The Bowl People
I love holy cards, and it saddens me to know there are young people out there who do not know what they are. When a Catholic died back in prehistoric days, everyone gathered at the funeral home to say a rosary the night before the funeral Mass. As a way of remembering to pray for them, you were given a holy card with a beautiful religious picture on one side, and a prayer on the back. Usually above the prayer was the person’s name and dates of their birth and death. We kept these cards in our missals and prayed often for them.
Newly ordained priests also gave out holy cards, and cards could be purchased with blank backs, or with just a prayer. I know that new holy cards are available at Catholic bookstores, but often at funerals you will see some awful computer generated “program” for the funeral service. Just a poor folded up piece of paper begging to be thrown away.
Due to distance, my brother handled most of the arrangements for our Dad’s funeral. Even though I was consulted by phone over what he perceived as important, such as the number of limousines (very important for an Italian male), it never occurred to me to ask about holy cards. As a result, my Dad was laid to rest with an ugly, computer-generated program, complete with some New Age poem. He did, however, have three limousines so it balanced out.
A number of years ago, holy cards began showing up on ebay and I started buying them – usually in fairly large batches or “lots.” When the first lot arrived, I noticed some of them were actually vintage cards from a long forgotten funeral, or from an ordination that took place 60 or 70 years ago.
Adopt a Bowl Person
I knew most of these folks had no one left to pray for them, so I placed the cards in a pretty bowl on my prayer table and I pray for them. I will be purchasing more in the near future, so if you would like to adopt one of my bowl people, just email me your address and I will pick out the perfect person for you to adopt. Please note: your information will be private and not given or sold unless I am offered a really, really huge sum of money in which case I will split it with you.
email address: adrienne at icehouse dot net
17 comments:
You're such a softie. Don't kill me for saying that, but you are, and I love your ways.
I have already what I call the "Book People" for whom I pray -- truly, when anyone in my or husband's family died, we inherited the good stuff (holy cards, letters from priests, a Papal blessing, holy relic, certificate of Sacrament.. most of which are kept in the Bible, now) along with the useless stuff (a Brownie camera, transistor radio, a large pink barrette from 1965.. none of which I am able to part with. Surely it'll take the sting out of my passing while my kids shriek more and more, "Why the hell did she keep this??")
What a marvelous idea, to offer the Bowl around. Well, you know what.. please send me one, too. This is what Catholicism is all about. We are one in Him-- it doesn't matter if we know each other or not..we will, one day. We all need prayers, most especially those who depend upon them even more than the living do.
God bless you.
Oh ok - I'm just a big bowl of jello:(
A Brownie camera might be a big seller on ebay (those little guys took great pictures)
Sen me you address - my email is on my Profile page.
I can see the TV listing now
Saturnday 10:00 AM: "Bowling for Souls"
AA -- Oh my gosh. You should have warned me. I just about splorfed my latte all over the screen. LOL
Of 1st importance is that you saved the coffee! Screens can be wiped off. Of second importance is the keyboard, so maybe you need to invest in one of these.
BTW How was I supposed to warn you? I haven't quite got the bilocation trick down, yet...
I did save the coffee and I NEED that keyboard. My office cat drools. It's a sign of love, or some such thing.
You know, you are such a kind Auntie:0) What a beautiful sentiment to pray for someone who my have been forgotten or just did not have anyone to pray for them after their passing. There must be a few angels wiping a tear of emotion from their eyes at such a gesture (not to mention our Lord smiling).
Most definitely! Count me in. I'm sending you my email.
Tom
We actually had a rosary and prayer cards for my dad when he passed away last year. It was nice.
Also, I really do like my fountain pen. I do want to try the cross fountain pen, but there aren't any pen or stationary shops in the area that have displays. I took a gamble buying the LAMY, but after all the solid review I read about it and the price was nice too, I had to get it. I just need to find an ink that I like. I'm using some stuff I picked up at office depot, but it just isn't dark enough for my tastes.
My family's old Bible is chock full of those cards! I used to pull them all out and look at them.
Oh, you have brought back memories from my childhood. My missel was full of prayercards in memoriam of various aunts and my gran who had died. Did that lovely tradition stop?
I think I might start it up here. I have been making saint cards for the children to help them understand who our 'family saints' are. I think I might add prayer cards for our friends and family who have died-I haven't forgotten them, but it would be a lovely way of keeping the prayers going.
See Adrienne-you are an inspiration!
When Rhys decided he wanted to read my Little House on the Prairie books, I found a holy card from when my great-grandfather died. I forgot I had this card as he died when I was about 11. I now have his card next to my rosary so I'll remember to pray for him.
In that same vein, I had some holy cards made up for Rhys' 1st Communion coming up in May. I love the thought that friends and family will keep this card in their bibles or missals and pray for him, even when he's older.
PaulCat = check out bromfieldpenshop.com. They have Private Stock Ink in every color of the rainbow including a very dark black. I'm like you - I want my black ink BLACK.
Looked up LAMY pens -- very nice!
Whitestone - they still have holy or prayer cards at alot of Catholic funerals. The problem is that no one has a missal to put them in. I got lucky and actually found a current Sunday missal at a thrift store for $2.00. It is packed full:)
Katie -- when you pray just say, "Oh yeah, God. Don't forget the folks in the bible."
Tom - you keep giving me credit for being waaaaay nicer than I am. Makes me squirm.
Sign me up!!!!!!
When my Mom died, we tried to get some of the pretty holy cards printed with her funeral information; such as we had for my grandmother's funeral. The mortician told us that he was having trouble getting them anymore, and didn't have any on hand. We ended up with the 23rd Psalm printed on a little folder, which was fine, but it would be nice if you could still get the cards.
I think your bowl idea is very good.
Adrienne, what a completely neat idea.
my hubby has the cards from both his father's and his brother's funerals...
I've never heard of this use of the cards...it's very nice.
Post a Comment