Brain Storming: Ten Things You Can Do With Your Old Magnificats

Overthinking it, so you don't have to.

MRS. PEASANT

I LOVE my Magnificat Magazine. It is a spiritual weapon you can put in your purse. Magnificat is a curated collection of prayers, scriptures, church history, the daily mass readings, beautiful meditations from the saints, and artwork that's easy to read anywhere from lunch breaks to doctor appointments. For years, I've agonized over what to do with them at the end of each month because I think throwing them away is just a pity. 50 dusty and dated Magnificats later, it was time to brain storm. Let's get real.

I WON'T RE-READ THEM. It's like saying you'll read the newspaper from last month. Why put this on yourself? I've certainly gotten my five dollars worth of spiritual food. Remember, this magazine is just a tool to nurture your faith, and it's okay to toss them. Unless someone really could use them, you are just dumping your clutter on someone else. So what can you do with your old Magnificat magazines?

1. DONATE

TO YOUR PARISH:

Call the religious education office and see if any of the teachers could use them. Ask those who minister to the home bound if they know of anyone who'd enjoy reading them.

TO A LOCAL PRISON OR MILITARY:

Yes, this does sound good in theory. On the Books Behind Bars website, it lists prisons (28) that will accept used books and magazines. There aren't many prisons that will take them. Even the website states due to the high cost of shipping boxes to the prisons THEY ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING DONATIONS and ask you to mail your books to those prisons directly. For good measure, you can call and check to see if your local nearby prison would like them. If not, forget it. Sending a box to donate by mail is so expensive, it'd be cheaper to just send a yearly subscription to the prison. It is the same with the military. It is very expensive to send them and due to the religious content they may not receive them.

TO A HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, SHELTER OR HOSPICE:

These are all wonderful ideas! There is no telling what corporate policies and rules of each facility are. Pick a few places that are close to you, call, and FIND OUT if they take religious magazines.  Remove the what if and literally see if that's an option. If not, forget it.

2. SHARE WITH FRIENDS

THE MASS/ADORATION MIDDLE PAGES: Cut out the middle pages, staple and share with someone who is entering the church or a guest during the holidays. It would be a wonderful tool to help someone follow along and understand the mass.

If you read a mediation or prayer you think someone would love, rip out the pages and mail it to them. If they seem to enjoy it, be sure to send them a 3 month gift subscription for $5 when it comes around!


3. KEEP PAGES FOR YOURSELF

As you read, fold the corners of the pages you want to save. At the end of the month, rip out your favorite pages and then throw the magazine away. Artwork can be used for crafts, cards or to display. Each monthly issue can be over 300 pages long. That is almost FOUR THOUSAND pages a year so be picky! Keep only the best!


4. MAKE GIFT BOWS

I used the red middle pages to make the gift bows below. I used a hymn page for an easy flower.

5. MAKE A BIG GIFT BOW

6. MAKE A PAPER CHRISTMAS TREE or PUMPKIN. You can still rip out all your favorite pages, and it has no affect on the end result. I folded 150 pages and made a half circle tree. Then, I tore the binding and removed the first tree. I continued folding the remaining 300 pages to make a full circle tree. So I made the two trees below with one magazine. One topper is a music sheet decoration fanned and taped to the top. The other is a red pipe cleaner.

7. MAKE LITTLE CANDY CUPS for a party, wedding, baptism, or baby shower.

8. MAKE A PAPER WREATH or if you want to invest in a green foam ring this one is lovely.

I used a red Sharpie and marked some of the edges for color. 

9. MAKE PAPER ROSES. I also think this heart garland is sweet, but I don't have a sewing machine.

10. MAKE CHRISTMAS OR THANK YOU CARDS

A MAGNIFICAT MEDITATION TO SHARE WITH YOU:

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us." He said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me." He said in reply, "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Please, Lord, for even dogs eat the scraps that fail from the table of their masters." Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour. 
MATTHEW 15:21-28

"O woman, great is your faith" by Father William R. Bonniwell, O.P. 

The woman's reaction shows what a truly extraordinary person she was. Twice the divine Master had refused her prayer; and the second time, he likened her to a dog! The Apostles must have expected her to spring to her feet, make some angry reply and furiously walk away. She did nothing of the kind. She remained on her knees and replied with astounding humility... 

In the face of such fervor and faith, of such humility and perseverance, our Lord laid aside his assumed reluctance and exclaimed in admiration: O woman, great is your faith!

Let us take as our model that truly amazing woman. What an example does she give us of how to pray! Her attention and fervor could not be surpassed; her faith and confidence in God's goodness and mercy never wavered for an instant. Her humility could not be ruffled even by being likened to a dog! In the face of every discouragement from the Apostles of Christ, nay, apparently rebuffed by the the Son of God himself, this incomparable woman persevered in her prayer. O woman, great indeed was your  faith!

Excerpt from Magnificat Magazine  August 2019

I hope this helps you to use or get rid of your old Magnificats. I scoured the internet looking for the best crafts and looked into the logistics of my dream donation scenarios. All the crafts were done with only magazine pages, Elmers school glue, scissors, a stapler, a paper plate (wreaths.) and a red Sharpie marker. I followed the instructions sloppily while on my couch. So, rest assured that you need not spend any money or be a Martha Stewart. Let me know below what you do with your old Magnificats. Thank you so much for stopping by and God bless you!

Mrs. Peasant's Diary for Monday, September 2, 2019

THE TEA HARVEST

Unfortunately, I waited too long to gather my Jiaogulan. I tend to be so timid about pruning and cutting that I forget to harvest! That in itself is a lesson. I spent all this time planning, sprouting seeds, watering, tending and then miss actually ENJOYING the fruit. So, I decided to Edward Scissor Hands the rest of my garden to make up for it. I harvested the ginger and lemongrass that were started from pieces I bought at the grocery store back in December. Not too bad for the two dollar investment! I also picked a bunch of Spearmint, Sage, and Raspberry leaves.

GINGER, LEMON GRASS, AND JIAOGULAN

SAGE, SPEARMINT, AND RASPBERRY LEAVES

They say you have to bloom where you're planted. So, I figured container gardening would help make us more self sufficient. But who are we kidding? The apartment balcony isn't going to feed you much. I've tried growing vegetables frugally for seven years. I can honestly say our apartment garden has only two glowing areas- tea plants and onions. Come over when SHTF, and I can make you a cup of tea as we cry over the end. I've got 20 pounds of noodles, too. Seriously, come by. We can live on tea, noodles with onions, and love.

GARDEN UPDATE: NOT ONE ZUCCHINI.

AVOCADO TREE

Take a look at my lovely 2 foot avocado tree I started from a pit. It reminds me of a fiddle leaf fig tree. It's more like a blend of fiddle leaf fig and a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. And since it may take 3-4 years to fruit, why not admire it as a frugal decorative tree?

FREE FALL CRAFT- ONION SKIN DYEING

As I was eating through my freezer, I found a forgotten ziplock bag full of onion skins. Before Mr. Peasant's accident, I was saving onion skins to use for dyeing. I was VERY tempted to just throw them away as it all seemed unimportant now. But I'm glad I pushed through the blahs and did it. I took two dumpy old cotton kitchen towels (one Ikea/ one Walmart flour sack), two handfuls of yellow onion skins, and this post for directions. Both towels are 100% percent cotton and you can see the huge color variations. I believe that it will turn any towel a yellow, orange, or tan color which is accidentally the perfect color palate for fall. If you'd like to make an old crappy stained towel warm and autumn-y, go for it. But keep an open mind in terms of color. I did keep them in the dye for 4 hours each. I washed the dyed towels in hot water and detergent in the sink twice. The color seemed to stay! I photographed the towels in different lighting, so you can assess the color.

Color of dye bath from 2 handfuls of Yellow Onions

Towels against a white background.

 Ikea towel next to dyed Ikea towel.

Walmart flour sack towel next to a dyed towel.

Dyed towels in the sunlight. 

Dyed towels next to originals in normal kitchen lighting.

PRAYERS AS GIFTS

Mr. Peasant and I have created a new routine of nightly prayers and scripture readings. We have been helped immensely by this in our battle with despair and exhaustion. Our life since Mr. Peasant's accident is unrecognizable to how it was before. I forgot to update the 2019 calendar with birthdays, and I've failed horribly at remembering really important people's birthdays this year. I'm limited in money, energy, and creativity; so I have been offering my nightly rosary up for each person whose birthday was in August-- Lady A, Mrs. Seaux, Lady S, Little M and the Knight. I spent time praising God for putting each one of them into my life. I prayed for peace, protection, joy and asked for blessings that were specific to each one of their needs. God can do ALL things. I trust Mary will pray for them, and the Lord will answer my prayers for them.

WORTH A LISTEN

Alabama Shakes is an incredible soul meets southern rock band. This song has just enough grit to help you keep pushing through. It's the perfect song to listen to while eating an elephant one bite at a time.

Hold On

Lord please keep everyone safe in Florida where my family and friends are. We are praying for everyone in the Bahamas, Georgia and South Carolina. This hurricane track is all over the place! Praying for everyone's safety, and that the Lord cover us with his peace.  Lastly, please pray for healing and strength for Mr. Peasant as he continues to fight for recovery. Thank you for reading and your prayers. God be with you all.