SNGF -- What Artifacts Did You Find in an Ancestor's Closet/Attic/Garage?

Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Here is our assignment from Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings:

1)  Were you lucky enough to receive or find artifacts from your ancestors (parents, grandparents, or others) as you pursued your genealogy research?  

2)  Describe one or more of the artifacts you found or received and where you obtained them?

Thank you to Marian B. Wood for this SNGF suggestion.

Here's mine:

I have written about many artifacts or heirlooms that have passed down to me, and it took a while to locate something I have not yet written about.

Front side

Rear Side

These are medals that were given to me from my Nana (Anna Marie Sullivan Hork) along with a rosary of hers. I photographed them many years ago, but never really looked at them until today. The cross at the bottom likely came from a rosary that perhaps broke. The other items I will research some and explain them.

No. 1 (top left). “In League with the Sacred Heart.” And No. 2 (top middle), “Apostleship of Prayer – League of the Sacred Heart” are from the same organization. There are three practices that constitute three degrees of membership. First, practicing daily prayer, good works, and sufferings. The second, daily recitation of a decade in the Holy Rosary, and the third, receiving Holy Communion with the motive of reparation.[1]

My grandmother was devoted to daily prayer and weekly communal prayer. It is very likely she would have been a member of the League of the Sacred Heart.

No. 3 (top right). “Confraternity of Christian Doctrine” (C.C.D.) medal from the Diocese of Oakland, along with the medallion “Sanctus Pius PPX.” Sanctus Pius PPX refers to Pope Saint Pius X, born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto and was the 258th pope from 1903 to 1914.[2]

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, or what we called C.C.D or catechism, is religious education of the Catholic Church. If we attended public school, then we went to C.C.D. weekly to receive our religious education. In the fourth grade, left class in the middle of the day and parents drove us to the church where we had our lessons in an old house on the property. These classes were taught by lay teachers. In fifth grade, that was stopped and we had classes on Saturdays. I attended these classes through eighth grade until I was confirmed.

Pope Pius X was a strong advocate for religious education. He mandated the establishment of C.C.D. classes in every parish.[3] The teachers often held credentials in education or in the ministry. One year, my C.C.D. instructor was one of the sisters at the parochial school. In classes, one learned about the Catholic faith and were prepared to receive Sacraments of Penance, Holy Communion, and Confirmation. My grandmother, a credential school teacher, was also a C.C.D. teacher, and this medal was awarded to her. 

No. 4 (bottom left). Medallion that states “O Mary conceived Without Sin Pray for Us Who Have Recourse to Thee.” This is called the Miraculous Medal, or the Medal of the Immaculate Conception. This depicts Mary, mother of Jesus, on a globe with the head of a serpent beneath her feet. The words encircle around her. The back has twelve stars, a letter M with a cross, two hearts, one with a sword through it. This one was made in Italy. 

The story behind the Miraculous Medal begins in 1830, when Sister Catherine Laboure is led to the convent’s chapel and she sees the Virgin Mary sitting in a chair. “She kneels beside her and rests her hands in Mary’s lap. The two speak for several hours. During the conversation, Mary promises she will return and give the young nun a ‘mission.’” About four months later, Sr. Catherine has a vision of Mary standing in a position like on the medal. Later the vision changes to include the inscription. Mary says, “have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around their neck.”[4]

These medals were first made in France in 1832. The devotion spread rapidly as the blessings Mary promised “began to shower down” to those who wore it.[5]

I now remember these medals and that other kids wore them. I may have, too, but I don’t remember. But since it gives grace to those who wear it, I know that my grandmother would surely have. She told me of all the things she did to obtain more grace. I was thinking it was like have a bank account and all your good deeds from praying to helping people, gave you more grace and a better chance for heaven.

Thank you, Randy and Marion, for this theme, as I would not have thought to delve deeper to learn more about these medals.

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[1] “Apostleship of Prayer, The,” Catholic Answers (https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/apostleship-of-prayer-the : accessed 13 Jun 2026).

[2] “Pope Pius X,” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pius_X : accessed 13 June 2026).

[3] “Confraternity of Christian Doctrine,” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confraternity_of_Christian_Doctrine : accessed 13 June 2026).

[4] “The Meaning of the Miraculous Medal,” The Divine Mercy (https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/meaning-miraculous-medal : accessed 13 Jun 2026).

[5] Ibid.

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