Mass Cards

I was given the task of cleaning my father's garage a few weeks back.  I came across a box of Mass cards, graciously given to our family at the passing of my grandfather.  I went through each one, marveling at the beautiful pictures and prayers inside.  However, after sorting them and stacking them on my table, I wondered:

What am I gonna do with 50+ Mass cards???

So I called a friend of mine, who typically has the answers to all of my random Catholic questions.  Her response made me laugh out loud.  She said, "Funny you ask.  I have a box of Mass cards in the attic from my mother's funeral, and I don't know what to do either!"  Ha ha ha.  I love it.

So off I went to try my luck online with the various Catholic forums.  I got responses ranging from "bury/burn them" to "give them away at your parish."  I doubted anyone in my parish would want a used Mass card with my grandfather's name and condolances to my family written in it, so I figured to bide my time and wait for the Holy Spirit to find the answer for me.

Several weeks went by.  I began reading a Christian book titled Tortured for Christ, a memoir written by Richard Wurmbrand, a pastor of the Underground Church of Communist Russia.  He was kidnapped and imprisoned twice, and somehow lived to tell the tale.  His writings opened my eyes to so much, and taught me an extreme lesson in seeing the face of Christ in everyone, even the men beating you daily with vile instruments of torture.

I was moved by his testimony of the Underground Church.  He told the story of a village that had a small holy card, ripped and tattered, but loved and venerated with extreme piety.  He explained that this small, battered image of Christ was the only one they'd ever seen.  It's all they had access to in a time where the government confiscated religious items.  So this little village armed itself with this small holy card and the stories and prayers of secret meetings organized by the Underground Church.  They kept the love of Christ alive through these small, but heroic acts of faith.  I was so touched by this story!  I knew then that my homeless Mass cards had found their calling.  Thank you, Holy Spirit!  You always point the way!

I called the organization that aides the Underground Church - the same organization that Richard Wurmbrand set up the moment he had a chance.  It's called Voice of the Martyrs, and their main goal is to provide the Underground Church with necessary items for the faithful... the faithful that live in harsh countries that delight in persecuting the believers of Jesus.  I called to make sure they could take and use these Mass cards.  The man who took my call was so excited!  He exuberantly expressed his gratitude and assured me these cards - even those with the Blessed Mother - would be put to great use.  I knew in my heart he spoke the truth.  Great graces would be granted through these pictures and prayers, and it made me happy that the Holy Spirit pointed me in the right direction.

I then called my aforementioned friend to let her know we had a use for the Mass cards!  So now you know, as well!  The address you can send them is below:

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Voice of the Martyrs
P.O. Box 443
Bartlesville, OK 74005
ATTN: International Ministries