Have you ever wondered about the origins of common Catholic prayers like the Angelus, which the Pope prays with pilgrims every Sunday? Or of family traditions like keeping a picture or statue of Mary in the kitchen?
Dr. Helen Hoffner, a professor at Holy Family University in Philadelphia, explores many of these mysteries in her book, “Catholic Traditions and Treasures.” It's an illustrated guide about modern practices whose origins lie in the rich pages of Church history.
DR. HELEN HOFFNER
Author, “Catholic Traditions and Treasures”
“I wanted to get the traditions in writing so people could share them and also dispel some of the misconceptions.”
Dr. Hoffner's favorite is the story of St. Joseph. She explains that in the United States, it's a humorous practice and something of a superstition, that if you want to sell your house, you bury a statue of St. Joseph.
DR. HELEN HOFFNER
Author, “Catholic Traditions and Treasures”
“The more I researched, St. Teresa of Avila actually buried medals of St. Joseph when she needed land for her convent. There are things that we think are just superstitions, but actually, when you think about it, St. Joseph is the patron of the home because from the very beginning, he found a safe shelter for Mary and the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem. He took the family into safety into Egypt. So while we can laugh about burying a statue of St. Joseph, there really is a thought of St. Joseph is a protector of the home.”
It's this linking of the truth to modern day traditions that Dr. Hoffner says she found to be one of the most rewarding aspects of this project. And she hopes others will benefit from these tidbits of often surprising information.
DR. HELEN HOFFNER
Author, “Catholic Traditions and Treasures”
“It's not necessarily what you would use in a classroom with young children, but for the person who's going to teach a religious education class. It gives the adult who's going to be the teacher the background.”
“Catholic Traditions and Treasures” covers topics like devotions to saints; the meaning behind the symbols on different miraculous medals; and traditions like the Advent wreath. The illustrated book is sure to surprise readers with the rich history behind some of the most common traditions of today.
CT
