The Honan Chapel - Gallery Collection


Image TitleHonan Collection: altar card with the Gospel of St. John
DescriptionThe beginning of St. John´s Gospel (I, 1-14) was much used as an object of special devotion throughout the Middle Ages. There are cases of its use in folk beliefs for superstitious practices, written on amulets and charms. The normal last Gospel is John, 1: 1-14. In 1916 it was read by the celebrant at the north side of the altar after the blessing. He read from the altar-card, taking the sign of the cross from the altar. He genuflected at the words, Et verbum caro factum est (and the Word was made flesh), and the server, at the end, answered Deo gratias (thanks be to God). The Honan Collection has two sets of altar cards. This is from the second set. Joseph Tierney, Columbar Studio, Dublin was the calligrapher and the frames were made by the firm of Edmond Johnson Ltd., Dublin. This item has been catalogued by Virginia Teehan & Elizabeth Wincott Heckett in The Honan Chapel: A Golden Vision published by Cork University Press in 2004.
ContributorJoseph Tierney, Columbar Studio, Dublin (calligrapher) Edmond Johnson Ltd., Dublin (silversmith)
Contribution Year1916
  
PhotographerJames Cronin
CopyrightJames Cronin and the Honan Trust
Date of Photograph1998
CollectionChapel Collection