You must check out the newest personalized Christmas cards from the Gallery Collection. Being the devout Catholic that I am, I only send religious Christmas cards; I refuse to send out Season’s Greeting cards – except to my non-Christian friends, of course. Jesus is the reason for the season and I proudly proclaim this when choosing the Christmas cards I send each year. I know it’s politically correct to say “Season’s Greetings” – even shopping mall employees are forbidden to wish us a Merry Christmas. Although last year I told the cashier that if she didn’t wish me a Merry Christmas I would leave without buying anything. Knowing which side her bread is buttered on, she mouthed it very quietly but I could tell she agreed with me.

One of The Gallery Collection’s new and exquisite designs, #126CW Madonna & Child Religious Christmas Card, features a painting by Sassoferrato, who is also known as Giovanni Battista Salvi. The colors of red, white, and blue in the Virgin Mary’s robes are so vivid. The material is so soft you can practically feel it and the detail in the folds of her robes are so well defined. Looking at Mary’s young beautiful face you can’t help but feel the anguish her expression foretells. You can feel the love she has for this babe – the fruit of her womb – yet she seems to be looking to the future at the trials and tribulations he will endure. Her arms are wrapped around him trying to protect him from all harm, as a mother is to do. She seems to be at peace yet her eyes are not completely closed. She knows that her love is not enough to keep this special child safe and so she will remain vigilant. Yet the baby Jesus is sleeping soundly. He knows that he is in good hands – his mother’s and his father’s. He has his hand resting on top of his mother’s, the child protecting the mother. He’s telling her not to worry. He knows the end will be triumphant. This beautiful image is surrounded by a shiny gold regal border, the old juxtaposed with the new, that seems to remind us that this event is as alive today as it was 2,000 years ago.

Design #126CW - Madonna & Child
Religious Christmas Card

Another new design that I will be sending to my non-Christian friends and associates is design #094CX, Golden Greetings Holiday Card. This card is of such high quality, rich paper stock. There are three ornamental designs – a tree, a stocking, and a bell – on the cover that are embossed and detailed in gold foil. There are silver foil snowflakes that sparkle and reflect beautiful colors; they seem to pop off the paper! The three designs are more commercial than “Christmassy” and since it reads “Season’s Greetings,” you can really send this holiday card to anyone and still be politically correct. The personalization in gold foil (not gold ink) on the inside of the card is so classy and it ties the outside and inside together nicely. I must say, while it’s not a religious Christmas card, it is rather impressive.

Design #094CX - Golden Greetings Holiday Card

The Gallery Collection recently introduced a lovely religious Christmas cards design that evokes that spiritual sense of peace. Design #140CX, Christmas Chapel Holiday Card, depicts an embossed country church highlighted by touches of gold foil. The peaceful serenity is enhanced by majestic trees in their winter splendor scattered behind the chapel among the fields of snow. Closely surrounding the chapel are several smaller pine trees that highlight the quiet welcome to worship. The Northern Star has prominence above the steeple on this Christmas card to emphasis the meaning of Christmas by appearing as the Star of Bethlehem did in the first Christmas.

This religious Christmas card evokes a feeling of nostalgia and peace. The sentiment “In the Spirit of Peace” creates an image of simple celebrations of Christmases past before commercialism took hold of this religious holiday. The feeling that you can worship amidst simple surroundings and truly feel the splendor of Christmas is something that I feel like sharing with all my family and friends. I say let’s spread some serenity in this tumultuous time.

Design #140CX Christmas Chapel Holiday Card

The day and the season are called Christmas for a reason. I like to acknowledge and celebrate the reason for the season. That’s why I choose to send religious Christmas cards. They allow me to express the joy and peace I feel for this glorious occasion, and to spread and share these feelings with others. It’s a choice that helps me to stay centered during a hectic time of year.

Often I will choose a nativity scene; there are so many beautiful versions from which to choose. Certainly I have used prints of famous paintings, but sometimes I’ve been drawn by the simplicity of more modern representational art.

Some years, as I recall in 2001, I felt an urgency to let a white dove represent my deeply felt beliefs. I’ve found a couple of other ways to express both my religious beliefs and my hopes for peace on this earth. One year I sent a whole wreath of doves, and last year I sent a lovely Christmas tree that was decorated with doves. I also enjoy using religious Christmas cards that picture angels. It’s my little way of sending the reminder that “angels are among us.”

Although I’m not trying to tell others what beliefs they should hold or how they should worship, it’s important to me to express my faith in my daily life. One way for me to do that at Christmas is to choose religious cards celebrating the birth of Christ and wishing peace to everyone.