The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
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Do you love sending just the right greeting card?
THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED
I'm offering a sweet giveaway for two readers. One reader will receive a pack of three letter-pressed “Dominus Vobiscum” (“God be with you” in Latin) cards. Another reader would receive a pack of four assorted Catholic cards, (Mother's Day, RIP, Confirmation, St. Valentine's Day).
These cards are hand-drawn designs by Elizabeth Lemme — you can take a peek at her Etsy shop and see the array of pretty things she has.
Elizabeth says:
I'm a convert to Catholicism. I was led to Catholicism in part by studying Gregorian chant in graduate school! I joined my housemate's schola and observed how beautifully chant wove into the liturgy. Then, I was toast after reading the Church Fathers, Chesterton, Robert Hugh Benson, re-reading Scripture, etc. I entered the church in 2007.
A little over a year after I entered the church, I entered a contemplative monastic order. One of my daily tasks in religious life was being a “House Calligrapher,” placing each Sunday's Mass propers in prayer corners throughout the convent. The process involved Lectio Divina, silence, black ink, nibs and paper. I find it difficult to express in words how profound these little prayer corners were. Everywhere we walked, into the refectory, passing through the mailroom, reaching the stairwell, into the chapter room, everywhere, there was a little display set up of the calligraphed Word of God, candles, fabric, and fresh flowers.
I left the convent after four years, found my local FSSP parish, and joined the choir. That's where I met the nice tenor who is now my husband! We still sing together in the same choir. Nick teaches music at the FSSP seminary, and I try to keep the home fires burning with our little ones, Anastasia (3) and Aloysius (1).
I haven't lost the glow, though, from those powerful little convent prayer corners. The combination of calligraphy, scripture, the liturgical year, family life, iPhones, and the internet all inform my present efforts at creating both Catholic inspired greeting cards for handwritten correspondence, and illustrations/calligraphy for prayer corners.
It's not really silent in family life, but I do my Lectio Divina as I'm able and still make the illustrations with drawing nibs dipped in black Japanese Sumi ink. I then scan the images to have a letterpress plate made. The plate is then stamped into cotton paper with a 1915 Chandler & Price Letterpress. It creates these incredible pillowy indentations into the paper.
My illustrations are inspired by the art of the Medieval, Early Renaissance, and Art Nouveau eras. Their stylized depictions seems to express the other-worldliness beyond our everyday surroundings. Studying the art of these eras has helped me to look at the ordinary things around me in a more extraordinary way.
And… my favorite part about working with black ink is that the fourth finger of my right hand is always stained, just like Jo in Little Women!
I think the Dominus Vobiscum cards would be perfect to offer as a gift to a priest. Or that card — as well as the Requiescat in Pacem (RIP) one — could be offered to a loved one with a Mass intention written inside!
The large heart design has an inscription from a 15th century English love poem that Elizabeth came across while searching for medieval carols and poems. It says, “For weal or woe I will not flee to love the heart that loveth me.”
These cards will be a work of beauty for the recipient to display, and well worth the expenditure when you think of it that way — you are sending art!
For a chance to win your packet, please leave a comment with your preference of the two choices — and if you like, some idea of what you would like to see in a greeting card!
Is there a special design or thought that you would like to see expressed? I know that I personally am longing for beautiful cards that tastefully wish the recipient greetings or congratulations on the reception of a sacrament. So many out there are too sentimental for my liking. These are lovely, don't you think?
Visit Elizabeth's Etsy shop to view her cards and illustrations. We will choose two winners by Thursday evening!
On to our links!
- A conversation with Leila Miller about what she discovered when she asked adult children of divorce what their experience was. (The book is now FREE on Kindle!) You may know a couple in trouble; do not go along with what our society says, but offer a helping hand. Be on the side of their marriage. They need your help and most of all, so do their children.
- I think I shared this essay before, but I find it worth re-reading, as the world turns and we come back to the same old rationalizations, despite their bankruptcy. Evil is persuasive precisely because it appeals to our laziness and refusal to have hope, the essence of the vice of sloth. Somehow we prefer wallowing in the mire to rising up and following the good. Prof. Christopher O. Tollefsen explains how false mercy is actually legalism, while loving God's law makes man's flourishing possible.
- I've recently been learning more about Jerome Lejeune, the French doctor and geneticist who discovered the cause of Trisomy 21, Down's Syndrome. Abortion is gaining ground. Many states are preparing against the day that the Supreme Court restricts or even overturns Roe v. Wade. People are being indoctrinated as never before about a perceived need to kill the unborn, especially if a defect is detected. Do we have a response to this utilitarianism? I really recommend that you read about Lejeune, read his “21 thoughts,” and if possible, watch this documentary about him. Here is the trailer.
Perhaps your parish could screen the documentary, or your mother's group? He was a valiant and holy man who sacrificed his professional prestige to defend the unborn. “Today I lost the Nobel Prize,” he wrote, when he stood up before his colleagues and warned them of the coming evils of “prophylactic” abortion, totally in their hands as scientific professionals.
- Speaking of quotes, this article about Sigrid Undset has some good ones, very thought-provoking. Even those who have heard of her and have read her novels don't know that she was also a fine political and philosophical thinker. She grasped the danger of her country, Norway, having an established (Protestant) church and accurately prophesied its capitulation to the evils of Naziism. If you can ever find this book by Fr. Stanley Jaki, Sigrid Undset's Quest For Truth, snap it up. Jeffrey Mirus has a long article here, offering a survey of Undset's life and work, with more great quotes.
- “Sex transitioning” is a one-way street, and children are being lured down it. It's not right. In the 80s, when the problem of anorexia became acute, no one forbad therapists to help young people eat. But today, “therapy bans, originally designed to deny help for kids who seek talk therapy to end unwanted same-sex attractions, have now been expanded to deny help for kids who want to accept their biological reality.”
From the archives:
- Perhaps you've been hearing more about ad orientem worship, a posture universally found in Christianity until about 60 years ago. I wrote about it here — in the context of a study of then-Cardinal Ratzinger's (Pope Benedict) book Spirit of the Liturgy. I would suggest studying this book for Lent, which is coming soon!
- Some thoughts on the kitchen in my Reasonably Clean House series!
- Just for fun, looking over the post about the time I shored up a sagging leather cushion in my thrifted chair.
Today we celebrate two early saints, St. Juliana and St. Onesimus.
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).
Ginny says
I’d like the Catholic card assortment, please! It would be nice if you designed a card for baptism.
Annie says
Oh! I love Elizabeth’s sorry and her cards are beautiful. Hard to choose between the two options…I guess I’d go with the assorted pack!
Meredith says
All I can say is WOW! I love all of these cards, but would especially love the Dominus Vobiscum cards for my son who is studying the classics. I love to set up these scripture moments in our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium, but have not really done it at home. Thanks for the inspiration!
Rosie Hill says
Those cards are just lovely! The Dominus Vobiscum set is my favorite 🙂
Meredith says
I am also hoping that a print might be available of the St. Martha image in the assortment! Or I will buy a card and frame it for my kitchen!
eliz says
Hi Meredith! Thank you for this idea. I just added a St. Martha print to my Etsy shop!
Claudia says
Would love to win the assortment with the card for Confirmation, as we have a grandson to be confirmed this spring! Perhaps a Holy Orders card in the future?
Ash A says
Beautiful! I love the ‘God Be with you’ set. Those would be wonderful to send out as a just because card. 😊. A Saint series would be neat to see in the future.
Hibiscus says
Such beautiful cards! Very excited to discover this new source. I’m interested in the cards for priests, and for those receiving a sacrament.
Pam says
Both sets are beautiful! Our parish pastor of 8 years is retiring this year. The “God Be With You” would be a lovely gift for him.
I enjoy sending birthday cards to our large extended family. Cards for nieces/nephews (early 20’s to 2 yrs old) would be wonderful!
Jessica says
Lovely! Thank you for sharing. I hope I would win the pack of four, and I will definitely be bookmarking her site for future use. I believe having a piece made with the “Lord’s Prayer” for framing would be gorgeous. Thank you as always for bringing us these little gems.
Toni Graham says
I would love to win the card assortment. Thank you.
I send birthday and wedding anniversary cards the most, it seems. I would love to see some that are simple and beautiful and appropriate to send to a non-believer.
I love letter-press! ❤️
Thank you!
Ann says
The cards are beautiful! It is so hard to find cards with beauty and meaning. The assorted ones are charming. We have two Confirmations in our family this year. Notes for friends who are ill reminding them they are in our prayers would be lovely. Thank you for sharing!
Rebecca says
What lovely cards! I always appreciate beautiful cards that express a sentiment in only a few lines, something encouraging and lovely without being sappy. Bible verses or saints quotes are nice as well. Thanks for sharing this with us!
Robin says
These cards are so beautiful! As a Latin teacher, I’m naturally drawn to the “Dominus Vobiscum” cards. I’d love to see a “Deo Gratias” card that could be used for congratulations, like for weddings, new homes, births, or just because.
Betsy says
The cards are amazing! Thank you for a chance to win.
Terry says
These are gorgeous! I would love either set but first pick would be Dominus Vobiscum cards. 🙂
Nancy says
Beautiful cards and like the assortment…thank you for the giveaway!
Rebekah W says
These are so lovely! What a great creative outlet for a mother of littles. 🙂
We have several seminarian friends who will (hopefully)be ordained in the next few years–I’d love to win the Dominus Vobiscum set!
Carol Wells says
The cards are beautiful. I especially like the assortment. I’d like to see a wedding card with a Bible verse. Thank you!
cynthia merrill says
I would love to have the assorted pack. I’d like to see cards of Congratulations and Courage!
arenda says
I really enjoyed reading about Elizabeth’s journey to the church – especially how Gregorian chant was a key ingredient in her conversion. So fascinating! And the little prayer corners with calligraphed Scripture passages. Hmmm… how to incorporate that into our home! 🙂
I’d love to win the assorted pack – that illustration on the Mother’s Day card is so, so lovely!
Candice says
What beautiful cards! I would choose the assorted pack. I would love to see cards to give to good children on the anniversary of their baptism. I have such a hard time finding something just right for those!
Joy in Alabama says
I would like the Latin cards. I think those could be used for a variety of occasions.
Thanks for today’s links!!
Clara says
These are lovely! Thank you for this give-away. If I win, I would like the assorted pack.
As for ideas… something beautiful to use for a simple note, a thinking of you sort of card. Or maybe some that have saint quotes or images of the life of the holy family- the first domestic church.
Clare says
I’d love to win the Dominus Vobiscum cards!
Raquel says
What a beautiful conversion story! Please enter me for the assortment pack 🙂
Ruth says
I would use the assorted pack. I’ll be looking at her etsy site too. her work is lovely.
Sue Klejeski says
The cards are beautiful and had me searching for Chandler & Price Letterpress machines on eBay. You might want to consider designing cards to celebrate the reception of some of the sacraments. I’d like the dominus vobiscum cards, please.
Cristina Reintjes says
I’d pick the assortment too! Also, I grabbed s biography of Lejeune at a thrift store last year but never actually read it. Maybe now’s the time!
Madeleine says
I would be happy to enjoy either package. I would like to see a Catholic card for the loss of a child, especially one lost by miscarriage or stillbirth. Perhaps it might feature this quotation commonly attributed to St Bernard of Clairvaux: “Your faith spoke for this child. Baptism for this child was only delayed by time. Your faith suffices. The waters of your womb — were they not the waters of life for this child? Look at your tears. Are they not like the waters of baptism? Do not fear this. God’s ability to love is greater than our fears. Surrender everything to God.”
Melissa Cannon says
I also am a convert (to Orthodoxy), married to a seminary grad, with a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old! Would love the “Dominus Vobiscum” cards for my priest husband to use… And I’m always on the hunt for ” Blessed Namesday” or “Blessed Saint’s Day” cards!
Shyla says
Oh these cards are beautiful! What an awesome story of her journey to the church! The assortment pack would be so lovely!
Christina A says
She does lovely work; our choir director always includes Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree in our lessons and carols, so I might have to buy that one for her next Christmas. In the meantime, I’d love to win the Dominus Vobiscum set. Thanks!
Melissa D says
I’d love the assortment cards. And I adore scripture— especially when it’s laid out properly on the card! Sometimes line breaks are placed without care, or the verse is made to skate all over the space in a distracting manner.
Barbara Juneau says
These cards are all beautiful and meaningful. If I have to make a choice, I would love the assortment pack. I would suggest cards for all the 7 Sacraments would be a nice idea. Thank you for sharing your special gift with us.
Andrea says
You’ll enjoy the short bio “Life is a Blessing” by Jerome’s daughter Clara. Definitely a family one would want for neighbors. She relates an interesting story about how Dr. Lejeune was attacked in lectures not only by the communists at the Sorbonne but also by some Dominicans.
Lisa B says
I’d like the Catholic card assortment.
I’d agree with you, Auntie Leila, I’d appreciate lovely cards with solid “sentiments” for Sacraments. Also, with artwork on the card they’d be proud to display or frame or save. Thank you for highlighting her!
I also enjoy the old sayings and poems or snippets of longer poems on cards. Although maybe cliche, Sonnet 116 and Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee?” come to mind or a stanza from Chesterton’s Christmas Carol poem on a Christmas card. “The Christ Child stood on Mary’s knee/His hair was like a crown/And all the flowers looked up at Him/And all the stars looked down.” What a beautiful way to enjoy and share great literature.
Claire says
How lovely! I’d pick the assorted pack, I think, but it’s definitely a tough choice!
Kristi says
Beautiful cards, and what a great story!
I’d like the assorted pack.
btw, Primal Loss is free on Kindle only if you have Kindle Unlimited. Otherwise it’s $5.99 — and worth it! (I’m a contributor, but it really is!)
B K says
I’d love to win the pack of four assorted Catholic cards. I agree, too many of the Catholic sacrament greeting cards are syrupy with a hippy vibe. Not really my cup of tea. I’d like to see more traditional, reserved, tasteful designs. I don’t really appreciate corny verse or “CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR CONFIRMATION BLAH BLAH BLAH” – it’s over the top. A subtle symbol or illustration of the sacrament would suffice! Elizabeth’s designs are lovely! Bravo! 🙂
sibyl says
I’d love to win either of these. They are beautiful.
Anne Marie says
Thank you for this introduction! Her work is lovely, and she lives in my neighborhood! Perhaps I’ll dust off my nibs as I’ve been wanting to do.
Susan says
So appreciative for the link to Elizabeth’s shop — it took me an entire day just to decide on which set I’d prefer. I work at a certain little classical, Catholic school in Cleveland, and every spring I am thinking about cards for our graduates. For that reason, I think I would choose the Dominus Vobiscum set, but the other is so beautiful I would not suffer any disappointment to own it. Thank you for bringing this artist and her work to my attention!
mamamayor says
I like the Mother’s Day assortment,these cards are beautiful
Lilyan Frisch says
I think all these cards are lovely, so simple and stunning. I especially like the Dominus vobiscum cards, we often write notes to the 2 amazing priests at our parish and these would be lovely to give them. Thank you for your blog and this fantastic giveaway!!!
Kimberly says
Elizabeth’s work is beautiful (as is she, and her family, and her story). I would delight in the mixed pack!
ElizabethAnn says
How lovely are these collections of cards! The Dominus Vobiscum collection would be most helpful during these times to encourage our holy priests who are suffering during these times. May God bless you for this offer and Elizabeth for sharing her talents.
Samantha says
I would be so happy to get the assorted 4 pack!!!
Debbie says
Beautiful cards! Would love any of them! Ideas for future cards: one designed for those suffering from miscarriage loss.
Evelyn says
Two of the mother cards! These are beautiful.
Just a note, the first Etsy link to her shop does not work at the time I am writing this!
Thank you:)
Leila says
Hi Evelyn, — thanks for entering! The links work for me… I hope you can access the shop. It’s called PelicanPrinteryHouse
Kelsi says
I’d love to win the pack of four assorted Catholic cards! Thanks for the giveaway!
Anamaria says
I’d love either especially the assorted pack. Baptism cards would be great, I’d definitely buy some.
For those interested in miscarriage cards the Etsy shop sleightholm folk has some. Very different style but also beautiful.
Melina says
Those cards are absolutely beautiful! It’s so hard to find religious cards that aren’t tacky – I’d love to win a set.
Anel says
Wow these cards are beautiful! I don’t suppose some of them might reach South Africa?? 🌷🙏🏻
Anne Marie says
I’d like the Dominus Vobiscum cards!
Thanks for the link to John’s reflections – it buoyed my spirits. My husband made a very similar move, though towards beauty in architecture. A few years ago, with little ones in tow, we also shlepped to a different area of the country so he could go back to the drawing board, so to speak, to become a student again. Also driven by the sense of, “It’s now or never.”
I’ll admit my spirit has been less than sporting lately, what with the hardships entailed, so John’s narrative edified me. It reminded me of the noble, transcendent answer to: “whyyy are we doing this to ourselves?”
Amada B Beltran says
Oh, I do love her story! I would love the Dominus Vobiscum cards — perfect to send to priests who are out there fighting the good fight and preaching the Truth.
christina says
Dominus Vobiscum, here!
I’d like to see the Angelus fine, not necessarily a card though .
Cheryl says
Very hard to choose which set I would like as a prize!! These are gorgeous cards!
I’m thinking this at the moment: the four assorted Catholic cards, (Mother’s Day, RIP, Confirmation, St. Valentine’s Day).
Thanks for the opportunity to win 🙂
Alicia says
My choices would be that thank you tree and the heart one! Beautiful cards!
Kelly Woods says
These are awesome. Thank you for sharing. To hard to pick. 😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤