Holy cards are a fabulous resource for liturgical living that are often overlooked. My kids love them, so I thought I’d share a bit about why.
This post contains affiliate links. Please see the about page for more information.
Why We Love Holy Cards
Holy cards are ubiquitous items.
If you’re anything like me, you likely have quite a collection already, and they are probably in a drawer some where. I love using items we already have- it saves a lot of time and money .
Holy Cards are Inexpensive
You can get many for free at welcoming spaces and tables in most parishes. They’re included in mailers from Churches and Shrines. You can find them on Amazon in large packets. This makes them a great choice for kids. While we encourage our kids to treat their possessions with care, I’m also realistic. Even when they are attempting to be careful and gentle, kids can be rough on things. Holy cards are a Catholic item I can let my kids have and hold and play with without worrying about it if they are bent or torn in the process.
They are Designed to Teach
Once upon a time, most people, adults included, were not literate. So the Church began teaching through images- each saint has a typical iconography, a way that he or she is always pictured. Saint Clare holds a monstrance. St. Francis has a wolf by his side. St. Therese holds roses.
The objects depicted with a saint help to tell their story. This makes a holy card a perfect jumping off point for teaching your child about the life of a saint and also for helping them learn to recognize the saint when they seem him or her.
How We Use Holy Cards
- A set on a binder clip makes for a perfect addition to a mass bag. It’s always a favorite item for my kids. I use the set I linked to above for this so they’re all the same size.
- Include them in your child’s prayer space: My kids all have a little alcove of our library to call their own with books and holy cards to look at when they have prayer or quiet time.
- Send them in the mail! My kids love to mail cards to friends and family, and we often include a holy card with the mail. It’s a fun addition and let’s our family know that we’re praying for them. The kids also love to choose which saint to send, and it’s always fun to hear why.
Where We Find Our Favorites
We often pick up holy cards at different parishes we visit, but most of the holy cards my kids cherish are available as digital downloads. I like this option best because it lets me print as many copies as I need, so we can share, send, and replace ones that get crumpled by an unruly toddler.
Here are some of my favorite printable holy cards:
- My Little Patron has 3 different sets of holy cards. These are G’s absolute favorites and are super adorable. Also, Aleesa just updated them so the newest set includes Bl. Carlo Acuto!
- Catholic All Year Rosary Holy Cards are helpful for children learning the prayers of the rosary. They’re also beautiful!
- Saints Trading Cards from Catholic Paper Goods are a fun twist on classic item. Designed like baseball cards, these printables include the basic biographical information of the saint in addition to beautiful images.
As an added bonus, the Saints Trading Cards and Rosary cards are included in this year’s Advent Mom Bundle, which is available this week. There’s also an awesome Advent set from My Little Patron included as well, which my kids love using every year.