Antique French Catholic Altar Card – Double-Sided Latin Liturgical Prayers & French Divine Praises (c. 1900)
A beautiful piece of ecclesiastical history, this authentic double-sided antique Catholic altar card (carton d'autel) was sourced directly from France. Measuring approximately 11.2" x 8.2", this card serves as a remarkable testament to late 19th or early 20th-century liturgical practices.
Altar cards were placed on the high altar during the Traditional Latin Mass as a quick reference for the celebrant priest, ensuring sacred prayers could be recited seamlessly without flipping through the heavy Roman Missal.
This card is printed with classic ecclesiastical typography, featuring striking red and black ink rubrics and beautiful decorative initial drop caps.
- Side 1 (Preces): Contains the Latin prayers traditionally recited at the foot of the altar after a Low Mass. This includes the Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen), the formal Oratio, and the famous Leonine Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel (Sancte Michaël Archángele). The bottom portion features the Post Aspersionem prayers used during the sprinkling of holy water.
- Side 2 (Benedictio): Features the Benedictio Panis (Blessing of Bread) and prayers Pro Benedictione SS. Sacramenti (For Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament). Crucially identifying its regional origin, the lower third features Les Louanges Divines (The Divine Praises) printed entirely in French ("Dieu soit béni! Béni soit son saint Nom..."), historically recited to atone for blasphemy.
This is a genuine antique ecclesiastical item with authentic age-related character. It shows a lovely, warm sepia patina and light, honest surface wear from decades of parish use. The edges show gentle softening, adding to its historic charm. No major tears or structural splits. Perfect for collectors of religious antiquities, traditional Catholic artifacts, or unique European ephemera. It displays beautifully framed on a home altar, nestled into a bookshelf vignette, or arranged as a conversation piece on a mantle.
Item Details
- Dimensions: 11.2 inches x 8.2 inches (approx. 28.5 cm x 21 cm)
- Origin: Sourced in France
- Language: Latin and French
- Material: Heavy cardboard stock with a decorative red border and a beautiful ornamental frame.
- Era: Circa 1900 (features historical print references to papal decrees from Pope Leo XIII and Pope Pius X).
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