| Holy cards are small, mass-produced, devotional
pictures made for the use of the Catholic faithful.
They typically depict a religious scene or a saint
on a small image that is about the size of a playing
card or collectible card. The reverse typically
contains a prayer, some of which promise an indulgence
for its recitation. The circulation of these cards
is an important part of the visual folk culture
of Catholics.
Early
holy cards were often woodcuts; the first
surviving example is from 1423, and depicts
Saint
Christopher. The visual crudity of the images
possible in this medium was alleviated somewhat
by the elaborate paper lace that surrounded
the images; these images were called dévotes
dentelles in France and Andachtsbilder in Germany,
the two chief early centres for their manufacture
and circulation.
Special holy cards
are printed by Catholics to be distributed
at funerals; these are "memorial
cards", with details of the person whom
they commemorate as well as prayers printed
on the back. Other specialized holy cards remember
baptisms, confirmations, and other religious
anniversaries. Others are not customized, and
circulate to promote the veneration of the
saints
and images they bear.
At
the end of the nineteenth century, some Protestant
denominations attempted to answer these Catholic
images with similar images of their own. They
produced "Bible cards" or "Sunday
school cards", with lithographed illustrations
depicting Biblical stories and parables, more
modern scenes of religious life or prayer, or
sometimes just a Biblical text illuminated by
calligraphy; these were linked to Biblical passages
that related to the image. The reverse typically
held a brief sermon instead of a prayer. Imagery
here was always the servant of text, and as such
these Protestant cards tended to be replaced
by tracts that emphasized message instead of
imagery, and were illustrated with cartoon-like
images if they were illustrated at all.
There
are literally 1000's of holy cards to be found
on the Internet, in church's, on Ebay,
& thoughout the world. Many have a very interesting
history & are a great way to learn more about
the Catholic faith. If you know the history of
a holy card depicted below or if you have a holy
card that you'd like to share with
this
site
please
contact us. We will periodically
add more cards so check back often.
Click
the thumbnails below to enlarge the image & learn
about the Saint or scene depicted:
Padre Pio
|
S. Maria Goretti
|
S. Nicola Vescovo |
Young Jesus looks at Mary |
St. George |
Mary |
St. Rita |
Mysteries of the Rosary |
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