The links and photos in this article have been created for your convenience. Just click a key word or photo to be taken directly to the St. Jude Shop site for more information.As we approach Lent we are often asked about religious items that might help us in prayer and remind us about Jesus and His Suffering, Death and Resurrection. One of the most inspiring is the crown of thorns. These are made from real thorn bushes, Most of the thorns average between 2 to 4 inches. They are made by hand and we are told that the thorns are so sharp that the craftspeople who make them wear out a pair of heavy leather gloves every 2 days. They are available in 2 sizes. The 10-12’ size is most seen as a table top display in a classroom or as part of a side shrine in church. The 20-24” size can be hung on the wall or on a large cross. We also have available wooden nails and purple cloth to drape around the cross.
Stations of the Cross devotions are a Lenten tradition. Many clergy will wear a purple cope for this devotion. Processional candlesticks and the processional crucifix is often carried. Review these items to be sure they are in good condition. We carry a wide selection of Stations of the Cross books for the congregation to participate with the presiding minister. Benediction usually follows the Stations of the Cross. The consecrated host is placed in a Monstrance or Ostensorium and venerated by the participants. Incense is placed in a Censer with lit charcoal and as the sweet smelling smoke rises we are reminded of the sweetness of our prayer rising up to God. We carry a wide variety of incense from a heavy smell, thick smoke variety to the popular non choking incense. We advise our customers to be sure your censer is in good working order. We offer scrapers for cleaning and tongs for the safe transport of lit charcoal. We carry several effective polishes to remove the smoky soot from years of use as well as new censers and boats for all budgets.
Ash Wednesday
Do you have enough ashes for the Ash Wednesday? Our ashes are genuine palm leaf ash. They are pre measured and packaged for 1000, 500, 200 or 100 people. Many parishes like to purchase the smaller packets for easy distribution.
Holy Week
The beauty of the Holy Week rituals calls for a wide variety of items. Many churches will decorate with Banners that depict the events of the week as well as special chasubles, stoles or candlesticks. Palm Sunday signals the approach of Holy Week observances. It is customary for parishes to distribute palm strips to the congregation. We have been distributing palm strips to churches for
over 30 years. All palm is delivered clean and fresh cut as two strip leaves in bags of 100. We ship direct to you in the week before Palm Sunday. Our prices are very competitive with quantity discounts available. We also have palm altar décor. These palm fronds are perfect for any type of arrangement. Clean and easy to arrange, each bag of Fan palm, Date palm, and Sago palm Altar Décor includes 4 palm fronds 24” to 36” tall. The smaller Mediterranean Fan palm altar decor measures 16” to 18” and come s 8 to a bag. See our website for decoration ideas.
To facilitate the reading of the Passion of our Lord in three parts we have beautiful Ceremonial binders to hold the scripture in an attractive reverential way. The binders are color coordinated to match the liturgical color of the day and can be adapted to many uses throughout the year.
On Holy Thursday in many dioceses the pastor of a parish will attend the Chrism Mass. At that time the sacred oils that are used for the sacraments in the parishes are distributed. We have Chrismatory Sets, oil stocks, sacristy oil sets and appropriate carrying cases that are needed for the transport of the sacred oils. Later in the day during the parish liturgy as the priest washes the feet of 12 parishioners, symbolic of Jesus washing the feet of the apostles, a bowl and ewer are used. Since there is no Mass offered on Good Friday a large ciborium is used to hold Holy Communion for distribution on Good Friday. Many churches will build a shrine to the Blessed Sacrament with a repository or monstrance to hold the Holy Eucharist.
Good Friday prayer services vary from Meditations on Jesus’ Seven Last Words to Stations of the Cross. Many parishes will have the Veneration of Christ Crucified. We have available many beautiful large crucifixes for this moving gesture of the Good Friday Prayer Service.
One of the principal symbols in the Easter Vigil liturgy is Light. The light of the paschal candle, congregation candles and even extra altar candles that might only be lit on special occasions all impress on our consciousness that Jesus, the Light of the World has risen from the dead! We carry a wide selection of beeswax candles as well as sterine candles. We can ship as late as Holy Thursday to insure a delivery in time for Easter. The Paschal Candle is lit from the Easter “New Fire” We have foolproof fire starters that guarantee a quick bright flame with little or no smoke as well as a brazier to contain the flame in a reverential manner.
Stations of the Cross devotions are a Lenten tradition. Many clergy will wear a purple cope for this devotion. Processional candlesticks and the processional crucifix is often carried. Review these items to be sure they are in good condition. We carry a wide selection of Stations of the Cross books for the congregation to participate with the presiding minister. Benediction usually follows the Stations of the Cross. The consecrated host is placed in a Monstrance or Ostensorium and venerated by the participants. Incense is placed in a Censer with lit charcoal and as the sweet smelling smoke rises we are reminded of the sweetness of our prayer rising up to God. We carry a wide variety of incense from a heavy smell, thick smoke variety to the popular non choking incense. We advise our customers to be sure your censer is in good working order. We offer scrapers for cleaning and tongs for the safe transport of lit charcoal. We carry several effective polishes to remove the smoky soot from years of use as well as new censers and boats for all budgets.Ash Wednesday
Do you have enough ashes for the Ash Wednesday? Our ashes are genuine palm leaf ash. They are pre measured and packaged for 1000, 500, 200 or 100 people. Many parishes like to purchase the smaller packets for easy distribution.
Holy Week
The beauty of the Holy Week rituals calls for a wide variety of items. Many churches will decorate with Banners that depict the events of the week as well as special chasubles, stoles or candlesticks. Palm Sunday signals the approach of Holy Week observances. It is customary for parishes to distribute palm strips to the congregation. We have been distributing palm strips to churches for
over 30 years. All palm is delivered clean and fresh cut as two strip leaves in bags of 100. We ship direct to you in the week before Palm Sunday. Our prices are very competitive with quantity discounts available. We also have palm altar décor. These palm fronds are perfect for any type of arrangement. Clean and easy to arrange, each bag of Fan palm, Date palm, and Sago palm Altar Décor includes 4 palm fronds 24” to 36” tall. The smaller Mediterranean Fan palm altar decor measures 16” to 18” and come s 8 to a bag. See our website for decoration ideas.To facilitate the reading of the Passion of our Lord in three parts we have beautiful Ceremonial binders to hold the scripture in an attractive reverential way. The binders are color coordinated to match the liturgical color of the day and can be adapted to many uses throughout the year.
On Holy Thursday in many dioceses the pastor of a parish will attend the Chrism Mass. At that time the sacred oils that are used for the sacraments in the parishes are distributed. We have Chrismatory Sets, oil stocks, sacristy oil sets and appropriate carrying cases that are needed for the transport of the sacred oils. Later in the day during the parish liturgy as the priest washes the feet of 12 parishioners, symbolic of Jesus washing the feet of the apostles, a bowl and ewer are used. Since there is no Mass offered on Good Friday a large ciborium is used to hold Holy Communion for distribution on Good Friday. Many churches will build a shrine to the Blessed Sacrament with a repository or monstrance to hold the Holy Eucharist.Good Friday prayer services vary from Meditations on Jesus’ Seven Last Words to Stations of the Cross. Many parishes will have the Veneration of Christ Crucified. We have available many beautiful large crucifixes for this moving gesture of the Good Friday Prayer Service.
One of the principal symbols in the Easter Vigil liturgy is Light. The light of the paschal candle, congregation candles and even extra altar candles that might only be lit on special occasions all impress on our consciousness that Jesus, the Light of the World has risen from the dead! We carry a wide selection of beeswax candles as well as sterine candles. We can ship as late as Holy Thursday to insure a delivery in time for Easter. The Paschal Candle is lit from the Easter “New Fire” We have foolproof fire starters that guarantee a quick bright flame with little or no smoke as well as a brazier to contain the flame in a reverential manner.
