Antique French Lace Holy Card – Handwritten Prayer of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal

A beautiful and unusual antique French Catholic devotional card, delicately crafted with an intricate lace-like paper border and featuring a handwritten prayer attributed to Saint Jane Frances de Chantal.

The centre of the card contains an original handwritten French prayer beginning:

“Seule harmonie… Oui, Seigneur Jésus…”

The prayer expresses a complete surrender to the will of Jesus Christ, asking that His will be fulfilled in all things — for the writer, her family and children, and in every circumstance of life. It is signed:

“Ste Chantal”

The exceptional pierced and ornamental paper design gives the piece the appearance of a miniature devotional lacework object. The aged ivory paper, delicate cutwork and elegant handwritten script create a wonderful example of historic French Catholic devotional art.

This is an especially charming piece for collectors of antique holy cards, French Catholic ephemera, handwritten religious texts, devotional lacework and material connected with Saint Jane Frances de Chantal.

Details

• Subject: Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
• Text: Handwritten French devotional prayer
• Attribution: Signed “Ste Chantal”
• Type: Antique Catholic lace / devotional holy card
• Language: French
• Material: Delicately pierced paper/card
• Size: approx. 7.5 × 11.5 cm
• Period: Likely late 19th / early 20th century
• Condition: Antique condition with natural age toning, foxing, discoloration and minor wear to the delicate pierced edges. Please see photographs.

Collector's Note

The most distinctive feature of this piece is the original handwritten prayer surrounded by elaborate pierced-paper decoration. It is not a modern reproduction and has the intimate character of a devotional object that was personally kept and treasured.