Hand-carved crosses · John Stamm
Carved By Hand, Prayed Over, And Sent Out
Made by hand from sticks John gathers in the woods, then prayed over for an hour in Adoration before it ships to you.
About $40 · Made to order · 10% to the Church
I Carved By Hand
Every cross starts as a stick in the woods.
No power tools. John finds the wood himself and works it outside, by hand, until a cross comes out of it. Some he peels down to pale wood. Some keep their bark in flecks, or in long dark flames.
“They are handmade, so they look handmade.” Knots, bark and grain stay where the wood put them, so no two come out the same.
For blessed is the wood, by which justice cometh.
II Prayed Over
Then it keeps an hour with the Lord.
Before a cross leaves John’s hands,
it rests on the railing of an Adoration Chapel,
for at least an hour,
while John prays.
What? Could you not watch one hour with me?Matthew 26:40
Every cross sits on the railing of an Adoration Chapel for at least an hour while John prays over it.
III And Sent Out
Then it’s sent out to you.
Every cross is made to order, so yours will be its own. These are a few that went out recently. Tell John the look you like and he’ll carve it.
Dark bark
Bark left on in long, dark flames over pale wood.
Ask for one like thisFlecked
Peeled, with flecks of golden bark left in the grain.
Ask for one like thisPeeled
Stripped all the way down to the pale wood.
Ask for one like this
In John’s hands
Two fresh ones, straight from his reel.
Watch the reel- A full-size crossabout $40Hand-carved, prayed over, and sent to you. 10% goes to the Church.
- Smaller piecesAsk JohnSmaller and less expensive.
- Custom piecesAsk JohnHave something in mind? Tell him what you’re after.
- Message John on InstagramTell him which cross you’d like and where it’s headed.
- He carves it by handOutside, from wood he gathers himself. A rainy day can add a day.
- It keeps its hour, then shipsAn hour in the Adoration Chapel, then it’s sent out to you.
Opens a message to John on Instagram
You shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace.
✠ The Carver
“Hi, I’m John. I’m going to be a priest.”
“For the next six months, I’ll be studying and preparing for seminary in a discernment period.”
“This is how I’m going to be supporting myself.”
John, on why he carves
Lo, here am I, send me.
? Before You Order
Good questions.
How much is a cross?
About $40 for a full-size cross. Smaller pieces cost less, and custom pieces are priced by John. Just ask.
How do I order?
Send John a message on Instagram at @motoscripture. Tell him which cross you’d like and where it’s going.
How long does it take?
Each cross is made to order, usually within a few days. John carves outside, so a rainy day can push things back a little.
Is it really made by hand?
Yes. 100% hand made, no power tools. The wood comes straight from the woods, so every cross has its own shape, grain and bark.
What does “prayed over” mean?
Before it ships, every cross sits on the railing of an Adoration Chapel for at least an hour while John prays.
Can I ask for something custom?
Yes. John makes custom pieces, and smaller, less expensive ones too. Message him with what you have in mind.
Where does the money go?
It supports John through his discernment period before seminary, and 10% goes to the Church.
God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.