Images(14)

God's Child: A Prayer Book for Children

Object number2017.76.2 a-e

Writer Reverend Harold V. Colgan

Publisher Frank Kirner

Dateafter 1939

OriginBelgium

MediumLeather; Paper; Plastic; Ink; Metal

Credit LineGift of Cheryl L. Baird

DescriptionPrayer book with prayer book holder, rosary, commemorative pin, and handwritten religious text.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (a-e together): 4.75 × 3.375 × 1.625 in. (12.1 × 8.6 × 4.1 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (a): 4.75 × 3.438 × 1.125 in. (12.1 × 8.7 × 2.9 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (b): 4.125 × 2.688 × 0.875 in. (10.5 × 6.8 × 2.2 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (c): 19 × 1 × 0.188 in. (48.3 × 2.5 × 0.5 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (d): 0.688 × 0.438 × 0.188 in. (1.7 × 1.1 × 0.5 cm)
Height x Width (e): 3.938 × 4.25 in. (10 × 10.8 cm)
Inscriptions(b)
Front cover has pink text above chalice "JHS" and ornate text at bottom center "JHS".

Front endpaper has printed on right leaf "INDULGENCED PRAYER / BEFORE A CRUCIFIX . / ..."

(c)
Front of crucifix has raised text "INRI".

(d)
Reverse has raised text "REMEMBRANCE / OF / MY FIRST / HOLY / COMMUNION".

(e)
Front has handwritten text in blue ink "We do believe it, because Jesus / Christ Her Founder has built her / upon a rock, against which the / gates of hell shall not prevail; / because He has promised her, / the assistance of the Holy / Ghost, and because He has / promised to remain with / her until the end of the / world."
Marks(b)
Title page has printed black text including "GOD'S CHILD / A / PRAYER BOOK / FOR CHILDREN / BY / Rev. HAROLD V. COLGAN / A Priest of the Diocese of Newark / JhS / FRANK KIRNER / 309, MARKET STREET / PITTSBURGH, PA. / PRINTED IN BELGIUM".

Back of title page has printed black text including "... / New York, Sept. 24th., 1931. / Revised November 1939. / No 2057"; and the following page has printed black text including "Remembrance of / First Holy Communion..."
Historical NotesFirst Communion prayer book from the First Communion of donor Cheryl L. Baird's aunt Christina Verbanec at St. Nicholas Church of Troy Hill (since torn down to expand Route 28) and the donor’s mother, Rose Marie Verbanec (Stubert) who wore the same veil at her First Communion. Christina Verbanec was ethnically Slovenian and lived on Viniao Street in the Spring Garden/Deutschtown neighborhood of the North Side. Her mother worked at Heinz and her father worked at Pittsburgh Wool. She grew up going to St. Nicholas Church and then eventually switched to St. Aloysius as an adult. She worked for Westinghouse for 35 years at their downtown headquarters as a secretary to one of the executives.

Previous owner Christina Verbanec

Related institution Saint Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church

Related institution St. Aloysius Church

Related institution H.J. Heinz Company

Related institution Pittsburgh Wool Company

Related institution Westinghouse

Related person Jesus Christ

Related person Mary

Subjects