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Holy Cards
A treasury of the devotional art that has comforted and inspired millions of Catholics—portraying a remarkable gallery of saints. Often used in daily rituals or given out at significant life events such as wakes and funerals, communions and confirmations, the holy card can be appreciated as both a religious tradition and a beautiful work of folk art. This comprehensive volume offers a richly illustrated overview, organized thematically, along with brief biographies and attributes of prophets and angels, disciples and evangelists, hermits and visionaries, martyrs and mystics—in exquisite depictions that run the gamut from dramatic and disturbing to moving and comforting. Including detailed explanations of the often-enigmatic symbolism found in these unique keepsakes, Holy Cards is a compendium that will fascinate anyone who enjoys the artistic beauty for which the Roman Catholic Church is renowned.
183 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2004
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August 18, 2024
I stumbled upon this volume while searching for prayer cards for the rack at the back of our church. The cover immediately attracted my attention. Not knowing either of the authors, nor having heard about this or any of the many other volumes they co-authored I was hesitant to pick it up. I was blown away by the volume and my 16 year old son read it as soon as I finished.
The description of this volume states:
“A treasury of the devotional art that has comforted and inspired millions of Catholics—portraying a remarkable gallery of saints.
Often used in daily rituals or given out at significant life events such as wakes and funerals, communions and confirmations, the holy card can be appreciated as both a religious tradition and a beautiful work of folk art.
This comprehensive volume offers a richly illustrated overview, organized thematically, along with brief biographies and attributes of prophets and angels, disciples and evangelists, hermits and visionaries, martyrs and mystics—in exquisite depictions that run the gamut from dramatic and disturbing to moving and comforting.
Including detailed explanations of the often-enigmatic symbolism found in these unique keepsakes, Holy Cards is a compendium that will fascinate anyone who enjoys the artistic beauty for which the Roman Catholic Church is renowned.”
The chapters and sections in it are:
Acknowledgements
Introduction
A Brief History
Prophets & Angels
St. John the Baptist
St. Gabriel the Archangel
St. Elias
St. Michael the Archangel
St. Raphael the Archangel
Disciples & Evangelists
St. Andrew
St. Peter
St. Paul
St. James
St. Jude
St. Matthew
St. John
St. Luke
St. Mark
St. Mary Magdalen
St. Bartholomew
Martyrs
St. Fidelis
St. Anthony of Hungary
St. John of Cologne
St. Eugene
St. Ursula Bl. Peter Sanz
St. Agnes
St. Lucy
St. Barbara
St. Cecilia
St. Susanna
St. Laurence
St. Sebastian
St. Liverius
St. Iraeneus
St. Renatus Vitalis
St. George
St. Philoterus
St. Margaret of Antioch
St. Peter of Verona
Hermits
St. Paul
St. Jerome
St. Alexis
Bl. Gundisalvus
Bl. Eve of Liege
St. Cyril
St. Meinrad
Visionaries & Mystics
St. Julienne
St. Rita
St. Rose of Lima
St. Gertrude the Great
St. Catherine of Siena
St. Martin de Porres
St. Francis of Assisi
St. Veronica Giuliani
St. Bernadette
St. Bridget of Sweden
St. Mechtild
St. Gerard Majella
St. Bénézet
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
St. Peter of Alcantara
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
St. Teresa of Avila
Religious Orders
Bl. Frances D’Amboise
Bl. Mary Bartholomea de Bagnesi
St. Gilbert of Neuffontaines
St. Francis de Sales
St. Jeanne Frances de Chantal
St. Alphonse Liguori
St. Angela Merici
St. Walburga
St. Othilia
St. Anthony of Padua
St. Clare
St. Alanus of Rupe
St. Colette
St. Benedict
St. Frances of Rome
St. Camillus
St. Aloysius Gonzaga
St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Raymund Pennafort
Missionaries
St. Francis Borgia
St. Patrick
St. Swithbert the Elder
St. Leonardo of Port Maurice Bl. Marie of the Incarnation
St. Francis Xavier
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
St. Hyacinth
Holy People
St. Joan of Arc
St. Monica
St. Liberata
St. Zita
St. Nicholas
St. Anne
St. Sofia
St. Joseph
St. Helena
St. Louis
St. Charles Borromeo
St. Jerome Emiliani
St. Roch
St. Veronica
Jesus Christ
The Virgin Mary
Halos
Significance Lists
Plants, Trees, Flowers & Fruit
Objects
Colors
Birds
Shapes and Numbers
Animals, Fish & Insects
Clothing
Body Parts
Bibliography
Picture Credits
I only highlight a few passages my first time through this volume, they are:
“FROM THE BIRTH OF CHRISTIANITY, saints have inspired the classic works of Western art. They are human representatives of divine grace, and their stories of faith and suffering, and trial and transcendence, have fascinated the secular and comforted, consoled, and encouraged believers. One of the most important and endearing traditions of Catholic iconography is that of the holy card. Offering images of the saints, these portable objects of daily ritual are carried for protection; given as remembrances at communions, confirmations, and funerals; and collected and traded.”
“The saints were human beings with human problems. They had bad marriages, debts, wayward children; they came from all walks of life. Yet through divine grace they were able to overcome their own personal obstacles and transcend the burdens of the material world. To Catholics they are an extended family that serve as a great inspiration in the ability of prayer and faith to change one’s life. They have fascinating stories of suffering, failure, and victory, and many of us implore our favorite saints to pray with us and for us.”
“They are not idols with magical powers, but they are mentors with whom we are able to identify. Since great art, architecture, and music are believed to be divinely inspired, visual art is an important element in Catholic religious expression. Frescoes in churches and stained glass windows traditionally served to instruct those who could not read. Images had to be designed to tell a story using objects, symbols, and colors that had their own significance. Many holy cards, besides being a visual physical portrait, also display the elements of a saint’s story or patronage.”
“Presently, while holy cards are produced in the millions, there is less diversity in style and quality. Many companies still use the paintings of one hundred years ago with their mysterious objects and symbols embedded in them, but modern people are less able to read them. Cards of more recent saints like St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Mother Cabrini, or Padre Pio are basic photo-like portraits resembling head shots or publicity stills. It is no longer considered necessary to try and include the mysterious elements that tell a story. In perusing the many pages of artists’ lists it becomes apparent that the average person of a century ago was able to read much more into a picture than people of today.”
And finally:
“Holy cards are extremely important to Catholics. Many still carry them for protection or out of loyalty to a patron saint. They are given as remembrances for communions, confirmations, and most commonly, at wakes and funerals. Prayers are put on the back with the name of the deceased, their birth and death dates. Even the least devout save these cards as a tribute. They are used as bookmarks, kept in drawers, carried in wallets, or openly displayed. They contain images that are comforting, disturbing, and extremely powerful in that they trigger strong emotions. Because they are not considered precious works of art but standard everyday objects, holy cards are a wonderful example of folk art pieces that help expand our spiritual lives.”
The concept of reading Holy Cards was new to me. It is intriguing and moving. My youngest two children each have a prayer corner in their rooms and Holy cards play a key role in their space. They were encouraged by the sacramental prep team as then began their first communion journey to create a prayer space, and the Catholic grade school they attended had a prayer corner in each room and one in the entrance for the whole school. I myself have a small box full of prayer cards going back to my own teen years. And I have a small stand on my desk and pull out a different card each day to pray and spend time with that friend in heaven. Over the last many months I have been working to fill the prayer card rack at the back of our church.
Many years ago I was at church at a mass time I did not normally attend; a family was in front of me. The daughter had a prayer card she used in her missal a painting of Jesus, one I did not recognize but that spoke to me. After mass I asked if I could see it as it caught my attention to try and track down a copy. She gave it to me and for a long time I used it in my prayer book daily. I do not recall ever encountering the family again.
Holy cards are encouraging, inspiring and motivational. They are like photos of friends in heaven. And this volume which is part history part reflections and it has 101 cards as specific sections but there are a few cards in the information prior to that.
Overall I was awed and inspired by this volume. And have picked up the other books by the authors that are available as eBooks. There is 1 older volume I will try and track down in a physical edition. I can easily recommend this book and look forward to reading more from the authors.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!
The description of this volume states:
“A treasury of the devotional art that has comforted and inspired millions of Catholics—portraying a remarkable gallery of saints.
Often used in daily rituals or given out at significant life events such as wakes and funerals, communions and confirmations, the holy card can be appreciated as both a religious tradition and a beautiful work of folk art.
This comprehensive volume offers a richly illustrated overview, organized thematically, along with brief biographies and attributes of prophets and angels, disciples and evangelists, hermits and visionaries, martyrs and mystics—in exquisite depictions that run the gamut from dramatic and disturbing to moving and comforting.
Including detailed explanations of the often-enigmatic symbolism found in these unique keepsakes, Holy Cards is a compendium that will fascinate anyone who enjoys the artistic beauty for which the Roman Catholic Church is renowned.”
The chapters and sections in it are:
Acknowledgements
Introduction
A Brief History
Prophets & Angels
St. John the Baptist
St. Gabriel the Archangel
St. Elias
St. Michael the Archangel
St. Raphael the Archangel
Disciples & Evangelists
St. Andrew
St. Peter
St. Paul
St. James
St. Jude
St. Matthew
St. John
St. Luke
St. Mark
St. Mary Magdalen
St. Bartholomew
Martyrs
St. Fidelis
St. Anthony of Hungary
St. John of Cologne
St. Eugene
St. Ursula Bl. Peter Sanz
St. Agnes
St. Lucy
St. Barbara
St. Cecilia
St. Susanna
St. Laurence
St. Sebastian
St. Liverius
St. Iraeneus
St. Renatus Vitalis
St. George
St. Philoterus
St. Margaret of Antioch
St. Peter of Verona
Hermits
St. Paul
St. Jerome
St. Alexis
Bl. Gundisalvus
Bl. Eve of Liege
St. Cyril
St. Meinrad
Visionaries & Mystics
St. Julienne
St. Rita
St. Rose of Lima
St. Gertrude the Great
St. Catherine of Siena
St. Martin de Porres
St. Francis of Assisi
St. Veronica Giuliani
St. Bernadette
St. Bridget of Sweden
St. Mechtild
St. Gerard Majella
St. Bénézet
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
St. Peter of Alcantara
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
St. Teresa of Avila
Religious Orders
Bl. Frances D’Amboise
Bl. Mary Bartholomea de Bagnesi
St. Gilbert of Neuffontaines
St. Francis de Sales
St. Jeanne Frances de Chantal
St. Alphonse Liguori
St. Angela Merici
St. Walburga
St. Othilia
St. Anthony of Padua
St. Clare
St. Alanus of Rupe
St. Colette
St. Benedict
St. Frances of Rome
St. Camillus
St. Aloysius Gonzaga
St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Raymund Pennafort
Missionaries
St. Francis Borgia
St. Patrick
St. Swithbert the Elder
St. Leonardo of Port Maurice Bl. Marie of the Incarnation
St. Francis Xavier
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
St. Hyacinth
Holy People
St. Joan of Arc
St. Monica
St. Liberata
St. Zita
St. Nicholas
St. Anne
St. Sofia
St. Joseph
St. Helena
St. Louis
St. Charles Borromeo
St. Jerome Emiliani
St. Roch
St. Veronica
Jesus Christ
The Virgin Mary
Halos
Significance Lists
Plants, Trees, Flowers & Fruit
Objects
Colors
Birds
Shapes and Numbers
Animals, Fish & Insects
Clothing
Body Parts
Bibliography
Picture Credits
I only highlight a few passages my first time through this volume, they are:
“FROM THE BIRTH OF CHRISTIANITY, saints have inspired the classic works of Western art. They are human representatives of divine grace, and their stories of faith and suffering, and trial and transcendence, have fascinated the secular and comforted, consoled, and encouraged believers. One of the most important and endearing traditions of Catholic iconography is that of the holy card. Offering images of the saints, these portable objects of daily ritual are carried for protection; given as remembrances at communions, confirmations, and funerals; and collected and traded.”
“The saints were human beings with human problems. They had bad marriages, debts, wayward children; they came from all walks of life. Yet through divine grace they were able to overcome their own personal obstacles and transcend the burdens of the material world. To Catholics they are an extended family that serve as a great inspiration in the ability of prayer and faith to change one’s life. They have fascinating stories of suffering, failure, and victory, and many of us implore our favorite saints to pray with us and for us.”
“They are not idols with magical powers, but they are mentors with whom we are able to identify. Since great art, architecture, and music are believed to be divinely inspired, visual art is an important element in Catholic religious expression. Frescoes in churches and stained glass windows traditionally served to instruct those who could not read. Images had to be designed to tell a story using objects, symbols, and colors that had their own significance. Many holy cards, besides being a visual physical portrait, also display the elements of a saint’s story or patronage.”
“Presently, while holy cards are produced in the millions, there is less diversity in style and quality. Many companies still use the paintings of one hundred years ago with their mysterious objects and symbols embedded in them, but modern people are less able to read them. Cards of more recent saints like St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Mother Cabrini, or Padre Pio are basic photo-like portraits resembling head shots or publicity stills. It is no longer considered necessary to try and include the mysterious elements that tell a story. In perusing the many pages of artists’ lists it becomes apparent that the average person of a century ago was able to read much more into a picture than people of today.”
And finally:
“Holy cards are extremely important to Catholics. Many still carry them for protection or out of loyalty to a patron saint. They are given as remembrances for communions, confirmations, and most commonly, at wakes and funerals. Prayers are put on the back with the name of the deceased, their birth and death dates. Even the least devout save these cards as a tribute. They are used as bookmarks, kept in drawers, carried in wallets, or openly displayed. They contain images that are comforting, disturbing, and extremely powerful in that they trigger strong emotions. Because they are not considered precious works of art but standard everyday objects, holy cards are a wonderful example of folk art pieces that help expand our spiritual lives.”
The concept of reading Holy Cards was new to me. It is intriguing and moving. My youngest two children each have a prayer corner in their rooms and Holy cards play a key role in their space. They were encouraged by the sacramental prep team as then began their first communion journey to create a prayer space, and the Catholic grade school they attended had a prayer corner in each room and one in the entrance for the whole school. I myself have a small box full of prayer cards going back to my own teen years. And I have a small stand on my desk and pull out a different card each day to pray and spend time with that friend in heaven. Over the last many months I have been working to fill the prayer card rack at the back of our church.
Many years ago I was at church at a mass time I did not normally attend; a family was in front of me. The daughter had a prayer card she used in her missal a painting of Jesus, one I did not recognize but that spoke to me. After mass I asked if I could see it as it caught my attention to try and track down a copy. She gave it to me and for a long time I used it in my prayer book daily. I do not recall ever encountering the family again.
Holy cards are encouraging, inspiring and motivational. They are like photos of friends in heaven. And this volume which is part history part reflections and it has 101 cards as specific sections but there are a few cards in the information prior to that.
Overall I was awed and inspired by this volume. And have picked up the other books by the authors that are available as eBooks. There is 1 older volume I will try and track down in a physical edition. I can easily recommend this book and look forward to reading more from the authors.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!
November 8, 2023
Really beautiful
Though these cards are not great works of art, they are beautiful in their simplicity. There are short biographies of the various saints and the book ends with lists of the symbols used in Catholic iconography.
Though these cards are not great works of art, they are beautiful in their simplicity. There are short biographies of the various saints and the book ends with lists of the symbols used in Catholic iconography.
January 23, 2022
Enjoyed it very much. Old holy card pictures and explanations.
August 4, 2025
Very sweet. Had lots of Saints I hadn’t heard about. I like the last three pages best.
October 22, 2007
Since I was a kid, I was mesmorized by the stories of the saints. I wasn't raised Catholic but my entire extended family and pretty much everyone we know is. My mother has this macabre practice of saving the holy cards from every funeral she's ever attended. Some of them were really ornate, gilded, but the art on all of them was beautiful. This book celebrates really old cards...from Europe dating back centuries. You can appreciate the remarkable detail on these. This would make an interesting "coffee table" book...it's mainly full page photographs and illustrations of cards from private collections. I could look at these pages over and over...and still do.
September 10, 2016
I checked this book out from the library hoping that it would explain holy cards to non-Catholic reader, in the same way that
Windows to Heaven
explained Orthodox icons to the non-Orthodox reader. Alas, this was not the case. Instead, it is a coffee table book that collects images of holy cards from the last few centuries and presents them with little explanation. Many of the images are beautiful, but there isn't enough context for the non-Catholic to appreciate them properly.
June 18, 2008
Beautiful pictures with bits of interesting information. This book isn't very scholarly (for example it refers to Mary Magdalene as "an infamous prostitute" p.23), but it does give the reader an idea of the popular myths, legends, and misconceptions that have sprung up around various saints.
April 26, 2012
What fun and what inspiration. What's not to like?
March 21, 2013
One easy read!! Only pics, and the texts just a few lines. But I loved it!
September 1, 2018
Beautiful illustrations and interesting facts. I wish I had a physical copy, rather than the Kindle version, as the electronic illustrations are rather small and don’t do the cards justice.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews