Heart Shield Catholic Pocket Manual

5B edited by J. M. Lelen. Ca 1945.

Notes

This is a “Catholic’s Pocket Manual – A Manual of Prayers and Devotional Exercises.” This pocket-size prayer book was edited by J. M. Lelen, a well-known Catholic priest and devotional-book author/editor throughout the mid-20th century.

Catholic’s Pocket Manual collects a range of traditional prayers, devotions, and spiritual exercises designed for everyday Catholic use — suitable for personal prayer, reflection, Mass preparation, Marian devotions, and other spiritual practices. It’s part of a long tradition of Catholic devotional manuals meant to guide lay faithful in their daily prayer lives.

This particular copy bears a heart-shield / metal cover engraved “May the Lord be with You.” Heart shield copies were designed to sit over a soldier’s chest pocket. While mainly intended to offer spiritual comfort and encouragement, the reinforced cover was also marketed as a symbolic “shield,” with some documented examples having deflected shrapnel or bullets.

Description 

loose brown leather binding with separated spine. Metal cover reads “may the lord be with you.” Red edges. Many pages loose but intact. Stamp of a Mary A. Tetreault on inner cover and four four leaf clovers in plastic sheet loosely inserted. Also a funeral announcement for Alfred Mongeau and Mission Sunday collection envelope loosely inserted. Page 97 loose.