Monday, June 01, 2009
Holy Cards
I spent much of yesterday organizing the many religious pictures on my computer into folders. It turns out that I have quite a few images! I made a folder for all the holy cards I found, for which I have no information, and am asking you, the reader, if you have any information on these cards. Here are just three of the cards from the folder. Take a good look at each of them and tell us what you know about them in the combox.
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13 comments:
The last one is a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the declaration of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of our Lady by Pope Pius IX. The writing on the top of the card in question is in Italian and denotes the commemoration. I hope this helps!
Thank you, anon! It does help! My plan is to retitle these in my inventory with the information gleaned here.
If the second postcard has, as I think on the back, AS followed by a number then it comes from a series of postcards issued in Italy for the Holy Year 1950.
As a PC collector I have numbers 1,2,5,6,7,9,10 and 11 and yours would appear to be one of the missing numbers. There were probably 12 in the set.
Pelerin, thanks so much for that information! This is very helpful.
I love this type of mystery. It’s a chance to learn more about our awesome faith.
The 1st holy card had to do with Constantine the Great, the son of St Helena.
He was given a vision of a cross in the sky, with the words, "In This Sign Conquer."
The cross and these words were put on all the battle flags of the papal Roman Empire.
Constantine would defeat all his enemies and take over Rome and become the 1st Christian Emperor
His mother, in her late 70s, then launched an expedition to Jerusalem and found the Cross of the Crucifixion, which we celebrate on Sept 14, feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The 3rd one is as Pelerin wrote.
The 2nd one has me stumped but there are lots of clues in it, so I'm going to see what I can find.
Fun, Fun, Fun.
-Elizabeth
From the clues, I think the 2nd one has to do with a holy year. It would be interesting if someone could explain each of the clues or symbolism in it. I can guess but since it's just guessing, I don't want to risk putting down. However, it is the following quote that makes me feel pretty confident it is to do with the 1950Holy Year or Jubilee.
"In 1950, a few years after World War II, Pius XII called the Holy Year with the following indications: the sanctification of souls through prayer and penance and unfailing faith in Christ and the Church; action for peace and protection of the Holy Places; defence of the Church against constant attacks by her enemies; prayers for the gift of faith for those in error, and for unbelievers; the promotion of social justice and assistance of the poor and needy. It was during this year that the Pope defined the Assumption into Heaven of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as a dogma of the Catholic faith. (November 1st, 1950)."
http://www.vatican.va/jubilee_2000/docs/documents/ju_documents_17-feb-1997_history_en.html
-Elizabeth
Elizabeth, thanks very much for that information on Constantine. His mother, St. Helena is my patron saint.
I would love to find out more about the second card, if anyone knows the symbolism there.
To enlarge the cards for a better view, just click on them.
The pope pictured in the second card is that roaring lion of two-fisted cool, Pius XII. We have the Holy Trinity in the upper left, and the Blessed Mother in the upper right. Below the rainbow is St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica. As someone noted, 1950 was a Holy Year, and on November 1, 1950, Pius XII published Munificentissimus Deus, in which he defined the dogma of the Assumption.
If I had to take a wild stab, I'd say that the whole arrangement is a reference to Psalm 87, which begins:
On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
the LORD loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
Glorious things are spoken of you,
O city of God.
If I mistake not, these verses refer not only to the Church but also to the Blessed Mother.
Anita thanks for your thoughts on that card. I wonder what the rainbow coming out of the mountain signifies. Notice there is a river flowing down the mountain. And it looks like some kind of a castle turret on the mountain where the rainbow starts.
Whay you see as a "some kind of a castle turret on the mountain where the rainbow starts." I see it as the 3 crosses.
If it is crosses, I would think the water coming from it would be"living water". I can't think of what psalm has the line, about a deer runs to the living water. The Cross is living water.
The rainbow, I think might signify, the Church will never be destroyed.
I'm guessing the rays coming down from Mary, might have to do that all graces bestowed on the Church and the world are from the Trinity but come through Mary.
Are my eyes playing tricks, or is there a circle, that looks like a host, at the gates of St peter's square? If so, could it be tied to the living water. The Church holds both the food and water of life?
I have a large holy card collection but I don't think Ihave any that have this much symbolism in it. This one is a beauty. Thanks for sharing with us.
Elizabeth
I received the following information via email today, regarding the second holy card of Pope Pius Xll:
Regarding your holy card post, I think the holy card of Pope Pius XII shows a reference to his
encyclical Haurietis aquas [You shall draw waters - hence
the river in the holy card].
The hold card also clearly mentions that it is for the Holy Year 1950. Hence we see many pilgrims coming to the Vatican. The other images on the card may be to highlight aspects of his
pontificate.
The little blue image on the bottom right of his picture is his coat of arms.There was also a link to a rare book titled "Memories of Pius Xll", which I have ordered and should receive in June.
Anita, have you read that book yet?
Yes it is definitely three crosses on the hill and they are also depicted on at least three other cards in the series. (nos 5, 10 and 11).
No 11 has what I took to be a shaft of light coming down from the three crosses reaching to St Peter's Basilica.
No 1 also has a rainbow.
No 9 has 7 shafts of light/water? emanating from one Crucifix placed above St Peter's. In front are seven long rows of sheep (the faithful perhaps?) echoing the light/water, streaming into the Basilica.
The series appears to have been illustrated by someone called Zandrino. There was a postcard artist named Adelina Zandrino who did do religious subjects although the signature does not match the official ones for the artist. She could have used others or it could have been someone sharing her name.
PG, I haven't read that one. I'll tell you about a treasure I found in a used book store: Crown of Glory: The Life of Pope Pius XII, by Aldon Hatch and Seamus Walsh. This was published during the Pope's lifetime, and is a very sympathetic portrayal of both the Pope and the Church -- written by a PROTESTANT. Lots of photos, very easy read.
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