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AHimmelsbrief, also known as a "heaven's letter" or "heavenly letter", is a religious document said to have been written byGod or a divine agent. Their purpose is to protect the bearer or place from all evil and danger; however, there is a price for their protection.
They are often said to have miraculously "fallen from sky",claim protection for owners of a copy (encouragingmemetic replication) and punishment for disbelievers.
Some authors reserve the name forChristianapocryphal documents, but similar pieces are found inIslam,Hinduism and pre-Christian religions.
Hippolytus of Rome mentions one inRefutation of All Heresies (third century), and the earlier full text is a Latin one dated in the 6th century.
While preaching, Jacob, the organizer of theShepherds' Crusade (1251), held one which was allegedly given by the Virgin Mary.
In thePennsylvania German community, they are part ofPow-wow tradition and containedBible verses and other charms and assurances that their owners would be protected from death, injury, and other misfortune. The text of these letters is often written according to a long established formula. This is why it is sometimes believed that Himmelsbrief are the original chain letters. Pow-wow practitioners charged handsome sums for thesemagical letters; the price they commanded depended on the reputation of the practitioner. However, some traditions call for it to be given free of charge. A hand-written letter produced by a respected Hexenmeister or Braucher is regarded as a powerful talisman. Himmelsbrief may be written in order to communicate with someone departed, or to request assistance from God in heaven.