A weird sort of prayer card

[BfloPolska]

When i was a kid my mother used to post these cards all over the house. they would say on one side either just “JESUS” or “MARY” or “MARYJA,” for some came written in Polish; there was just a red or blue border, a prayer on the back and instructions to keep the card on your person or under the pillow or some such thing. I could swear they had the word “imprimatur” on the back too. When I left home it was under such circumstances that I was only able to take along enough clothes to cover my back for a week or so, and these unusual relics had to be left behind. Anyone ever seen these kinds of cards before?

Blessed be,
Polska

 

[Mintaka]

The cards that just say “Jesus” were probably associated with some kind of Holy Name devotion. I think there used to be devotions directed at Mary’s name, too. (Sorta like there’s devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, but also some folks interested in Mary’s heart pierced with swords.)

A lot of Holy Name devotees used to put Jesus’ name under their mattresses and stuff like that, as a sign of trust in Christ’s protection.

But all this is just a guess.

 

[BfloPolska]

The cards that just say “Jesus” were probably associated with some kind of Holy Name devotion. I think there used to be devotions directed at Mary’s name, too. (Sorta like there’s devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, but also some folks interested in Mary’s heart pierced with swords.)

Thank you…I have been busting my onions looking for one of these, and people have no clue what I’m talking about. The ones of my mother were quite old, and since she had brought some from Poland I’m figuring they went back to at least the 1950’s if not earlier. She was a big believer in meditation on the names of Jesus and Mary, almost in mantra-fashion.

Blessed be,
Polska