Holy Family and Angels

'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God, that giveth to all men liberally.'

James 1:5

The card received from a Franciscan priest during the annual Christmas call (Kolęda) in 1953.

Holy Family

'He is able... to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him,

seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.'

Hebrews 7:25

Blessed Bronisława

This card is quite old, issued most probably in the 1950s. The picture depicts Blessed Bronisława.

Bronisława was born in Poland about 1203 to the noble family of the name Odrowąż. Her parents were Miłosław and Anna nee Gryf.

Bronisława was taught by her mother. The girl's education included reading, writing, treating ailments with herbs, gardening, good manners, and general knowledge.
When she was 16, Bronisława joined the monastery of the Norbertine order. In 1241, she had already been Ksenia of that monastery.

Bronisława died on 29 August 1259. She was beatified on 23 August 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI.
Blessed Bronisława's Feast Day is on 1 September. Her attributes are a lily and a cross.
She is the saint patroness of Cracow and the Kingdom of Poland.

Mom received the holy card from Priest Bernard Łukaszewicz during the annual Christmas call (Kolęda). The information which I have found about the Priest - he was born on 29 September 1917 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1950. After that, Priest Bernard served as a vicar at the Jesus' Most Holy Heart church in Gdynia from 1950 to 1963. It was so long ago. Unfortunately, I do not know anything else about him/his life.

Priest Bronisław Szymichowski

"The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me:

Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever."

Psalm 138:8

The holy card received from Priest Bronislaw Szymichowski during the annual Christmas visit/ Kolęda.

Bronisław Szymichowski was born on 27 April 1916 in Ręboszewo, northern Poland. Having graduated from high school he joined the Polish Army. Later, in 1938, he continued his education and studies in the Seminary in Pelplin.

During WW2, he was a member of a secret anti-Nazi organization called Kashubian Griffin and later Pomeranian Griffin. In 1942 he was arrested by Soviets and imprisoned in a Soviet lager.
When he came back to Poland, he studied in Pelplin again and was ordained to the priesthood in 1948.

Priest Bronisław passed on 6 March 1995 in Pomieczyno where he head served as a rector of the local parish.

Gloria In Excelsis Deo

"For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive;

and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon him."

-Psalm 86:5

 

Holy Mary and Baby Jesus

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."

Matthew 5:7

The holy card was probably printed in the 1950s.

Baby Jesus and Angels

"For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive;

and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon him."

Psalm 86:5

Little Jesus Card

"He that cometh to God

 must believe that He is,

and that He is a rewarder of them

that diligently seek Him"

Hebrews 11:6

A card from my childhood collection.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Lord thy God, He is God, the faithful God,

which keepeth covenant and mercy

with them that love Him. 

Deuteronomy 7:9 

 

The Sacred Heart of Jesus feast day is on Friday, the 19 day after Pentecost.

St. Andrew Bobola

Andrzej (Andrew) Bobola was born in a Polish noble family on 30 November 1591 in Strachocin, Poland. He was a missionary Jesuit, worked in Lithuania. Father Bobola was captured by the Cossacks in the village of Janów on 16 May 1657. He was tortured in various cruel ways and died as a martyr. On the day of his death, Andrzej Bobola was 65 years old.

Father Andrzej was canonized on 17 April 1938 by Pope Pius XI.

The card is a token of the silver priesthood jubilee of Priest Wojciech Zieliński who was ordained to the priesthood on 20 Dec. 1930 in Pelplin, Poland. Then, he served in the parishes of Tarpno, Koscierzyna, Chełmno, Kartuzy, and Gdynia-Obłuże.

Saint Andrzej Bobola is the saint patron of Poland. His feast day is on 16 May.

Franciscan's Christmas Call

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God,

to them who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 

The token of the Franciscan's Christmas call - from the 1960s.

St. John The Baptist

There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; 

for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him

Romans 10:12

St. John the Baptist, the Predecessor of the Christ

Pray for us. 

The card printed in 1959 

Have A Blessed Day

"If any man serve Me... him will My Father honour."

John 12:26

Paul VI

Pope Paul VI was born on 26 Sept. 1897. His real name was Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini. Paul VI's papacy lasted 25 years, from 21 June 1963 to 6 August 1978, when he died.

The card is a token of the 25th priesthood anniversary of Priest Franciszek Müller. He held his first mass on 5 April 1947 in Pelplin (Poland). Priest Müller celebrated the anniversary in Gdynia, 1972.

"Mary, the aid of believers,

pray for us"

1939 Before WW2 Time Card

This holy card is part of my mom's collection. She received it in 1939 from parish priest Kl. Przewoski as a token of the annual Christmas call which is part of Christmas celebrations in the Catholic church in Poland. Such calls are paid by priests after Christmas in December and/ or at the beginning of January. Since Poland was annexed by Nazi Germany in September 1939 and all the usual Polish customs were forbidden during WW2, very likely the 1939 call happened in January, not in December.

St. Joseph

At that time, mom lived with her family in Gdynia Oksywie, not far from the war port.

"Sweet Heart of my Jesus, make me love you more and more."

Priest Józef Jany's Jubilee

The Most Painful Mother pray for us.

The card commemorates the 25th priesthood anniversary of Józef Jany, the rector of the Fara Poznan parish.

"On the day of the silver jubilee, I am asking the Almighty to gracefully bless my parishioners and the citizens of Poznań and give them the coveted peace and concord.

Priest Józef Jany

Rector of Poznań Fara 

1932    20 February 1957

Jesus, Mary, Saint Joseph
help us perpetually."

Note: Poznań is a city in Poland. In June 1956, massive workers protest against the communist government took place. Hundreds of people were injured then.

Franciscan Christmas Call 1959

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him,

to all that call upon Him in truth.

Psalm 145:18

The annual priest's Christmas call. As you can see the call was paid by an O.M. F. Franciscan, in Gdynia 1959.