Catholic pendants tell rich and varied stories of faith, nobility, and devotion. Although many Catholic pendants honor major figures of the religion, such as the Apostles, Jesus, and Mary, you can discover pendants and medals which detail the lives of various private Catholics throughout history. For instance, noblemen in the 1700s and 1800s would often commemorate special life events by minting private medals and pendants. These pieces contain intimate details of people's lives, including hours of birth, marriage information, and more. Some Catholic pendants honor unique legends. One of the most famous of these tells the tale of St. Christopher, the Patron Saint of Travelers, who supposedly ferried the young Christ child across a deep and difficult river. While fording this stream with the Christ child on his back, St. Christopher noted how heavy his charge was. The child admitted he weighed so much because he was burdened with the sins of the whole world. Today, many Catholics invest in St. Christopher pendants and medals to ensure good luck and well being while traveling. It has become common practice to hang St. Christopher ornaments on rearview mirrors. Catholics also commemorate the Cross of St. Ulrich, who supposedly drew upon miraculous strength to defeat the Huns in the year 955. While Catholic pendants, crucifixes, and other pieces of jewelry are traditionally worn around the neck or the wrist, many devout Christians or collectors simply gather these pieces in sets. Research instruments abound to help collectors price and understand the pendant and medal markets. |
