Sacred Heart Bead

This bead is finished a few days late due to the flu that has knocked us all off our feet.  I am now convinced that having to take care of sick children and a sick husband while being sick myself finishes second among the great sacrifices of motherhood- right after childbirth. You can bet I was saying, "Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!" 

Here is the process of making the Sacred Heart bead.

This Sacred Heart bead is the same as the original. I just had to remake it because I ran out of those beads.  I started by making the crown of thorns, then adding red to fill in the gaps.

Then I added much more red clay to form a heart

After the heart was formed, I made three simple flames and positioned them in the middle of the heart. 

I then added enough black clay to surround the whole heart so it could be rolled out and reduced.

Here are the baked beads ready to go on the rosaries. Yes, the red clay is sparkly. It's not very noticeable except in this picture where the light is bouncing off the camera flash.  

Some day I would like to make an Immaculate Heart of Mary bead to complete the devotion. Speaking of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, this website is an excellent resource to learn more. 

"Consume me in the burning fire of thy holy Love, so that I may be so absorbed and transformed into Thee that I may no longer be but one with Thee. Amen. "

taken from, The Prayer To The wounded heart of Jesus.