve been thinking of exactly something like this. If I won it, I’d gift it to my husband for Christmas although our whole family would use it. He’s an operatic tenor, has sung in several opera houses and cantored beautiful sacred music in cathedrals, and so far our small children seem musically inclined. We are excited to teach them to sing parts and spend time with music, worshipping as well as making memories with family and friends. What a lovely collection of songs this is!
Off topic side note: Leila, I’m headed to my first Aldi today, being knew to CT and not having them out west. I’ve heard so many good things and I must get the grocery bill down!
Melissa Sebestyen says
Cami, Have you checked out St. Mary’s in Norwalk, CT? (I am also in CT) The music is breathtakingly beautiful there, with many young families at the coffee hour that follows the E.F. Mass. 🙂
Cami says
This past August, we had to sell a house, secure a rental in CT, pack and move (from CO) in less than a month after my husband accepted a job here in Glastonbury. So we had no opportunity to check things out ahead of time. We live in west Andover near Bolton and Hebron but just were told the rental will be up for sale in the spring. It will be move #6 in 5 years. Here we go again. So exhausting and expensive. Anyway, we are not near that parish 🙁 but I’ve heard St. Mary’s in New Haven is also wonderful. Lots of St. Mary’s parishes in this little state!
Leila says
Hope you had fun at Aldi, Cami! <3 And I think that each family needs a few of these Carol books -- maybe the grandparents could get a hint!
Woman of the House says
Engraving refers to how the music notes, clefs, markings, etc. are formed~~how clear and legible it is. I would love to win the Christmas carol collection. I look forward to your links each week. They provide thoughtful reading for the week to come. Thank you for pointing your readers to the good stuff!
Leila says
Woman of the house — ah, it all makes sense now LOL! Thanks!
Dixie says
Oh, I would love the carols!
Kelsey says
Oh I’d love that kitchen rosary abacus!
Helen Hawersaat says
I’d like either one!
Mary Ann says
I would love the kitchen rosary!! I have already went and ordered two for gifts for my daughters but would love one for myself!
Jeanie says
I would enjoy the Christmas Carol book.
BridgetAnn says
Advent & Christmas carols, please! In addition to learning the “what-ness” of music in my college music class, my professor had our class learn the parts for an advent hymn in the 1st semester and a Lenten one in the 2nd. I have been singing “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” at nights when I put my kids to bed.
Amen to your words about modern “Christmas” music! (or should I say “music” 🙂
Natasha says
Ooh! My family would love the book of advent and Christmas carols! What an extensive traditional collection!
I also loved seeing the pictures of Victorian mothers nursing their babies… I was just wondering the other day what types of modifications women in days gone by would have made to their clothing for nursing, or if they would have just unbuttoned their blouses. (I make most of my own clothes and nursing dress are by far the most challenging to design.)
Elizabeth Lemme says
The kitchen rosary. Thank you for your blog- it is so helpful for new moms!
Kari Brane says
Christmas Carol book please!! We were just talking about carols this morning.
Liz says
I would love the Kitchen Rosary!
Karen Cain says
The music would be wonderful! I like to listen to seasonal music when I drive to errands, and I was just hunting for my Christmas at Ephesus CD.
Amanda says
I’d love the Christmas Carol book — perfect for our new (old) piano!
Ashleen says
I’d like to enter to win the rosary, please
Tracy says
I would love the Kitchen Rosary. How ingenious!
Jennifer says
I would love to get a copy of that music!
LR says
If I must choose, I lean ever so slightly in favor of the music book. Both are lovely, though.
Virginia says
I would love the kitchen rosary.
Rachel Truso says
I would love to win either one!
Dawn says
I love both of them!
Catherine says
Ooh I would love that book of carols! Thank you for the opportunity!
Claudia Daniel says
Although both gifts are grand, I’d love to win the rosary for my daughter in law who will give birth mid December. I will be going to Maryland from my home in Wisconsin to “help out”with the 5 other grandchildren, so if I win, could we send it to her address, not mine?
Emily says
I would love the Magnificat Rosary. They are so beautiful.
Annelise says
I would love the selection of Christmas Carols. It is hard to find good arrangements!
Heather Oltmer says
What an awesome idea! I would love one to gift to a special friend of mine who lost her dad this year suddenly…he had just come to love the rosary shortly before he passed it would mean so much to her I know…Love them!
Mary C says
Good afternoon, Leila! I’m not sold on the Rosary idea. For me it would be one. more. thing. HOWEVER, the Christmas Carols book would be a wonderful addition to my family’s music collection. Thank you and God bless.
Ona says
What lovely prizes! For me, the rosary abacus thingie would be such a help. Thanks for the opportunity and bless you, and your family, for all you do to build up the Church in beauty and wisdom!
Kaitlin says
Oh I would love the kitchen rosary!
Melisa says
Leila,
The kitchen Rosary is so clever: it would be a lovely gift for a friend of mine. I appreciate so much how you always promote breastfeeding. I’m currently breastfeeding my 8th nursling – she’s almost 2. (I know this ‘seems’ a long time in our culture, but I think even the WHO advocates nursing until age 2 last time I checked. Not that I put much stock into what they say, but you know…) Checking your weekly links has become a bit of a Saturday habit for me that I much look forward to. God bless you and yours!
Melisa
Piper says
I would love the book of Carols!
Thank you so much for this blog. I look forward to your posts every week, and love to browse your archives. What a treasury of wisdom and encouragement, so needed in today’s world! God bless you!
amchart says
I really like the Rosary abacus. Such a unique idea.
Melanie says
The Christmas Carol book looks amazing! I was just looking for good advent songs and old Christmas songs to learn this year.
Susan says
The Christmas Carol Collection is my choice — this should be in every home, and certainly in mine, where my children and grandchildren will gather again this Christmas. I wholeheartedly share your lament at the apparent loss of the beautiful hymns and carols that used to be treasured and sung in churches and homes. Thank you for offering this wonderful book!
Karen says
Either would float my boat – thanks ladies!
Rhebeka Hyland says
My four girls and I would love the carol book – I have been looking for this sort of resource for some time!
Mary Myers says
I’d ❤️ the rosary abacus!
Mary Myers says
P.S. Thanks for hosting the give away!
Ivy Villa says
Either gift would be such a blessing to our family! Thanks for doing the giveaway!
Raquel F says
The violin video is one of the most delightful things I’ve seen on the web in quite some time! I played violin for 2 years as a child and always regretted quitting, and so now, at the ripe “old” age of 42, I’m taking weekly lessons and learning this new language of music. I can’t wait to show my teacher your video!
I would love to win either the carol book (I bought a “Big Book of Christmas Songs” for the violin, but most of it is pop-like versions of songs I don’t like to listen to, let alone want to play) or the kitchen rosary. Thank you for thinking of us 🙂
Angela says
Oh my these are both wonderful, and I would love either one, but if I have to choose only one it would be the kitchen Roseary.Happy Advent!
Melissa S. says
They are both lovely items. If pressed to choose, though, I’d have to say the book of carols.
Katie says
My daughters would LOVE the carols book!
carolyn says
The carols book would be amazing.. thank you for the opportunity!
Mary says
We’d love to have the book of carols!
Jennifer Emery says
Either would be great!
Anamaria says
Carols!! Yes! Thanks for the thoughtful links.
Ann says
The Christmas Carol book would be perfect for our homeschool! Thank you for all the wonderful ideas for our Domestic Church.
Kathleen L. says
Either one will be beautiful! What a great idea!
Alya P. says
I would love to win the Christmas carol book! I look forward to this time of year so I can listen to carols again!
Bernadette Porter says
Oooh that’s hard Those are both great. I think the kitchen rosary wins by a hair.
Natalie Brankin says
I would love the Christmas Carol book. Thanks for sharing it, I may end up buying it if I don’t win it! 🙂
Danielle Lajoie says
Dear Leila, I love reading your posts each week. Thank you for sharing so many wonders with us. The pictures are lovely. Such cute grandchildren.
Kristi says
I would love to win the Christmas Carols book if I had to pick! But they both look awesome!! Thank you for holding the giveaway.
Sarah says
I’d love the Advent and Christmas carol book. Thank you for sharing with us!
Maura Baklinski says
I don’t mind which! Both are great! though I think the christmas carols would be most handy for my 6-year-old!
Rachel says
The kitchen Rosary is beaitiful!! I would love to win one!!
Rebekah Boyden says
I would love the Carols!
Brianne P. says
I’d love that kitchen Rosary!
Melissa AtLee says
I would love the Christmas carols! Thanks!!
Melanie huttner says
I would love the Kitchen Rosary!
Amy A. says
I was wondering as I clicked over from my feed reader if I would be allowed to enter to win either one . . . looks like I am not the only one with that idea! Thank you for offering these!
Hibiscus says
I would love the Book of Carols! Thank you for all the interesting posts!
Kate says
Christmas carols, please!
Ann Marie Tipton says
I would love to add the book of carols to my library!
Dani Hoglund says
I would love to add the book of carols to my library!
Michelle Murphy says
I would love the Kitchen Rosary.
Angela says
Love the rosary!
Kelly says
The book of carols would be delightful! A blessed Advent to you, and thank you for the giveaways!
Kimberlee says
Just want to second the rec for the Christmas Carols! It’s handy to get a spiral bound one (from Lulu) for the pianist, as it will stay open easily. (The soft bound are fine for singers.) We bought a bunch of them last year, and they were such a good investment. So fun to sing together when folks come by for holiday visits, and such a lovely collection of carols. Oh and ‘engraving’ just means typesetting music. 🙂
Rachael says
I would love the kitchen rosary while I’m cleaning up.
Jennifer says
I would like the kitchen rosary. Thanks for the contest!
Nina says
The Collection of Carols would be appreciated.
Jodi says
That kitchen rosary is beautiful! It would look amazing above my kitchen sink.!!!
DG says
I’d love either, but the Carol book in particular!
Connie says
The book of carols please!
lisa says
Both are lovely and would be enjoyed here… thank you for the opportunity!
Katie says
I would love the kitchen rosary! What a neat idea.
Erika says
The carols would be amazing! I’ve just made up our advent binders with about twenty carols that I would like to be in our family repertoire, 8 binders so we can share when visiting family and friends. But the images are greatly varied in quality as they are googled images….
Pearlann Pohlman says
I would love the kitchen rosary. Such a great idea
Clare says
I love them both!
Mary says
What lovely giveaways! I would be thrilled to win either of the offerings!
Katharine says
I would love the book!
Katy says
I would love to win the book of Carols! Thanks so much for introducing us to it!
Mignon Thurow says
I’d love the book of carols, please. And I’m so thankful for your blog. I’ve been a regular reader for some time now, and have found so many of your posts to be nourishment to my soul.
Lisa says
I would love to win the book of Christmas Carols! I am working on teaching some to my kids and this would be so great to have!
MamaMahoney says
I’d love the Christmas Caroles book. Blessed Advent!
rstp1977 says
I would love to win that beautiful kitchen rosary!
Jo says
Ooooh, the Christmas Carols book looks amazing!
On a side note, we’re hosting a caroling party on the 30th (potluck soup dinner + caroling–a friend of mine did it at our last duty station and I’m trying to start the tradition here!), which I noticed is the feast of St. Thomas a Becket. Anyone know any good Thomas a Becket songs? I figure there has to be at least one. 😀
Paige says
I would love to win the book of carols. Otherwise I will certainly be buying it. 🙂 What a treasure!
Julia says
Collection of Carols!!!
Kim F. says
Oh, the kitchen rosary please! What a wonderful idea!
Lynn in NH says
That book of carols looks lovely. I still have some photocopies of music I borrowed from someone of a few traditional carols, I keep them with my Christmas decorations. It is sad that so many of the really beautiful Christmas and Advent songs don’t get song more often.
Cheryl says
I love the kitchen rosary!
Claire says
Though we have never met I feel that you are my Catholic friend. and I am your Mormon friend. I adore you. I would love the book of Christmas carols.
Laura H says
The Kitchen Rosary is lovely!
KathyB says
I would love to win either one – we want to pass on familiarity with traditional Christmas carols to our children, and the kitchen rosary is a wonderful solution to the constantly interrupted mommy rosary problem.
Kristen says
We would particularly love the book here! Thank you for the introduction!
Barbara says
Would love the kichen rosary….what a great idea….thanks for your wonderful and funny blog!
Elizabeth R. says
Thank you for another lovely ‘bits and pieces’ – I look forward to reading the blog post and links every week. As for the rosary or the book of carols, I would love either one! Happy Advent!
Catie H says
Happy Advent, dear Aunt Leila! I would love either of these wonderful gifts. Thank you for hosting!
Dyan Schisler says
Thank you for your thoughts and gifts. And thank you for sharing them with all of us. I would love to have the Collection of Christmas Carols.
Candice says
I would prefer the book, but honestly would be happy with either!
Sherri J says
Both items are lovely, but if forced to pick I would choose the Christmas carol book. thank you for your blog- you were a lifeline to me when I planned my daughter’s wedding.
Elizabeth says
Thank you for the giveaways! The kitchen rosary would be wonderful!
ACM Stout says
Kitchen rosary!!!
Jane says
Would love the book of carols!! 🙂
Karen in SC says
They are both beautiful, but I would love the book!
Kristin says
What beautiful items! I would enjoy either one, but I would really love the kitchen rosary. Thank you!
Keary says
Since we are trying to incorporate more singing around here, I would love to win the Carol book.
Melissa Morgan says
I’d love the book of carols
Katie Newman says
The book of carols would be so much fun when all of my singing family is together for Christmas!
valancyroses says
Would love the carol book!
Erica Mentele says
I would like the kitchen rosary!
Kristi says
I’d love the carols book. Thanks for always sharing such great resources with us!
Annie says
I would love the carols book 🙂 In my piano-playing days, I had a nice collection of carol books – Christmas was my favorite time of year to learn new songs, and our teacher would send us out to perform at different holiday charity events. I learned so many beautiful carols from around the world! Alas, all the book were accidentally donated along with the piano – they were in the bench seat!! Thanks, mom! 😉
Theresa says
I loved the interview with Finaldi. When I saw the Botticelli exhibit this June I definitely experienced the hush and attention he mentions. Taking religious art out of it’s context does make me sad and sometimes queasy; but that feeling lightens when the art is displayed appropriately with an understanding that they are first objects of devotion. The icon museum I saw was hard because I wanted them to all be in a church.
I want lots of copies of the the Christmas carols song book! I’m considering earplugs while shopping for the rest of the month…
Lauren Shea says
Either one would be so wonderful-how beautiful!
Laura says
I’d love the book of carols! Thanks Auntie Leila!
Valerie says
I think both gifts are beautiful! the book of carols is my favorite.
Deborah G Bloomfield says
I’d love the Rosary! What a great idea! I already have the Christmas Carol book. And I love it when Ben visits and plays them for me!
Corinne says
I would love the book of Christmas Carols! The obscure ones are my favorites.
Alicia @ Sweeping Up Joy says
Both prizes look lovely!
kathleenbenitez says
I would love that book of carols!
Natalie says
What a lovely giveaway! I’d love the kitchen rosary.
Betsy says
The piano book! I’ve been looking for something like that for the longest time. Thanks for the chance to get it!
Danielle says
I would love the rosary counter! What a great idea!
Lynn P. Wright says
How fun! Thank you! I’d love to carols book.
Sarah Mason says
I would love to win the Christmas carol book. I love to sing and harmonies just make the world better! Thanks for the chance to win.
Lindsey Gallant says
I would love the book of carols!
Catherine says
I also would love the book of carols! What a lovely collection of songs.
Mary Bornhorst says
The book of carols! We need this! I just saw a kitchen rosary yesterday at a craft sale, very cool but I am not home enough to make good use of it.
Mary says
Just invested in two hymnals, as singing more great carols is a familial goal for this Advent/Christmas season. Would love the book of carols. Many thanks!
Karen says
The book of carols would be treasured. Thanks for telling us about it.
Jennifer Campbell says
The Carols book sounds wonderful!
Jennifer says
Both look lovely (lovely enough I may just go buy them if I don’t win them!) but the music would be my first choice. We are working on learning some more Advent and Christmas music this year, singing and on violin.
Hannah Q says
My husband’s family has a tradition of singing carols together on Christmas Eve. We would love to win the book of carols!
Amy says
Either giveaway would be welcomed! I can see kids moving the rosary beads or eventually singing the carols!
Heather Turner says
Both look so amazing it’s impossible to decide! 🙂
Ken says
I had not seen this post until today – that Kitchen Rosary is really beautiful!
And your website is great, too!
Hilary Eastman says
I would LOVE the Christmas Carols. 🙂
Jessica Fanaro says
The Christmas Carols!
Anna says
Either one looks wonderful!