New! Our Lady of Succor Holy Card – Halloween Holy Card – Prayer to the BVM – pack of 10/100/1000

Our Lady of Succor (pronounced like the word 'sucker', which I think is why the word is almost never used in English anymore) means Our Lady of Help, which might be a better name for her in English. In Italian, she was also called Madonna della Mazza, in English as “Our Lady of the Club.”

It was a popular devotion to Mary back around 1500, and under that name they made a lot of paintings of her with a big stick, like this one, where she is about to smash some devil in the face for trying to steal one of her children. I like the image. I like the idea. She of course is too gentle a being to use such brute violence, but do not mistake her as one that doesn't have the power.

We love this prayer from the Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the back.

From the Psalter of the BVM

“Our foolish enemy hath said in his

heart: I will follow after and take

him, and my hand shall slay him.

Arise, O Lady, and prevent him,

and, supplant him: destroy

all his machinations.

Thy beauty astonishes the sun and

the moon; the angelic powers

serve and obey thee.

By thy gentle touch the sick are

healed: by thy rose-sweet fragrance

the dead revive.

Virgin Mother of God, He whom

the whole world cannot contain

was enclosed within thee,

being made Man.”

Let your mind be at ease. The Blessed Mother has your back. We're introducing this card at Halloween, to show Mary smacking the devil, (she's smacking him out of Halloween!) but there are devils all year long she will protect you and your family and friends from.

Madonna del Soccorso or Madonna della Mazza. Italian, circa 1500. Artist unknown. I think it's a fresco, but I can't pin it down. It might be a tempera on canvas. The internet says it was a devotion especially popular in Umbria, particularly in Augustinian circles. Of all the club pictures, this was our favorite. (source: www.regione.marche.it)

2.75x4.25 inches

Sturdy 14 point cardstock.

Matte finish to help keep fingerprints off.

Crystal clear plastic sleeves available.

Thank you for your interest.

Sue and John Johnson

St. Mary's Parish, Lincoln, Nebraska

"In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art." St. Pope John Paull II, in his "Letter to Artists," 1999.

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