Blessed St. Giuseppe Cottolengo Holy Card - 1919

This extraordinary antique holy card displays a rich sepia tone design honoring St. Giuseppe Benedetto Cottolengo, printed in 1919 on the feast day of this beloved Italian saint. This card is part of a nun estate. The front features an elegant prayer titled "ORAZIONE" in Italian, with formal ecclesiastical text invoking the intercession of this blessed father. The aged, cream-colored cardstock bears the authentic mark of time, with a purple ecclesiastical stamp visible, along with the notation "Torino, 30 Aprile 1919" and approval from Cardinal Richelmy, Archbishop. The prayer concludes with the beautiful repeated invocation "Deo Gratias, Deo Gratias, Deo Gratias!" and mentions a 200-day indulgence for devout recitation.

The reverse side presents an artistically ornate design featuring a central oval portrait of St. Giuseppe Cottolengo in his clerical garb, hand placed over his heart in a gesture of devotion. The card bears the inscription "Deo Gratias!" at the top, surrounded by delicate floral engravings of roses and decorative scrollwork. Below the portrait appears the touching phrase "Il Catechismo è tutto!... Sapendolo se ne sa abbastanza... Senza di questo niente!" (The Catechism is everything!... Knowing it, one knows enough... Without it, nothing!). The design includes symbolic imagery of a flower with a relic window at its center, labeled "Indumenti usati dal Beato" (garments used by the Blessed), identifying this as a rare second-class relic card.

St. Giuseppe Benedetto Cottolengo (1786-1842) was a pioneering Italian priest who founded the Little House of Divine Providence in Turin, dedicating his life to caring for the sick, disabled, and abandoned. Known as the "Saint of Turin," he embodied radical trust in Divine Providence, never requesting donations yet providing care for thousands. His famous maxim, prominently featured on this card, emphasizes the supreme importance of catechism and faith formation. He was beatified in 1917 and canonized in 1934, making this 1919 card a precious historical artifact from the period between his beatification and canonization.

This antique devotional card measures approximately 4" x 2.5" (10 cm x 6.5 cm) and represents authentic early 20th-century Italian religious printing from Milan by "Tip. S. Lega Eucaristica." Made in Italy over a century ago, it carries the weight of history and generations of faithful devotion.

This piece has been blessed by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter's Square, adding contemporary spiritual merit to this historical treasure.

Spiritual Benefits:

• Deepens devotion to St. Giuseppe Cottolengo, patron of the sick and abandoned
• Connects the faithful to early 20th-century Italian Catholic heritage
• Provides spiritual protection through the intercession of a great saint of charity
• Serves as a tangible reminder of trust in Divine Providence
• Blessed by Pope Leo XIV for added spiritual merit
• Makes a meaningful Catholic gift for those devoted to social justice, healthcare workers, or collectors of religious antiques

Own a piece of sacred history with this remarkable card that witnessed the fervent devotion of the faithful over a century ago, now blessed for a new generation of believers.