Devotional card Africa-Christo Spiritans - Saint Anthony of Padua, 1946

Devotional card from the Africa-Christo missionary charity of the Fathers of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), printed in Italy (AA Dep Z/121). The front shows a colour illustration of Saint Anthony of Padua in Franciscan habit, kneeling before the Christ Child resting on a rock, surrounded by cherubs and radiant light. The reverse contains a Dutch-language missionary prayer and bears the imprimatur of F.N.J. Hendrikx, Vic.-Gen. of the Diocese of Den Bosch, dated 23 April 1946, and the approval of Dr. L. Vogel, Provincial Superior C.S.Sp. in Gemert.

The Spiritans (Congregation of the Holy Spirit) were one of the most active Dutch missionary congregations in Africa in the twentieth century, with their provincialate based in Gemert. Africa-Christo was their missionary charity through which donors in the Netherlands were connected to evangelisation work. Cards of this type were distributed to members and benefactors of the charity. The card is in good condition with light yellowing and a small defect at the upper right corner.