For years, I’ve been a collector of holy cards — those special sacramentals which depict the lives of the saints or religious scenes and which aid us in recalling special moments in the life of the Church and in our own lives. I recently received a wonderful email from Judi Teters, who shared her family’s devotion to praying with Holy Cards.
The Teters family suggests the following ideas for praying with the aid of holy cards:
- Of course the most important is pray with them.
- Use the holy cards that portray the mysteries of the rosary as tools to meditate on while reciting the rosary.
- As an art project either using three as a trifold holy card or just one, paste them on background paper/cardstock and embellish them with a border using a gold gel pen or other art supplies.
- Have a basket available in Adoration where one can place their extra holy card. Judi shares:“This was partly responsible for starting a St. Monica’s Mass at our parish. While living in California for a short time, I found one St. Monica Holy Card with several prayers on it. I was inspired to do some research and found a St. Monica’s Mass that has been in Chicago for many years. After moving back to Oregon, I asked our priest if we could do the same. He agreed. The first Saturday of each month, there’s a basket in the vestibule before Mass for parishoners to place names of their loved ones who have left the Faith. This basket is brought up at collection and prayed for. After Mass the names are brought to the Adoration Chapel and placed in a box for prayer from Adorers.”
- Another very beautiful practice discovered by the Teters family in their travels: a construction company that collects broken rosaries, medals, other blessed sacramentals and upon the customer’s request when building a home, this company places these items into the foundation.
A special thank you to Judi Teters for sharing her family’s devotion to praying with holy cards. She has also kindly shared the following prayer:
O My God this day in my prayers I would rememberMy mother and my fatherMy spouseMy children, grandchildren and godchildrenMy brothers, sisters and all my relativesFriends and benefactorsThose who I’ve met on my life’s journeyThose who love me and those who hate meThe dying and those to die todayThe poor souls in purgatoryThe Holy Father and his intentionsMother Church and all her childrenAll bishops, priests, brothers, sisters and deaconsMy country, its’ president and all its’ citizensThose who died in military service for itThose who lost loved ones in the struggleThose that are in our military nowThe world and all its’ peopleAll nations and all racesThe sick, the poor,, the richThe right to life of the born and unbornThe neglected, the persecuted and the enslavedThe tempted, the doubting, the despairingThose in danger and distressThose who asked me to pray for themThose who I should be praying forMen of goodwill that they may come to the fullness of faithMen of evil ways that they may be convertedThe triumph of God’s Infinite Mercy in my life and in all livesTHROUGH THE MERITS OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS AND THE INTERCESSION OF HIS MOST HOLY MOTHER. AMEN
Do you collect or enjoy praying with holy cards? How are these sacramentals a part of your life?
Copyright 2011 Lisa M. Hendey
8 Comments
When we remodeled our home, we placed blessed medals above the door frames. St. Michael and St. Benedict in the exterior and patron saints in bedroom doors.
I thought I was the only one who does this…at least my kids think I am 🙂 Thanks for this post. I never heard of St Monica’s Mass but it’s a great idea!
I collect Holy Cards too! Some have beautiful prayers on the back ~ Holy Cards are considered “sacramentals” because they can be a tool to grow in grace. Amazing!
I have quite a few. I still remember having a holy card on the dresser as a child. I wish they handed out holy cards for often in church.
I have quite a few. I am very lucky that I live near The Fathers of Mercy and they always have some neat holy cards in the back of the chapel.
I use prayer cards as rewards for my kids. They love collecting them, trading them and praying with them. They make a homeschooling mom’s job just a little easier!
What a nice post and I love the idea of St. Monica’s Mass. I also really like that prayer as it really covers all the people and needs that we should be praying for.
I have a holy card website where people can view and download some of the cards in my holy card collection and make their own cards. I scan and edit the cards, repairing cracks, tears, stains, etc., restoring missing lace etc. Usually I try and make translations. I’m taking a break from posting right now as I’ve been a little bit burned out, but there are a lot of cards on my site. Maybe clicking on my name will take you there. The name of the site is “He Gently Calls Us.”
I’ve loved holy cards ever since I was a child. I’m a very visual person and these images help bring me closer to the Holy Family, the saints, and the treasures of the holy church. I invite you to visit.
Here I am again. Your website continues to be a Blessing. I thought I would share another way to use holy cards. Climbing up and downstairs becomes a bit harder as we get older. If we’re able to do it without medical problems, I taped a holy card of Jesus on the Way of the Cross on one of the risers of our stairs. Our discomfort is in no way to compare with Our Lord’s suffering, but it is a reminder of that. Continued Blessings to you, your family and ministry.
Judi Teters