Laminated pack: contains 25 cards.
Paper pack: contains 50 cards.

Share your faith with this beautiful holy card! The 2.5"x4.25" holy card features a stunning image of Mater Ecclesiae - Original Unrestored with a quote on the back.

These holy cards of the unrestored fresco of Our Lady of the Column, Mother of the Church come laminated or unlaminated. In them, Jesus sits on Mary’s lap, both smiling. Her weathered look serves as a reminder of her persevering help to Christians throughout the centuries.

This fresco of the Madonna and Child, twice crowned, first as “Our Lady of the Column” in 1645, then as “Mater Ecclesiae” (Mother of the Church) in 1964, had humble beginnings. She was unnamed and painted by an unknown artist between the 15th and 16th centuries upon one of the original marble columns at St. Peter’s Basilica, laid down by Constantine in the 4th century. By this point, the basilica was over 1000 years old and falling apart. So the column was taken down, keeping only the section with the fresco. It was installed above the left side altar, which was redesigned in 1607 by Giacomo Della Porta, where it remains today. Beneath her lays a sarcophagus with the remains of Popes Leo the II, III, and IV along with images of Our Lord and His twelve apostles. Symbolically, this represents her motherhood over the universal church, head and body, unto the ends of the earth.

Text:
Under your mantle,
O Mother of the Church,
O Model of all Christians,
your children on earth seek your
intercession and implore your mercy.
Inspire your sons, the clergy--
all deacons, priests, bishops,
cardinals, patriarchs, and our Holy Father--
to obey your Son and spread His Gospel
with firm conviction, loyalty to truth,
and unfailing love above all things.

Guide your children, the lay faithful,
as they carry the light of Christ
to the ends of the Earth: the great halls,
the small places, wherever life is lives.

O Mother of Saints,
O Refuge of Sinners,
lead us home at last to your
Church Triumphant where you
reign as Queen of Angels
and Queen of Heaven.

Amen.

IMPRIMATUR: +Most Reverend Jeffrey M. Monforton,
Bishop of Steubenville

( HC-4093 )