From near and far, both big and small, envelopes filled with
tidings of great joy will soon be filling mailboxes around the world. It’s a
favorite tradition, and for many, it’s a way to spread the spirit of the season
while doing a bit of evangelizing.
For those who want Christ on their Christmas cards, finding a
variety of religious-themed Christmas cards can be a challenge in most retail
stories. Thankfully, Catholic stores such as Pauline Books and Media in
Alexandria, Joyful Spirit Gifts in Arlington and Pascal Lamb in Fairfax sell
boxed and individual religious-themed Christmas cards, including some for
priests, religious sisters and brothers.
“It’s difficult enough in this society to really profess your
faith. I think sending religious Christmas cards does a really good job of
doing that,” said Cecilia Balog, co-owner of the Pascal Lamb.
The Pauline Book Store in Alexandria, run by the Daughters of St.
Paul, starts getting their card inventory in September. While the cards aren’t
on the shelves until later, the sisters have several customers who can’t wait
to get their cards as soon as they can so they can mail them to family
overseas. It can sometimes take weeks for cards to arrive in some countries.
Many Knights of Columbus councils sell their signature “Keep
Christ in Christmas cards” outside churches after Sunday Masses as early as
October. Last year, the Alexandria Knights sent cards signed by students at St.
Mary School to seniors in area nursing homes.
Families often find as their list gets longer, the time to get
the cards signed, stamped and addressed gets shorter. It’s the same problem
that Englishman Henry Cole faced in 1843 when he ordered and sent the first
Christmas cards. These days, sites such as Snapfish.com let you design and
order cards that you can mail, while others, such as bluebirdcards.com, will
stamp, address and mail the cards for you.
While more families choose online cards, they may be disappointed
with the lack of religious themes.
Boxes of Christmas cards (at left) feature Nativity scenes at Joyful
Spirit Gifts in Arlington. ASHLEIGH KASSOCK | CATHOLIC HERALD
“Christ will be on my Christmas card, thank you very much,” said
Shelly Marstall, moderator of the Nova Catholic Mamas Facebook group and a
parishioner of St. Agnes in Arlington. “I would love it if a company or
religious order would start a similar online store. I would drop Shutterfly in
a heartbeat.”
Beth and Michael Collins try to keep the tradition itself
prayerful and Christ-centered. Their children enjoy stuffing their photocards
into the traditional cards they order from the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of
Apostles sisters in Gower, Mo. They make a paper chain with the names of the
recipient on each link, and every night during Advent, they pray specifically
for those people.
If you are feeling a bit behind this season, don’t worry. There
is still plenty of time to send out cards. Even mailing them on Christmas Day
will see them arrive before the Baptism of Christ Jan. 8, the last day of the
Christmas season.
Once the cards are sent, it’s time to sit back and watch the
mailbox fill. Some families gather the cards in a special box to open on
Christmas. Others like to use them as decorations, adorning the mantel or
decking the halls. Marstall recently bought a wire card wreath that she fills
during Advent. She also has a basket of cards from years past, neatly grouped
by year for easy reminiscing.
While the process of sending cards can be a hassle,
the joy it brings is worth it. This season, remember to say a prayer for the
people on your list, that they might have a Christ-filled Christmas and a
mailbox full of cards.
