Finding Joy in the Sorrow - A Little Catholic Box Review

**I received a complimentary product from The Little Catholic Box in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own.**

September is the month that we remember the Seven Sorrows of Mary and the beauty of joy in the midst of sorrow. A devotion to the Seven Sorrows helps us deepen our knowledge of Christ's love for us, as well as Mary's incredible courage as she lived obediently to the will of God. 

Mary's words "Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word" (Luke 1:38) are a beautiful reminder of the docility that we're called to. Christ does not promise us perfect happiness in this life, only the Heavenly life to come. So while we may endure hardship here on earth, He always offers joy in the middle of the storm. 

This month, I was excited to receive a beautiful package in the mail that helped remind me to see joy, even in the hardest of times. 

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The Little Catholic Box is a subscription or one-time purchase, sent to you in the mail at the beginning of the month.  Each box's content is a surprise, but the boxes are always filled with gorgeous reminders of the Catholic faith. 

When I first opened the box, I was struck by how beautifully each piece flowed together. Here are the items in this month’s box!At the end of the review, there is a coupon code exclusively for Old Fashioned Girl readers! 

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Saint Teresa of Calcutta and Saint Clare of Assisi Prints from Kathleen Caswell at Kcaswell

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If anyone knew about the reality of suffering, it was Mother Teresa. She once wrote: “Pain and suffering have come into your life, but remember pain, sorrow, suffering are but the kiss of Jesus - a sign that you have come so close to Him that He can kiss you.” These prints from Kathleen are a gorgeous everyday reminder of how the saints teach us to embrace suffering. One of the prints is Mother Teresa, the other is of Saint Clare of Assisi. If you look close at each print, you can see quotes from the saints intertwined with the artwork. Head over to Kathleen's Facebook page to see more of her gorgeous artwork. 

The Seven Sorrows of Mary Booklet by Kevin O'Neil, C.Ss.R.

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A devotion to the Seven Sorrows of Mary can be traced all the way back to the mid-thirteenth century. The Servite order, founded in 1240, devoted themselves to Mary at the foot of the cross. This small book offered reflections on the Seven Sorrows. By reflecting on Mary's reaction to sorrow in her life,I was able to admire her even more and imitate her surrender to God's will. I loved each reflection and scripture in the booklet. This is a devotion I'll be renewing in Advent and Lent. 

Seven Sorrows Chaplet from Maria Victoria at Ave Maria Faithcrafts

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Maria Victoria from Ave Maria Faithcrafts designed and created these beautiful Our Lady of Sorrows chaplets. A lover of the little things, the details of this chaplet make my heart smile. The beads are made from olive wood, imported from Bethlehem. The dark blue leather cord symbolizes our Lady's signature color. Our Lady stands besides Christ on the Crucifix.  Finally, the medal at the end of the chaplet is Our Lady of Sorrows on one side, and Christ crucified on the other. 

Maria Victoria is a mother of four, and the goal of her creations is to enrich the spiritual life. I love the beautiful thought that Maria put into creating the chaplet, and can't wait to learn how to pray it on this beautiful piece. 

Viola's Granola by the Brothers and Sisters of Charity from Little Portion Bakery

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Guys, I love granola. This bag of Viola's Granola was a great protein boost to have in the car. After a workout, it made for a quick snack before I got home. But something that I love even more than this granola is the story behind it. 

Viola Talbot (wife of John Michael Talbot!) started the Little Portion Bakery back in 2013, when I was senior in high school. But a couple of years ago, the main building of the monastery that Brother and Sisters of Charity live in burned down. So in order to rebuild, the brothers and sisters started baking and selling their goods at farmer's markets. When they rebuilt the monastery, they specially designed a kitchen so they could focus on baking. Now, their bakery is booming and 10% of their profits go to support children living in poverty in the Holy Land. Despite a season of suffering, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity trusted God, did what they could, and now are reaping the harvest that God provided. 

Pencils and Saint Padre Pio Pencil Case from the Little Catholic Box

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Saint Padre Pio is another saint who was not a stranger to suffering. He suffered from the stigmata for more than fifty years - the wounds of Christ visible on his hands and feet. He once wrote, "The more bitterness you experience, the more love you will receive." This pencil case from Little Catholic Box is such a beautiful, daily reminder of the life of Padre Pio and his encouragement during times of suffering. It's filled with three pencils with little reminders etched into them. Now when I'm putting together my daily to-do list, I'm able to look down and be reminded of the real reason behind my daily chores - the glory of God. 


Intrigued by the beauty of these Little Catholic Boxes? Me too! All of the September boxes are sold out, but you can get an October box. You can use my coupon code for $6 off your purchase! 

Use the coupon code OFG6 at checkout and get $6 off your order with Little Catholic Box! 

Chloe LangrComment