A prayer card is a graphic representation of a scene, character, or concept related to religion. It is common to depict images of saints and martyrs (Saint Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, Saint Jude Thaddeus, Saint Christopher, etc.), scenes from the life of Jesus Christ (Sacred Heart of Jesus, Resurrected Christ, etc.), representations of Marian devotions (Virgin of Mount Carmel, Virgin of Rocío, Virgin of the Forsaken, etc.), images of angels and demons. It can be printed on paper, fabric, or any other material and may take various forms, such as paintings, drawings, engravings, or photographs. Generally, any printed material with a religious theme used for individual devotion is understood as a prayer card or holy card.
Currently, the concept of a prayer card is associated with paper, cardboard, or laminated paper prints in card form. This format of holy cards usually has a primary side that includes a religious image. At the same time, the reverse often contains a prayer, a biblical quote, or text related to the represented figure. These prayer cards are commonly used as objects of personal devotion, reminders of faith, and spiritual protection.
It is common to buy or gift images in relation to the intercession being sought. For example, a prayer card of Saint Jude Thaddeus is typically kept in businesses or companies, as he is the patron saint of business.
Of course, it is also common for people to carry prayer cards of saints or Marian devotions to whom they have special devotion. For example, the Virgin of Rocío, the Virgin of Mount Carmel, etc.
The origin of prayer cards related to religious use is difficult to pinpoint. Various factors complicate determining which were the first prayer cards that early Christians used for private devotion.
The most important reason making it difficult to establish the origin of prayer cards is the very definition or meaning of the term prayer card or holy card. Depending on the definition used, a particular object could be considered the starting point. In this text, prayer cards will be considered as small-sized objects used for individual use that contain some Catholic image or figure.
Another limitation faced by different studies is conservation. That is numerous prayer cards may have been made with perishable materials and have not survived to this day.
Finally, there is the absence of detailed records about these Catholic products. There are barely any formal studies about primitive holy cards.
A prayer card is a graphic representation of scenes, characters, or concepts related to religion. In devotional holy cards, we can see representations of the Virgin Mary, Saints, martyrs, scenes from the life of Jesus Christ, etc.
Nowadays, prayer cards are usually paper or cardboard cards with a religious image and, on the reverse side, a prayer or a biblical quote. They serve as objects of personal devotion and spiritual protection. Some models of prayer cards include metal medals.
It is common to buy or gift prayer cards according to the desired intercession.
