Gerard Majella was born in a modest family in Muro Lucano, Potenza, in 1726. His father was a tailor and died early, leaving him with his mother, a pious woman who imparted him the awareness of the love of God for all the creation.

For some time as a young boy, Gerard worked for the bishop of Lacedonia, Claudio Albini, a despotic and authoritative man, but the boy was able to learn to know and appreciate him. About Gerard, people used to say that he was a bit eccentric, had no skills, no talents, and doomed to fail at any job he would do.

Saint Gerard and the religious call

Anyway, Gerard heard the religious call since he was young, which pushed him to find his way in the world. At the beginning, he tried to enter the convent of the Capuchin Friars in his town, but his delicate health pushed the friars to reject his request. Refusing to be discouraged, in 1748 Gerard met a group of redeemer priests.

They belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer also known as the Redemptorists, founded in 1732 by Saint Alphonsus Liguori, whose mission was missionary evangelization. The Redemptorists wished for the mystery of redemption and merciful salvation of God in Jesus, and lived imitating Jesus and his disciples. Gerard joined them, and to do so, he ran away from home and sneaked out of the window with a rope made of sheets. He left a note to his mother: “Mother, forgive me, I am going to become a saint.“

Gerard insisted for a long time because of the fear that a certain lifestyle would be too risky for his fragile health; he finally made it into the Congregation and on July 16 1752, feast of the Most Holy Redeemer, he pronounced his solemn vows. He began moving from convent to convent as useless Brother and engaged in various works: gardener, sexton, door attendant, cook, and stable cleaner. He showed a joyful spirit and a tireless will, besides obedience, mortification and devotion. He gave all he had to the poor with joy and love, and people everywhere began loving him. He faced life with bravery, patience and endurance, even when he was unjustly accused of conducting an illicit relationship with a girl (the accuser herself will set him free later) and when tuberculosis forced him into bed. On the door of his cell, he had the writing: “Here the will of God is done, as God wills, and as long as God wills.”

He died in 1755 at only 29 and after only a few years of religious life, but those years were enough to make him beatified by Pope Lion XIII in 1893 and sanctified by Pope Pious X in 1904. Saint Gerard Majella became soon the patron of pregnant women and children. His existence was shaped on obedience, humiliation and hard work, on the will to live in Christ and for Christ, doing His will every day and with joy. Those who knew him told about inexplicable healings happened thanks to him, and soon he was famous as a thaumaturge, healer of body and soul.

In Materdomini, fraction of Caposele, Avellino, there is the sanctuary of Saint Gerard Majella, also dedicated to Maria SS. Mater Domini. The sanctuary rises up in place that is famous for the apparitions of Mary during the Middle Age. After Saint Gerard Majella died on October 16 1755 in the College of the Redemptorists Father next to the chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it was decided to associate the cult of the Saint to the cult of Mater Domini.

The Saint is celebrated on October 16, day of his death.

Miracles of Saint Gerard

Since he was a child, Saint Gerard loved to find shelter in places of cult. One was particularly dear to him, the Chapel of the Virgin in Capodigiano. Gerard said that in that place the son of a mysterious beautiful Lady used to give him a piece of white bread, leaving his mother to go meet him. Once the saint was grown up, he will understand that the boy was Jesus.

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Plaster Statues

Statues made of plaster by an Italian craftsman

Gerard began following the solemnity of liturgical bread and consecrated hosts straight away. When he was eight, he tried to obtain the First Communion, even though he was still too young for that. The priest denied it, but the boy said that the following night he received the visit of Saint Michael Archangel, who went to him to offer him the Eucharist he longed so much.

Another miracle happened when the Saint was still very young was the burning hay barn. At that time Gerard, who lost his father short before, worked as an apprentice in the workshop of a tailor, Martino Pannuto; there, the other apprentices constantly persecuted him. One night a hay barn burst into flames and Gerard, who was inside with the young child of his employer, crossed himself and muttered a prayer. The flames ceased immediately.

During the three years he spent as worker for Monsignor Claudio Albini, Bishop of Lacedonia, Gerard suffered from mortifications and punishments that the strict prelate used to inflict him for any lack he might show. One day, while he was fetching some water from a well, the keys of his master’s house fell into the well. Instead of getting upset for the punishments he could face, the boy ran to the nearer church, took a statuette of Baby Jesus and lowered it into the well. When he took it back up, the statuette was holding the lost keys in its fist.

Before fleeing with the Redemptorists priests, while he was working as a tailor, Gerard used to go talk to Jesus before the tabernacle very often. The sweet nickname he addressed the Savior was nutty, for he chose to stay locked in that tight place for the love of humankind.

He was encouraged by his fellow citizens to find a woman to marry, so he jumped on the platform for the parade on the third Sunday of May, and put a ring on the Virgin Mary’s finger. By doing so, he showed his will to consecrate himself to her with a vow of chastity. Sometime later, though, a girl named Nerea Caggiano, whom he’d helped when she was in need, accused him of having an illicit relationship with Nicoletta Cappucci, seduced and abandoned by a troublemaker noble man. Nerea publicly accused Gerard even before Alfonso Maria de Liguori. Summoned by his superiors and invited to clear his name, the young man did not speak. He silently accepted the accusations and punishments given to him, which included not being able to receive the Eucharist and being isolated. Gerard behaved so in order to be faithful to the rule that imposed him to suffer any mortification in silence. Shocked by his modesty and acceptance of God’s Will, later Nerea converted and cleared his name.

Gerard was also famous as discerner of hearts, able to find the good hidden in the souls of those above suspicion, as it happened with the game warden of the Duke of Bovino: he beat the saint to death, and he endured the massacre without saying a word. Later, the warden regretted his actions and followed him to the convent to begin a new life.
Even a well-known sinner, who was unable to change his life and give up the pleasures of flesh, was convinced when he saw Gerard lifting up a crucifix that began bleeding and then turned into Baby Jesus.

Many and varied were Saint Gerard’s miracles. Here, we want to tell the one of the handkerchief of Saint Gerard Majella, which made the saint become patron of pregnant women and children.

It is said that while the young man was in Oliveto Citra for health reasons, he went to meet the Pirofalo family. While he was leaving, the youngest of the daughters ran after him to give him back the handkerchief he forgot. He smiled to her and told her to keep it, that one day she might need it.

Many years later, the girl became a woman and was having a risky delivery. Remembering Gerard’s words, she asked for the handkerchief he gave her. The women with her laid it on her belly, the pain stopped and she gave birth to a healthy infant. Since then, pregnant women invoke Saint Gerard and the sanctuary of Materdomini is blooming with colorful bows that recall the pregnancies that ended well thanks to his protection.

Prayer to saint Gerard Majella

Every year on October 16, at the sanctuary of Materdomini, people recite the act of entrustment of women and children to the Virgin Mary and Saint Gerard. We propose it here, reminding you that there is also a novena dedicated to him.

O Mary, Virgin and Mother of God, who chose this sanctuary to grant favors together with your faithful servant Gerardo Maiella, (on this day dedicated to life,) we turn to you with confidence and invoke upon us your maternal protection. To you, O Mary, who accepted the Lord of life, we entrust the mothers and their spouses so that in welcoming life they may be the first witnesses of faith and love. To you, Gerard, the heavenly patron saint of life, we entrust all mothers and especially the fruit they bear in their womb, so that you may always be close to them through your powerful intercession. To you, attentive and caring Mother of Christ your Son, we entrust our children to grow up like Jesus in age, wisdom and grace.  To you, Gerard, the heavenly protector of children, we entrust our children so that you may always guard them and defend them from the dangers of body and soul. To you, Mother of the Church, we entrust our families with their joys and sorrows so that every house may become a small domestic Church, where faith and harmony reign. To you, Gerard, defender of life, we entrust our families so that with your help they may be a model of prayer, love and hard work and may always be open to welcome and solidarity. Finally, to you, Virgin Mary, and to you, glorious Gerard, we entrust the Church and Civil Society, the world of work, young people, the elderly and the sick, and all those who promote your worship so that, united to Christ, Lord of life, they may rediscover the true meaning of work as a service to human life, as a witness of charity and as a proclamation of God’s love for every person. Amen.

O glorious Saint Gerard, who saw the living image of Mary in every woman, the wife and mother of God, and you wanted her, with your intense apostolate, up to her mission, bless me and all the mothers of the world.

Make us strong to keep our families united; help us in the difficult task of educating our children in a Christian way; give our husbands the courage of faith and love, so that, following your example and comforted by your help, we can be an instrument of Jesus to make the world more just and good.

In particular, help us with illnesses, pain and any need; or at least give us the strength to accept everything Christianally, so that we too can be the image of Jesus crucified as you were.
Give our families joy, peace and love of God.

O Lord Jesus, who was born of the Virgin Mary,
– protect and bless our children.
You, who were obedient to your mother Mary,
– protect and bless our children.
You, who sanctified childhood,
– protect and bless our children.
You, who suffered from poverty when you were a child,
– protect and bless our children.
You, who have suffered persecution and exile,
– protect and bless our children.
You, who welcomed and loved children,
– protect and bless our children.
You, who gave them a new life in baptism,
– protect and bless our children.
You, who give yourself to them as food in the Holy Communion,
– protect and bless our children.
You, who have loved St. Gerard from an early age,
– protect and bless our children.
You, who played with the young Gerard,
– protect and bless our children.
You, who brought him white bread,
– protect and bless our children.
In sickness and in suffering.
– protect and bless our children.
In hard times and dangers.
– protect and bless our children.

We pray.
Ord Jesus Christ, hear our prayers for these children,
bless them in your love and guard them with your constant protection,
so that they may grow in Christianity and come to give you full witness
with free and sincere faith, with fervent charity and with persevering hope in the coming of your kingdom.
You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

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At the beginning, the scapular was a strip of cloth worn thanks to an opening for the head. That way, the two pieces of cloth were hanging down on the chest and on the back.  It was used by many religious orders, such as the Benedictines, the Dominicans and the Carmelites. It covered shoulders and stomach and was used as a work garment in order to preserve the tunic underneath. Some orders adopted a hood as well, integral part of the scapular. With time, the scapular became longer and longer, turning into a strip of cloth until the feet.

The Carmelite order

Besides the original practical scope of protection, the scapular is also a devotional object. In particular, the Carmelite order made it a visible sign of their Marian devotion. The members of the Order wear the scapular during the processions dedicated to the Virgin Mary of Monte Carmelo, and during the pilgrimage from one altar to the other on Holy Thursday.

A legend says that in 1251, when the Order of Carmelo (which moved from the Holy Land to Europe) was not recognized and suffered from persecutions from any side, the Prior general Saint Simon Stock asked the Virgin Mary for help. In order to do that, he dedicated the hymn Flos Carmeli to her. The Virgin listened to his heartfelt and poetic plea, and showed herself to him bringing him a scapular as a sign of love and friendship for him and his Order. The Virgin Mary herself stated that those who died wearing the scapular would never know the pain of hell, because that was a sign of salvation, protection and support. A symbol of peace and alliance between men and Heaven.

In his Bulla Sabatina (1322), John XXII stated that the use of the scapular guaranteed the shortening of the pains in the Purgatory. Since the Bulla Sabatina, the devotion towards the scapular spread widely.

In 1908, the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences confirmed the benefits guaranteed to those who wore this devotional sign.

A bulla dated February 11 1950 by Pius XII recognized the value of the scapular among Marian devotions, inviting everyone, whether religious or lay, to wear it.
In 2001, John Paul II said that he had been wearing the Scapular of the Carmine upon his heart for a long time.

The scapular is known today also as ‘abitino’ (small dress). A reduced version was created for lay faithful. It is made of two brown squares of cloth kept together by cords. The image of Our Lady of Carmelo is on one side, the Heart of Jesus on the other side. It is a miniature of the Carmelite robe, and is usually made of canvas. Those who wear the scapular enters the Carmelite family and consecrate themselves to Mary. The scapular is then a visible sign of the alliance with Mary.

Pope Pius XII established that the scapular could be replaced with a medal. This medal preserves the meaning and value of the classical scapular, as long as the first time it is worn it receives the same imposition the scapular itself received. Such imposition must be given by a priest and accompanied by a special prayer.

Today we can find jewel-scapulars in stores, made of wood and metal, often silver, decorated with rhinestones or made of fabric. They can be worn as jewels, and that makes them even more accessible to all those faithful who wish to express their devotion to Mary and their will to embrace the spiritual and life principles of the Order of Carmelo:

• Consider God at the first place in our life and always execute His will;
• Listen to the Word of God in the Bible and put it into practice every day;
• Look for the communion with God through the prayer;
• Show mercy and participation to the sufferings of our neighbor and help those in need as much as possible;
• Regularly receive the sacraments.

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Scapulars

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About the possibility to wear a scapular-shaped jewel, some time ago we published an article about religious jewels, and on how important it is to know their meaning well before wearing them. We cannot wear a religious jewel just for fashion, although many fashion designers carelessly propose crucifixes, rosaries, medals dedicated to Mary or the Saints, as if they were simple glamour ornaments. When we wear religious jewels, it is very important that we think of the meaning we give them, which makes the difference (often very thin) between sacred and profane.

In particular, wearing a jewel-scapular can be a gesture of great devotion and a support in everyday life for our own spiritual salvation. The scapular is not a pass for Heaven though! It is not enough to wear it to be granted salvation, but, as it is in such cases, it is our mental attitude that counts, the way we approach things. The faith of those wearing it determine its efficiency, the way we carry out our everyday life, our morality, our mercy. Those who expect salvation must behave in a worthy way.

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There are times when we would like to express our support to someone who is going through a hard time or is about to begin a new important experience. A new job, a journey or a new home.

Or maybe, we would like someone dear to think of us every time they look at a particular object, even a small one and of common use, but which is able to remind them of our love at any moment.

We are not talking of big events, important and solemn gifts, which can be of course very expensive. What we have in mind are small thoughts turned into objects, the materialization of a good wish, hope and love message.

Holyart offers a nice and greatly versatile solution, which is perfect for all those times we would like to give someone something small, but we really don’t know what to look for: religious key chains.

What can be more simple yet useful and necessary? We all have keys nowadays: house keys, car keys, work keys. They get lost inside too big bags very often, or even worse, they can be lost due to their small size. A key chain can be the perfect solution to such problem. A key chain does not only hold our keys in place, or even contains them, but makes them easily localizable in our bags, pockets or homes.

Of course, there are many types of key chains.

Holyart offers you a wide variety of religious key chains. That’s right, our key chains are embellished with sacred images, small crosses, angels wings, even rosary decades, so that we can always carry a little help for our prayers with us, besides being a practical container for our keys! Holyart religious key chains are made in Italy, according to the highest quality standards and by specialized companies and skilled artisans.  In our catalog, you will find key chains made of wood, especially olive tree, silver plated metal, leather, and decorated with holy images, but also small, elegant and modern decorations. Because spirituality does not have to ignore fashion.
More, among Holyart religious key chains you fill find leather key chains-rosary cases, so that you can always carry your rosary with you.

Holyart religious key chains are so beautiful and well-crafted that many choose to use them as party favors for Confirmation and as small memories to give to relatives and friends on special occasions.

How to choose the perfect religious key chain for the different occasions.

We propose 5 ideas that can match 5 different occasions. The rest is left to your fantasy and desire to surprise or just elicit a smile on those you love!

1. Key chain shaped as a Franciscan sandal
   This key chain is handmade by a small Italian company, leader in the leatherworking; it’s the perfect gift for someone dear who is about to leave for a journey, on a pilgrimage, or on a spiritual trip such as to Medjugorje, Lourdes or the Route to Compostela. Our key chain will be a cute gift for those who are about to set out on their journey, so that they can find out something new about themselves, or feel closer to God. The shape itself of this key chain, a small, nice Franciscan sandal, recalls the idea of walk, a real walk, but most of all, a walk of faith. The sandal-shaped key chain is 100% Made in Italy.
2. Real leather key chain with image
   This key chain with six practical hooks is particularly indicated for distracted people or for those who have many keys. In fact, its six hooks can hold many keys in one practical, protected and compact solution. It is indicated for grandmothers and grandfathers. It is handmade with real leather by a small specialized Italian company, and is decorated with an image of Merciful Jesus or the Virgin Mary, which makes it even more special. The small image is inserted in a small plaque fixed outside, on the lower right.
3. Rosary Case Key Chain
   This rosary case-key chain is an example of how key chains can become the perfect idea for party favors for Confirmation. These cute handmade leather bags can contain rosaries with wooden or metal beads of max 4 mm. An automatic button guarantees a discreet and perfect closure. The rosary case-key chains are decorated with a small Marian image, hot stamped in gold. They are also available in different colors: beige, red, blue, dark brown, black, cream white.
   The pro of these beautiful rosary case-key chains is that if you order more than 300 pieces, you can replace the writing ‘Ave Maria’ with the name of your parish, sanctuary, association, movement, or a sentence that recalls a special event or occasion. Just like a First Communion or a Christening indeed.
4. Key chain made of zamak with image of the Holy Family
   This cute key chain is made of zamak, a cheap and practical alloy of resistant zinc. The key chain is embellished with an image of the Holy Family. It can be a nice gift for a friend or an acquaintance who just bought a new house, or for a new family, as a wish of serenity.
5. Key chain with Confirmation images
   This beautiful key chain is made of steel, and was designed as a party favor for Confirmation. It is decorated with a small plaque representing the symbols of the sacrament of Confirmation. Available in two shapes, oval or rectangular, this party favor-key chain will be a perfect and elegant memory for such a big event.

Franciscan sandals keychain in real leather
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Key case in leather with 6 hooks, Jesus image
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Key case in leather with 6 hooks, Jesus image
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Keyring in metal with symbols of the Confirmation
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Zamak Keychain with Holy Family
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Murano is one of the most populated town in the seven islands of the Venetian Lagoon. Its islands are situated along the Marani Channel, divided by channels and connected with bridges. The whole area is part of the Venice municipality, and in particular the Venice-Murano-Burano municipality. The particularity of Murano has been the artisanal glassmaking for centuries, famous and renowned all over the world.

History of the glassmaking art in Murano

The Venetian glassmaking art was probably originated by the Roman art of the Upper Adriatic. Since ancient times, that area was the stage of commercial trade between the Western and the Eastern coasts of the Mediterranean. Already in remote times, glass was one of the most precious materials among the many treasures coming from the East. The Venetian glassblowers learned the use of the sodium tempered glass from the Eastern people, which is particularly suited for hot works. What is actually only Venetian is the intuition of the endless artistic possibilities of that malleable material, which can be easily colored and the colors last over time. They added the aesthetic taste and artistic sensitivity to that, developing an unrivaled glassmaking art since the early medieval age. In particular, Murano glassmakers have dominated the market in this activity since the XIII century. The State of Venice, in order to prevent fires, decided to concentrate the glassmakers in this area.

Given the particular structure of the Venetian Lagoon, it was necessary to import all materials from the beginning, that is wood, vitrifying silicium and soda for flux. The inhabitants of Murano made their technical and artistic skills available for the purpose.

Since the Renaissance, Murano glassmakers were commissioned any type of objects, which were destined to embellish the palaces of all Europe, and not only. In 1400, the objects produced here were only for artistic-aesthetic purposes. In 1450, the invention of crystal boosted Murano glassmaking even further, and the request for glass objects grew dramatically. Specialized painters worked on crystal glass and experimented fusible colored varnish. Crystal glass was in fact blown transparent and colored afterwards or left natural. Its lightness and fragility required lighter decorations, with varnish or gilded dots, and great mastery.

In the sixteenth century, Murano glassmakers began decorating glass by carving it with diamond or flint points, and began producing ice glass, which looks cracked on the outside.
In the same century, the first glass decorated with pens appeared, where the milk-glass was enveloped with ‘combed’ threads in festoon patterns thanks to a special tool.

At the end of the XVI century, three thousand out of the seven thousand inhabitants of the Murano island were glassblowers. This monopoly brought them many financial and social benefits. For example, they were allowed to carry swords and could benefit from some immunity, but for a long time they were not allowed to leave the Republic, in order to preserve the secret of their art. The study and research never ceased. Besides the studies to perfect the quality of glass, new types of working were gradually introduced. Besides the already mentioned crystal glass, they were: enameled glass, glass worked with gold threads (aventurine), and multicolored glass (millefiori). They even began making glass precious stones, as amazing as the real ones.

During the Baroque period, also milk-glass object became very famous, which were compositions based on silicates, tin and lead that were called milkwhite due to their color, particularly suited to decorate baroque houses. Other appreciated and popular techniques were aventurine, where the vitreous mass was enveloped in copper threads, and filigree, decoration technique where the milk-glass or colored glass were hot worked with sticks in order to create thin threads.

Many glassmakers were called to work in other countries, contributing to the prestige and fame of such unbelievable art.

With the fall of the Republic of San Marco in 1797, glassmaking went through a period of crisis, but started again in the second half of the XIX century and never stopped.

Murano glassmaking

Murano glassmaking is complex and requires many passages.

Glass is made of silicium melted at high temperature. The right moment to work it is the short time before it goes from liquid to solid. That’s when the glass is soft at the right point, and the artisan can shape and model it. The glassblower can add other substances to help the glass melt, and thus helping the modeling process. The sodium oxide for example, slows the solidification process down, allowing more time for the artist to complete his work. Sodium makes glass opaque, while nitrate and arsenic eliminate all bubbles. Substances called flux allow the silicium to soften at lower temperatures.

Murano glass crosses

The main technique to work Murano glass is blowing. Silicium dust melts at about 1600 °C. Before the glass begins solidifying, the glassblowers model it by blowing into a stick to shape it as they want. The passages that are carried out as ‘hot work’ are called ‘First stage‘. Then comes the ‘Second stage‘, which involves all those techniques that are carried out in a non-hot environment, such as coloring, carving and grinding.

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Glass crucifixes

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In our online store, you will find a wide variety of wonderful glass crucifixes, all of them handmade in Italy. They are glass crucifixes created according to the ancient technique of the master artisans of Murano. Many have a modern style, made even more unique and exclusive by the choice of the materials and the care in the working.

Murano glass jewels

Among the multitude of products that can be made of Murano glass, a special mention goes to jewels.

At Holyart, we are particularly interested in the wonderful Murano glass rosaries, which you can find on sale in our online store. The beads of these rosaries are made of real Murano glass, or Murrina style glass, which is obtained through a particular working technique that melts monochromatic or colored vitreous sticks that are later sectioned horizontally, or by uniting pieces of glass of different colors.

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Murano glass rosaries

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Holyart Murano glass rosaries are precious and characterized by bright colors and high quality. You can find the mastery of the glassblowers and the typical Murano style in each bead. You can choose among the many types of working to find the perfect rosary for you, or as a gift for a beloved one. It will surely be a special and appreciated gift. Each Holyart Murano glass rosary comes with a guarantee of provenance label.

Murano glass crosses

In our online store you will also find a wide variety of wonderful glass crucifixes, all handmade in Italy. They are made according to the ancient technique of the master glassblowers of Murano. Many of them have a modern look, made even more unique and exclusive by the choice of the materials and the care in the working.

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Saint Peter’s Baldachin is a ciborium placed in the heart of the Basilica dedicated to the Saint Father of the Church. In Baroque art, a ciborium is a canopy that covers the high altar. Baldachins are real sacred furnishings. They are usually big square or rectangular pieces of fabric, supported by four or more columns decorated with fringes and friezes; they are used to protect cardinals, bishops and popes during processions.

As it is for all other sacred furnishings, even baldachins are often part of the Church treasures. In fact, they were often made with great care and attention, with the best fabrics, gold and precious stones decorations.

Artistic value

Saint Peter’s Baldachin is much more than a simple ciborium. It just not covers the high altar, commissioned by Clement VIII in 1594, but also Saint Peter’ tomb next to it. Such solemn and devoted place is furtherly enclosed by the majestic cupola designed by Michelangelo. A very impressive look, intended exactly to inspire wonder and reverential fear in anyone looking at it, as it was typical of Baroque art and architecture. That is why Saint Peter’s Baldachin is recognized as one of the most amazing monuments of such artistic movement, which enriched Rome with unique palaces and monuments between 1600 and 1700.

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More than 80 liturgical products

Alms bags, candle extinguishers, plates, trays and much more.

In particular, Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed and built Saint Peter’s Baldachin between July 1624 and 1633. That was not the first time the Church had moved to give homage to the saint’s tomb. Already a hundred years after Peter’s death, at the end of the II century A.D. the Presbyter Gaius had commissioned a small grave shrine, known as ‘Trophy of Gaius’, which soon became a destination of pilgrimage even before Constantine’s arrival. He had the ‘Trophy of Gaius’ stored in a marble shrine. Later, to mark and honor the burial place of the Apostle, they put the altar of Gregory the Great (590-604), the altar of Callistus II (1123) and in 1594, the altar of Clement VIII. The baldachin by Bernini was erected above this last one. This list of unbelievable monuments tells us two thousand years of Church history, and lets us imagine the devotion of millions of men and women who, throughout the centuries, went to that place moved by their own faith.

Characteristics and peculiarities

Saint Peter’s Baldachin is twenty-eight and a half meters high, more than a ten-story building! It has a square base, and recalls the shape of the papal baldachin used to cover the pope during processions. Four high bronze columns are at the angles of the marble plinth; they were obtained with the bronze imported from Venice and by fusing the columns of the pronaos of the Pantheon of Agrippa together. They rise in a helical pattern and seem to wrap around themselves like the ones of Solomon’s temple, up until the sumptuous capitals. The columns are 11 meters high and are entirely covered with laurel branches to give homage to Urban VIII passion for poetry.

Bees, symbol of the Barberini family that commissioned the monument, and lizards, which symbolize rebirth and Resurrection thanks to their ability to shed their skin, fly and run among the columns. The first lizard on the Northwestern column faces the sun and symbolizes the pursuit of God; the second lizard in the Northeastern column holds a scorpion in its mouth, which is a symbol of evil in the Apocalypse.

An interesting detail: a rosary is fused in the column on the back at the left. It is a homage from Bernini, through which he declared that he dedicated his work to the Virgin Mary. On one edge, we can see a crucifix, while on the other side there are three devotional medals. On the other side of the column, we can spot another medal, which should represent Pope Urban VIII himself.

The columns rise from polychrome marble plinths where women faces representing the stages of a birth are carved: from the moment of the conception to the birth of the baby, newborn in the last frieze. It seems that this particular choice of decor for the plinths was dictated by one of Pope Urban VIII nieces, who experienced a very difficult pregnancy. Or maybe, it was a way for Bernini to show his own devotion towards ‘Mother Church’.

The capitals are of composite type, with pulvino. Pulvino is an architectural element shaped as an upside down truncated pyramid. It was typical of the Byzantine architecture, and was placed between the capital and the impost of the arch; it was often decorated with fretwork or low reliefs. Here, the composite capitals sustain the ionic volutes of the arches, and are decorated with acanthus leaves, typical of the Corinthian capitals.

The cover is made of gilded wood and shaped as a dolphin’s back; it is lavishly decorated and is proof of the excellence of this monument, a true synthesis of Baroque architecture and sculpture.  In particular, four angels’ statues rise on the top of the baldachin at the four corners, and other puttos statues, designed by Francesco Borromini, support the festoons. Some puttos hold Saint Peter’s keys and the papal crown in their hands. One of them lifts a huge upside down bee’s body towards the sky, recalling the symbol of the Pope’s family once more. A globe with a cross stands upon it.

The dynamism of shapes

Besides the greatness of the work itself, we can notice the lightness and dynamism of the shapes, obtained by the artist thanks to his inestimable skill in treating hard materials as if they were soft and light. Even the fringes in fake fabric that ornate the cover, even though it is made of bronze, seem to be fluttering in the breeze!

Bernini did not work alone on this majestic monument. Francesco Borromini was his assistant for the architectural part, and many other artists helped him with the fusion and chiseling parts.

It took Bernini almost 10 years to complete the Baldachin, which was inaugurated in 1633 by Pope Urban VIII. Thanks to its particular architectural structure and the mainly sculptural mark, Saint Peter’s Baldachin can be considered a real manifesto of the Baroque art.

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When we are young, it is easy to believe that we are never truly alone. When the night falls, and we face darkness for the first time in our beds, it is nice to think that there is a silent and careful presence next to us, which keeps monsters away and watches over our sleep. The wonderful part is that such presence is real! Not just that, it never leaves us, stays next to us even when years go by, when the ‘monsters’ we have to face are much more real and the pain that overwhelms us is not just a bruised knee.

We are talking about angels, the guardian angel in particular, the one we are entrusted to in the very moment we are conceived, when the soul is infused in what will be our body, and that will accompany us throughout our whole existence. Its pure and unconditioned love protects us from evil, gives us the strength to face the difficulties we experience every day with courage, whether small or big. It tries to save us from pain, and when that’s inevitable, it comforts and consoles us. Just think that the only love that can be compared to that coming from our guardian angel is the one coming from our mother. Is there anything more intense and strong? Padre Pio used to talk about his guardian angel very often, next to him since he was very young; he was also in contact with everyone else’s guardian angels, asking to pray for him.

What exactly do guardian angels do?

Besides protecting and comforting us, they intercede for us to God, showing Him the prayers of good people, pleading for protection and grace, and from Him, they draw strength and love to help and comfort those who deserve it. Basically, their existence is a constant back and forth from the sky to the Earth and vice versa: they ascend to take our prayers, and come back down to bring us God’s gifts. Furthermore, the guardian angel teaches us to pray. Especially for children, it is important to understand that the secret of real happiness is in prayer since the beginning, which is a way to talk to God. Who can teach them better than a beautiful angel?

So, it is very important to let the children know this extraordinary friend since the first years of their lives. Kids, thanks to their innocence, resemble angels the most. Another miracle given to us by the love of God Father, which makes sure these creatures of light never leave our side, is that thanks to confession and penitence we can go back to our original pureness. No guilt, no sin, and we are once again innocent as children, who confide their secrets to their guardian angels, listening to them in the darkness of the night.

They are important figures, which are too often left out and forgotten in the daily devotion gestures, but there are many and simple prayers we should address to our guardian angels to show them all our gratitude for what they do for us. The most famous we all know, but don’t recite enough, comes from a poem written by an English Benedictine monk in the XI century: ‘Angel of God who is my guardian, enlighten, watch over, support and rule me, who was entrusted to you by the heavenly piety. Amen’. We should teach it to the younger ones, so that they can say it every day to their invisible friend and thus strengthen their connection.

Let’s teach children to get to know and love their guardian angel then. How should we do that? For example, we could decorate their bedroom with small objects recalling such brilliant beings. Some ideas? We can start right from the very first day with a beautiful crib medal, a medal whose duty is to protect the little ones from evil and watch over their sleep to guarantee their protection also from Jesus, Mary and the guardian angel. It comes from the ancient tradition to hang devotional medals and small fabric and metal creations, real sacred images, over the newborns’ cribs. The crib medal is often a gift to the parents from the Godfather or Godmother for the baby’s Christening.

Holyart catalog: guardian angel items

Besides crib medals, Holyart catalog offers a wide variety of decorative objects, statues, pictures whose theme is angels in general, and the guardian angel in particular.

Products by Azur Lopiano, for example, are thought especially for the younger ones, to decorate their bedroom with color and joy, and tell them about the presence and existence of guardian angels in the most delicate way possible. They are all handmade objects by the Focolare Movement, one of their towns being in Loppiano. What do Azur Loppiano produce? We are really spoilt for choice.

In the section dedicated to them in our online store you will find articles that can be suitable to be party favors, objects to commemorate Anniversaries, ceremonies, music boxes for children, angel-themed prayer plaques with pictures and low relief, the olive line and the particular wooden stylized crucifixes, and tau crosses.

The articles are thought to catch the younger’s attention. Beautiful, colorful, safe (almost all of them are made of wood), are perfect to decorate children’s bedrooms, but can also be wonderful gift ideas for Christenings, birthdays or any other special occasion.

Many of the products by Azur Loppiano are available in blue for boys and pink for girls, but if your children share the same room and you cannot choose one particular color over another, there are also yellow and orange models.

Lets’ take a look at some of the Azur Loppiano products that are in Holyart catalog.

Music box with star and cherub
It is a very beautiful decor that is perfect for any child’s bedroom. Made of wood and star-shaped with a cute embossed musician angel, this music box activates by pulling a small cord, producing a pleasant melody. It can be hanged to the wall in complete safety, and it is a beautiful gift idea for Christening as well.
Music box suitable to be hanged to the wall.

Round plaque Angel with heart
Wooden prayer plaques with low relief of an angel, in pink or blue, for your girl’s or boy’s room. They can be hanged to the wall and bring immediate color, sweetness and joy. Suitable also for any special occasion.

Low relief Angel of God with child prayer plaque
Another wooden prayer plaque representing a stylized angel with a sleeping child. Oval, it is perfect to decorate children’s bedrooms, and is available in pink or blue. Below the low relief the prayer ‘Angel of God’ is written with childish font.

Clock prayer plaque with angels
A very colorful clock-prayer plaque that can be hanged to the bedroom wall. Two embossed cherubs let a cascade of stars fall down. Made of wood in Italy, it is a beautiful gift idea.

Diptych Hail Mary and green Angel on pink wood
Double wooden prayer plaque, can be hanged to the wall or placed on a piece of furniture. The low relief represents a cherub with a lantern, while on the other side there are the words of the Hail Mary.

Musical box, star with guardian angel
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Round panel, angel with heart
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Clock relief with angels
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Oval bas-relief panel, angel and sleeping baby
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Hail Mary diptych with green Angel in pink wood 10x15 cm
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We talked previously about the importance of the blessing, that is, the gestures and words a priest, or someone who acts in his place, performs to bless, meaning the invocation of God’s protection over one or more people, but also things and places.

The blessing is then a way to address God’s favor, His benevolence or a Grace upon someone or something. When the priest invokes the Lord’s Blessing on a house, he says: ‘May God’s blessing descend upon this house.’

This liturgical ritual aims to obtain some sort of benefit for the blessed ones on one side, and consecrates the person(s), or even the object or the place receiving it, to God on the other side.
The ritual usually implies the priest to cross himself and then sprinkle those who wish to receive the blessing with blessed water. The sprinkling with blessed water recalls the Christening, the rebirth that God allowed us to set us free from the original sin.

Depending on the occasion, particular formulas and prayers come with the blessing.

Blessings (of people, canteens, objects, places) are nothing but sacramentals, that is, sacred signs through which people obtain spiritual effects and gifts, and the various circumstances are sanctified. The blessing itself is a prayer, a praise to God, since it comes from Him and goes back to Him, in a continuous circle of love. The priest, in fact, gives the blessing invoking Jesus’ name. By blessing God, we consequently bless whom He loves, which must be protected and placed under His aegis.

Sometimes blessings involve not only people but also objects, places, the countryside, animals, and even working tools. That is because all that is related to life and men sustenance is worthy of God’s love, and needs His benevolence and protection.

There are also special and solemn blessings, such as the Apostle’s Blessing, given by the Pope himself, for example the famous urbi et orbi blessing, addressed by the Pope to the whole world during specific occasions, or the papal blessing, given by bishops or priests in the name of the Pope.

Blessing of homes and families

The blessing of a family and the blessing of homes also belong to the Christian tradition. They usually take place in specific times of the liturgical year, close to the most solemn feasts. However, we might feel the need for a blessing on our home or family in other times. It is a way to strengthen people’s faith and spirituality, but also the place they live in, invoking Jesus’ strength and help, who was able to defeat death and resurrected, destroying all evil. Asking for a blessing to our priest can give us new energy to face difficulties, for example, when we experience a tragedy, a loss, or just during a hard time that involves members of the family. Blessing our homes can also limit evil actions upon them and those who live in them. Of course, we must not consider a blessing like some kind of magic formula that pushes all evil away from us and from those we love. It is our faith and the way we carry out our lives within the community that push evil away. People living in a house must keep together and faithful to the Lord, to the Virgin Mary and to the Saints. The blessing will have then the desired effect.

A special mention goes to newlyweds’ homes. The sacrament of the Wedding make them somehow able to bless their own home. Christ Resurrected is close to them and works through them. The spouses acquire the ability to bless their home, food and children as embodiment of the love of Jesus for the Church. In the article about blessed olive branches, we mentioned how the head of the family can bless the feast meal and, more in general, the house and its inhabitants, by sprinkling everyone with the olive branch dipped into blessed water received during Palm Sunday. Even widowers can do that, because they are still included in the grace of the sacrament of Wedding.

Easter Blessings to families

The habit of blessing homes and families during Lent and Easter is very ancient. The Council of Trento already claimed how the Easter Blessings was important to strengthen the connections within the Christian community. Five hundred years ago, this particular care was mainly a way to prevent bad influences of heresies; today, it is a moment of communion and dialog between the faithful and the priests who go to their homes to give the Easter Blessing.

The priest enters the houses during Easter, but the presence of those who live in them is also fundamental. It is just as if Jesus himself went to their homes bringing joy and peace: it is fair that those who live there welcome him with just as much love and joy such an occasion requires!

When the priest enters the house, he greets the people with formula: ‘Peace be unto this home and unto all that dwell herein.’ The church brings then a message of peace to all the homes during the Easter Blessing.

But the Easter Blessing also recalls the need to recognize the importance of the family itself, united and consolidated within the Lord. That is why the priest reads or recites short passages of the Gospel, involving the members of the family in a moment of prayer and meditation.

This is a very important moment for the life of the families and the whole community. The Easter Blessing allows families to consolidate their relationship with the Church, keeping the dialog alive and open, which is too often forgotten due to the frenzy of modern life. It is very important to give ourselves this moment of communion, meditation and spiritual renovation. The sprinkling of holy water upon our home and us lets us remember how precious and strong the gift we received is, and makes us feel once again as a part of something big, strong and invincible: the Church.

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For Christians (but also Orthodox and Protestants celebrate it), Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter. It is the day when, according to the tradition, Jesus entered Jerusalem, welcomed by a cheering crowd: 12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (John 12,12-13)

Palm Sunday celebrates the triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, and the joy of those who laid down capes, cut branches of palm trees and shook them in order to welcome him. The event is connected to the Jewish feast of Sukkot, the feast of tabernacles. The faithful went up to the temple of Jerusalem carrying braided branches of palm trees, symbol of faith, mirth, symbol of prayer, and willow, whose narrow leaves recall the closed mouth of the faithful in front of God (Lv. 23,40). Osanna, or Hosanna, was an invocation of salvation that dated back to the freedom from Egypt, when the Jewish were forced to live in the desert in tents and huts for a long time.

The Holy Week starts on this day. The Lent goes on until the celebration of the ninth hour on Holy Thursday.

The liturgical tradition of Palm Sunday strengthened over the centuries. Since it is meant to commemorate and celebrate the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem, it begins outside the church, where the priest blesses the olive branches surrounded by the faithful. Why olive branches? It’s easy to say: in Italy, as it happens in all of those countries with a high catholic presence, it’s not easy to find many palm trees. Therefore, olive tree branches replaced palm trees branches.

Once the Priest has blessed the olive branches, we can enter the church. The readings on Palm Sunday are connected to Christ’s Passion, and in particular to the Passio, that is, the ‘Narrations of the Passion’, from the Latin verb patior, meaning ‘to suffer’. In the ordinary form of the Roman ritual, the Passio is extracted from Mark, Luke or Matthew’s Gospels; in the extraordinary form, it comes from Matthew’s Gospel. The telling of the Passion, divided into four parts (Jesus arrest, Jewish trial, Roman trial and finally, his sentence, execution, death and burial) is read by three readers, who represent the narrator, the characters of the event and Christ himself. During such a solemn occasion, the priest wears a red robe.

But why olive branches?

We briefly talked about how olive branches replaced palm trees branches during such occasion, and why.

Actually, only John’s Gospel mentions palm trees branches (Mt 21,1-9; Mk 11,1-10; Lk 19,30-38; Jn 12,12-16). Matthew’s and Mark’s Gospels mention generic tree branches, while Luke’s does not mention any at all. Nevertheless, the habit of blessing olive branches and take them home after the Mass has long been established. Faithful store their blessed olive branch as symbol of peace, or take one to relatives and friends as a sign of love and good wish. In some places, it is still common for the head of the family to bless the Easter meal with the olive branch dipped into blessed water.

Since ancient times, all those civilizations that are located on the Mediterranean basin consider the olive tree as a holy plant. The Greeks used its branches to braid crowns to decorate the heads of the winner athletes. It was also a plant dear to Athena, goddess of wisdom and war. Even the Romans used the olive to honor eminent men, while the Jewish considered it a symbol of justice and knowledge. Furthermore, the dove set free by Noah brought an olive branch back to the Ark, according to the Old Testament, as a sign that the Flood was over and with it, God’s wrath as well. In this sense, we can consider the olive as a symbol of rebirth and peace.

The story of Jesus too is full of references to this plant, until the last, tragic night in the Garden of the Olives where he was arrested. Christ himself, with his sacrifice, becomes an olive, symbol of reconciliation between humankind and God.

We must not forget that with the oil coming from the fruits of this exceptional plant we can make the Chrism, used for Christening, Confirmation, Extreme unction and the consecration of new priests. The word Christ, which we are used to call Jesus by, actually means ‘oiled’.

And once Easter has passed, what should we do with the olive branches?

Many people keep them in their homes as a decoration and a memory of Palm Sunday and Christ’s Passion. They are actually sacred objects, since they were blessed during the Mass, becoming sacramentals, and the Code of Canon Low absolutely forbids throwing sacred objects away. Instead, they deserve a special place in our homes, as a reminder of Christ’s love and sacrifice for us.

Otherwise, we can burn the olive branches, bury them, or even take them back to the church. They will be burned and used to make the ash for Ash Wednesday.

How can we keep the olive branch without ruining it?

The olive bags are perfect for the scope. They are practical cases where the olive branch does not crumble apart, and keeping it inside a case, its leaves will not spread all over the house once it has dried out. You can find many models in our online store, some of them are very simple and neutral, others are decorated with religious symbols, such as the logo of the Jubilee of Mercy, the Easter dove, the Holy Family, images of Jesus entering Jerusalem, or Jesus the Good Shepherd, and many more. What better package to offer an olive branch to someone we love as symbol of peace and love?

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What is a cross? Most of the people we know would answer such question by saying that it is the Christian symbol par excellence since it recalls crucified Christ, who sacrificed himself for the salvation of humankind. This is of course true, but the symbolism of the cross is older than that.

What shape is a cross? The geometric shape of a cross is rather simple: two lines crossing themselves at a straight angle, splitting themselves in half in some cases, or the longer line is divided so that it has a longer and a shorter beam. Such a shape is so easily replicable that we understand why it is one of the most ancient symbols of humankind.

Christianism was not the first religion to use crosses as objects of devotion. Since the Stone Age, and until the pre-Christian era, there were many pictures shaped as crosses. The so-called Celtic cross was the symbol of the god Odin for the Northmen. It represented a cross enclosed in a circle. Even in ancient Egypt, a symbol recalled a cross, the ankh, the symbol of life. Islam on the contrary, never recognized the cross as a religious symbol, because it denies Jesus’ death on the cross and states that he was replaced by a lookalike.

The word ‘Cross’ comes from the Latin word Crux. For the Romans, it was an instrument used to inflict tortures, crucifixion indeed. However, in the sphere of symbols, we remind that in Roman numbers, number 10 is an X, an element that resembles a cross very much.

Getting to Christianism, as we revealed earlier, the cross is the main symbol of the religion. In fact, it recalls Jesus’ death, crucified by order of Pontius Pilate, Roman Procurator of Judea, who sentenced him to death. Paradoxically, even though it came from such a brutal and terrible act, the cross is reborn, and has been passed on with a positive value, since Jesus’ passion and death coincide with the fulfillment of his mission of salvation for all men.  A symbol of absolute love then, and of extreme sacrifice.

Yet, the cross and the crucifix took a bit more time to spread and be recognized. They began being used in an important way only from the IV century. The habit of placing a cross over the altar in churches actually began during the Medieval age.

Let’s take a look at the various types of crosses and crucifixes that became popular during the centuries, as symbolic-decorative elements and with particular symbolic meanings.

Latin Cross

It is the most typical, the one that represents Jesus’ crucifixion for Christians. It has two perpendicular beams, the horizontal one being shorter than the vertical one.

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Greek cross

It is composed of four arms of the same length, crossing each other at a straight angle. It is typical of the Byzantine art, alternating with the Latin cross as base diagrams for churches. Its four equal beams and the fact that it can be contained in a square, make it the idealized cross, which represents the Divine Nature of Christ.

Tau cross, also known as Saint Anthony the Abbot cross or Crux Commissa.

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Tau crosses

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The Tau is the last letter of the ancient Jewish alphabet, which represented the fulfillment of the whole word revealed by God. Its shapes recalls a cross indeed, but with no upper beam. That’s why the Christians adopted it. Since it is the last letter of the Jewish alphabet, another reason is that it contained a prophecy about the End of Time, just like the Greek letter Omega.

It owes its popularity and diffusion mainly to Saint Francis, who chose it as his symbol of devotion and as a seal, strong in his spiritual belief that the salvation of every man lied in Christ’s cross.

Tree of Life Cross

The connection between the cross and the tree of life is also fascinating.

A legend says that the tree used to make Jesus’ cross was born from one of the three seeds (cedar, cypress and pine) placed into Adam’s mouth when he died. Another legend says that when Adam died, his son Set put a twig from the Tree of Life in his mouth, given to him by the Archangel Michael. A new tree would grow from that twig.

The tree of life cross beams resemble the roots of a tree, full of leaves, flowers and fruits. Besides those legends, its symbolism is clear. The cross is the new tree of life thanks to Jesus’ sacrifice, who stated his identity: ‘I am the life‘ (John 14,6; 6,53).

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Also the Tree of Life Cross

Eight pointed Cross

The eight pointed cross, also known as the Maltese Cross, or saint John’s cross, was the symbol of the maritime Republic of Amalfi at least since the XI century. It was also the symbol of the Knights Hospitaller of Jerusalem, upon whose clothes it stood out in white, recalling the Pureness of the Beatitudes.

The eight pointed cross has Byzantine origins. The eight points probably symbolize the Beatitudes listed by Saint Matthew:

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
2. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth
3. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted
4. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy
6. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God
8. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

As an alternative, they could represent the Christian virtues:

1. Loyalty
2. Mercy
3. Frankness
4. Courage
5. Glory and honor
6. Scorning death
7. Solidarity towards poor and sick
8. Respect for the Church

Or more, the eight principles that were the foundations of the mission of the Knights of Saint John:

1. spirituality
2. simplicity
3. humility
4. compassion
5. justice
6. mercy
7. sincerity

Cross of Saint Aemilian of Cogolla

Also known as the Visigoth cross, it is a cross with anchor-shaped beams, that is, with the tips curved towards the outside like anchors. This cross is connected to the figure of Saint Aemilian, a hermit who lived in Spain during the VI century. That is why the cross is also known with the Spanish name of Cruz de San Millán.

The twelve tips of its beams represent the twelve apostles. The fact that the tips are facing towards the outside or the inside indicates the weakness of the Church, made of men, saints and sinners. The decor that leads towards the inside is made of nettle leaves, as a reminder that following the path of God can turn out to be very painful. The center of the cross of Saint Aemilian is made of a flower with eight petals, symbolizing the eight beatitudes. In the middle, a point symbolizes God. Four trilobed blossoms branch off, representing the Trinity.

The Coptic Cross

Also known as crux ansata or Egyptian Cross, it is shaped as an upside-down drop, placed in the middle of the horizontal beams. It looks like a key, and that is why it is also called Cross of Life, Nile cross or Ankh Cross, in memory of the ancient Egyptian symbol for eternal life.

The Coptic cross is nothing but an evolution of the ancient Egyptian ankh, which decorated Pharaohs tombs and was often represented in the hands of the gods. The orthodox Coptic Church made this symbol its own, and transformed it until it reached its current aspect.

Cross with trilobed terminals

It is typical of the Orthodox Russian Church and has two perpendicular crossbeams, plus a slanted one below the others. This last one recalls the stand for Christ’s feet when he was crucified. The crossbeams are closed by trilobed tips symbolizing the Trinity, like the shamrock this cross takes its origins from.

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Russian Cross

Also known as Byzantine or Orthodox Cross, it has three crossbeams: the higher one is the titulus crucis, the sign showing the reason behind Jesus’ sentence; the lower one, diagonal, is the suppedaneum, the wooden support for Christ’s feet when he was crucified. It was born in the Byzantine era, it is the symbol of the Orthodox Russian Church and other Slavic churches.

Marian Cross

Pope John Paul II used it as his emblem, and is made of a Latin Cross and the letter M symbolizing the Virgin Mary kneeling in front of the cross on the Calvary.

Papal Triple Cross

It is made of a long lengthwise arm and three horizontal bars. The three bars represent the triple role of the Pope:

1. bishop of Rome;
2. patriarch of the West;
3. successor of Saint Peter apostle.

The Lamb of God usually sustains it.

San Damiano Cross

This is the cross that Francis of Assisi adored, in front of which he received the request from the Lord to repair his home. Jesus is wounded in it, but also triumphant, determined and fierce in spite of his suffering. A halo is on his head and encloses another cross, symbol of his forthcoming glory. The majestic image of Jesus is surrounded by smaller figures, each one of them carrying a very specific symbolic meaning. We dedicated an article to this wonderful crucifix.

Saint Andrew’s Cross

Saint Andrew’s Cross (in Latin: crux decussata), unlike other crosses, has diagonal arms. That is, they are shaped like an ‘X’. It is said that Saint Andrew apostle experienced martyrdom on a cross shaped like this one.

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Ampullas for celebrations or ampullas for liturgy are those two small sacred vases that contain the water and the wine used during the Eucharist celebration. Usually, the wine ampulla is made of glass and is bigger, while the water ampulla is smaller; ampullsas are made of transparent glass so that their contents is immediately visible. In ancient times, when they were not made of glass, they used to mark them with a distinctive element, such as a pearl for the water ampulla and a garnet for the one used for the wine.

Usually, the deacon or the minister prepared ampullas for liturgy before the Mass, along with the other sacred objects, on a table, so that they could easily reach them when needed. They are usually placed on a tray next to the folded manuterge, the small cloth used for drying the hands.

The deacon or minister takes the ampullas from the table to the altar during the Offertory, as written in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, along with bread, chalice, pyx and all of the other necessary objects.

Why does the priest mix water and wine during the Offertory?

Once the ampullas for celebrations have been taken to the altar, the priest pours a few drops of water in the cup of wine. The habit of mixing wine and water dates back to the origins of Christian ceremonies, when they used a very alcoholic wine and was therefore necessary to mix it with water. Besides the practical aspects, such gesture of mixing water and wine contained in the ampullas for liturgy became the object of theological speculations.

First, there is a gospel reference to that (John 19,34), where water and wine both spill out from Christ’s chest, wounded by Longinus’ sword. In general, water defined human nature, wine defined divine nature. Clement of Alexandria, in the II century A.D., recognized the salvation that Christ’s blood can give to all those trusting in Him in the union of water and wine. In the III century A.D., Cyprian and the agnostics claimed that wine mixed with water recalled the image of Christ, who, ‘merging’ with the faithful, collected all of their sins upon him, creating an indissoluble and inseparable connection, just like the one between water and wine once they have been mixed.

In the Roman Missal, when the priest pours the water into the chalice, he utters the following words: ‘By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity’. Therefore, we can read the mixing of water and wine as a clear reference to Christ reincarnation, to His double divine and human nature showing themselves.

The water inside the ampulla must not be used for any other purpose, such as washing the hands. To purify his hands and the sacred vases, the priest will use water from a pitcher. The ampullas for liturgy must be cleaned very often, and their contents must be replaced frequently, in order to avoid the wine becoming sour.

History of the ampullas for liturgy

The word ampulla comes from the Latin word ampŭlla (diminutive for amphŏra, that is, “amphora”), meaning small amphora.

The ampullas for celebrations were first used in the Catholic ceremonial only in the XI century. Earlier, and since the origins of Christianism, faithful used to bring the wine for the Mass themselves in containers called amulae. The priest or deacon poured the contents of the amulae into the chalice from where everyone would drink later, mixing it with water; or else, they collected the wine in a bigger bowl, the hama, and then gave the container back to its owner. The wine collected were later used for consecrations, and then distributed to the poor of the community. The water that was mixed with wine was contained in the so called fons.

During the Würzburg Synod in 1298, it was established that the ampullas for celebrations must be made of glass, pewter, gold and silver, while there are no specific instructions concerning the shape they must have, as long as they are small enough. We can distinguish three main types of shapes:

flask, with a long neck whose upper edge is a bit opened to create a small spout, and no handle;

pitcher, with a rounded body placed on a foot, long neck with a regular or S-shaped spout, and a volute handle;

mug, usually with no foot, spout upper edge and handle.

Ampullas for celebrations are often adorned with decorative patterns, in particular wine shoots and grapes.

Look at the gallery!

Molina cruets set for water and wine in steel and crystal
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The altar servers

The altar servers are in particular the Masters of Ceremonies. Their duty is to take the sacred objects to the altar after the Offertory, and take them back after the Communion.

Who are the altar servers? As we deepened in a previous article, they are the altar boysor ministers, who help the priest during Mass. They owe their name to the Latin verb ‘ministrare’, that is, ‘to serve’, and are recognized by the Conciliar Constitution as an integral part of the liturgical ministry. The altar servers take the objects with the following order from the sacristy to the altar: the chalice and the corporal (the square cloth that covers the chalice and that is later laid on the altar during the Offertory), the purifier (the small cloth used by the priest for drying his lips after drinking, and to clean chalice and paten), the paten (the plate containing the host), and then the ampullas for wine and water. Plus, they prepare the water and the purifier that the minister will use to wash his hands.

Holy Water

We underlined the importance of water in the Christian religion in many articles. And not just holy water, which renovates the value of our Baptism every day, and fosters a direct contact with Jesus. We must keep in mind that water is the element that determines life par excellence, because without that, men could not survive. Furthermore, it has the power to purify and wash away the dirt from our body, but in a spiritual meaning, also from our souls, washing it from all sins, first of all the original sin, washed away thanks to the water of the Baptism font. It is not a surprise then if it is so important and precious!

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