Holy Hucksters

Christmas is a golden time for the manufacturers of religious articles, and they pepper the pages of church periodicals with ads. This year Christians can give their favorite clergyman a ballpoint pen with a large cross for a clip--"An Exquisite Symbol of Faith" which "will put inspiration into every word you write" during "a lifetime of faithful service." Those with "vocation-minded Catholic boys" on their Christmas lists may consider a " 'Play-Mass' Set" made of "durable white plastic fabric, with brightly colored crosses," and consisting of "chasuble, maniple, stole, glass chalice, chalice cover, three altar cards and 'The Mass Book'--$5.98."

Roman Catholics and high-church Protestants may give rosaries in all shapes and sizes--from an "ecclesiastically approved recording rosary permanently encased in plastic" and designed to clip onto the gearshift lever of one's car, to a "pearl and silver finished rosary" with "a special clasp that converts it into a most attractive double-strand necklace."

To make "any room a private chapel," the devout may keep their rosaries in a Musical Madonna, which "glows softly with comforting concealed light," and upon opening the rosary drawer, "plays Gounod's Ave Maria." Another item for the room: a plaque of Jesus' head, "breathtaking in its vibrant lifelike color . . . created so that the eyes and face of Jesus follow you in any direction."

"DIFFERENT--EXCITING--INSPIRING" is a rhodium-finish Crucifix Prayer Book, an inch and a half long and sparkling with handset imported rhinestones. "Contains Hidden Holy Prayer! Look thru center stone . . . see tiny child praying . . . read beautiful Lord's Prayer!" This $9.95 value is now only $2.98, and, in addition, purchasers may "wear amazing Crucifix Prayer Book for 10 Days at Our Risk."

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