To Julie Ann Brown, they are "visual scriptures, visual faith." Brown collects holy cards, simple expressions of faith that have been popular in the Roman Catholic Church for hundreds of years ...

The crucifix. A holy card. A painting of the Blessed Mother. My Catholic heart is comforted when seeing Christ upon the cross, especially amid a particularly hectic day; a saint’s visage on a ...

Holy cards are one of the most enduring, most endearing facets of Catholic devotional life. Like family photographs they are tangible reminders of people we love. Nuns and priests, once great ...

The oldest surviving holy card is said to be a 1423 woodcut print from Germany depicting the 3rd-century martyr Saint Christopher, but the practice of using holy cards specifically as funeral ...

Though the primary focus is on those that depict Mary in the artwork, some of the cards depict saints, Jesus and other religious figures. The collections also feature cards styled in a French form of ...

Early examples of holy cards might be printed on silk or colored by hand. Some can look a bit like the fanciest Valentine’s Day card , with lace borders and room for personal messages.

The Shrine of All Saints at St. Martha Church in Morton Grove has 3,100 Catholic holy relics and added ones from St. Luke, author of a gospel, and St. Juan Diego.

In Catholic tradition, the entire month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. This month-long observance is largely due to the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, celebrated on October 7 ...

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis will create 14 new saints on Sunday (Oct. 20) who have in common a calling to spread the gospel and a special devotion to the Holy Spirit, the key themes of a ...