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Monday, June 29, 2009

In this collection I will gather images that portray the Savior in early holy cards. The small topical collections are listed to the right. Many are deeply relevant symbols, such as the Sacred Heart, Living Water, Good Shepherd, Lamb of God, etc. Each communicates a facet of His beauty.

The image accompanying this introduction is not an old holy card; it's a print of an ancient icon that I found in a greeting card shop when I was a girl in college. Not long ago I found that it was possibly based on the Shroud of Turin. I've loved it ever since I brought it home.

St. Teresa of Avila wrote in Way of Perfection that she found it helpful to begin her time of prayer by holding an image of the Savior. Orthodox Christians pray before icons, looking deeply into the eyes of the Savior, the Mother of God, or one of the saints.

"I often consider, my Christ, how pleasing and delightful your eyes are to one who loves You." was the way St. Teresa put it. She was alway clear: to the Christian there is no higher beauty in heaven or on the earth than the Face of God - the face of Jesus Christ, the Word Incarnate.

Below are two presentations of Kyrie Eleison,
a prayer universally addressed to Jesus Christ:
The first is from the Western Christian Traditon,
the second from the Eastern Christian Tradition.

Kyrie Eleison Gregorian Chant

Kyrie Eleison Greek Orthodox