The stones are called Picture Jasper, and are a favorite stone of antiquity. The stone is made from petrified or silicated mud, which has poured into pockets of molten lava and solidified. The wire is copper. While purple is the usual color of Lent, the earthy browns, and red, and black are perfect to represent the consequence of the cross, and the muddy quiet grief we pass through.
The verses I selected come from Ezekiel, chapters 2,3... 5And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.8"But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you." 9And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. 1And he said to me, "Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." 2So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3And he said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it. "Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey."
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