It’s hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner. And while we must never overlook the beautiful season of Advent, it’s not too early to start thinking about Christmas gift ideas for loved ones — especially those that will help the recipient better live their Catholic faith. For this year’s guide, we’ve chosen a wide variety of Catholic gifts intended to appeal to the whole family, and we hope that this gift guide will be an inspiration for you as the season draws near.
Lori Hadacek Chaplin writes from Idaho.
GIFTS FOR LADIES
Kashmiri Shawls & Leather Bags
Help impoverished artisans in India get a fair price for their hand-dyed Kashmiri shawls and leather bags. The shawls — made of silk and a cotton-wool blend — come in five different vibrant hues and patterns. The leather bags are also handmade in India and come in a variety of colors and sizes.
Price: Shawl $58 (79″ L x 27″ W); Bags $148-$168
Website: EthicalTrade.CRS.org
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Shield of Michael the Archangel Earrings
Women who like to wear jewelry that makes a statement will appreciate these handmade Shield of Michael the Archangel Earrings from Catholic jewelry artist Gail Giron. The earrings feature St. Michael’s wings embellished with a bright turquoise bead and deep red Swarovski crystals.
Price: $38
Website: GailsDesigns.net
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Necklace of Holy Love
Another statement piece is this necklace from Seraphym Designs. The necklace (20″) has warm-toned champagne-colored crystal beads with aqua crystal accents. The beads encircle a solid bronze, hand-cast, ornate cross (2″ tall) with two kissing doves perched on the Sacred Heart (1″ tall).
Price: $189
Coupon: “Sunday” for a 15% discount.
Website: SeraphymDesigns.com
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Journaling Through the Gospels and Psalms, Catholic Edition
Featuring an elegant design with a soft, synthetic leather cover available in two colors — rose and navy (great for guys!) — this journal is the perfect way to read, pray and write your way through the Gospels and Psalms. The wide margins in this single-column edition give you room to take notes, record prayers and even doodle, allowing you to thoughtfully reflect on passages of Scripture and grow closer to the Lord.
Price: $34.95 (384 pages)
Website: OSVCatholicBookstore.com
GIFTS FOR GENTLEMEN
“Paul, Apostle of Christ”
“Paul, Apostle of Christ” follows the days before the former terror of Christians was martyred. Paul — convincingly played by James Faulkner — has been thrown into a Roman prison because Emperor Nero has falsely accused him of setting half of Rome ablaze. Physician and Apostle Luke, portrayed by “The Passion of the Christ” star Jim Caviezel, risks his life to visit his friend in jail. Not wanting Paul’s teachings to die with him, Luke begins writing the Acts of Apostles.
Price: $17.96
Coupon: “OSV20” for 20% discount.
Website: Ignatius.com
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“A Bloody Habit”
Fans of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” will be tickled by Eleanor Bourg Nicholson’s “A Bloody Habit,” a new release from Ignatius Press. An homage to Stoker’s novel, “A Bloody Habit” is a 19th-century Gothic tale that shows the role of priests in the fight against the demonic. The novel’s protagonist, John Kemp — not unlike Stoker’s Jonathan Harker character — is a barrister who gets embroiled in a vampire mystery. Confronted with evil that most people assume is fiction, Kemp realizes that he has nowhere to turn but to a rotund, Dominican priest-vampire slayer named Father Gilroy.
Price: $16.11
Coupon: “OSV20” for 20% discount.
Website: Ignatius.com
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Ambry Beard Oil
Ambry Beard Oil contains a mix of coconut oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, hemp seed and essential oils. Argan oil is a rare oil from Morocco known to nourish skin and help with rashes without clogging pores. Like other Catholic Balm products, the Ambry Beard Oil has a manly scent derived from the aroma of balsam, rose and 50 other scents. “All mixed together to remind you daily of your baptismal promises,” says Catholicbalm.co.
Price: $25 and $20 for each additional bottle
Website: CatholicBalm.co
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Agate Stone Custom Franciscan Rosary
This antique bronze finish Custom Franciscan Rosary is both beautiful and masculine. Made in Italy, the rosary has a San Damiano Crucifix flanked by earth-tone agate and Bohemian glass beads. It also has a chapel centerpiece and two Franciscan University of Steubenville seals. A great gift for a FUS student, alumnus, or any gentleman who loves praying the Rosary.
Price: $82.99 (gift box included)
Website: Bookstore.franciscan.edu
GIFTS FOR CHILDREN
Saint Softies
If you’re looking for a patron saint gift for your little ones, Saintly Silver offers handmade, huggable Saint Softies. The stuffed dolls, crafted in the U.S., are made with wool-blended felt and embroidery floss. Each colorful saint (approximately 4 1/2″ L x 2 1/2″ W) is hand-cut and sewn with an attention to detail. Normal ship time is 2-3 weeks.
Price: $25-$27
Website: Saintlysilver.com
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Biblezon Catholic Tablet
The Biblezon Catholic tablet offers a way to access all things Catholic without the distractions of email, social media and internet browsing. This specialized tablet comes preloaded with over 52 Catholic apps, for both kids and adults, and over 80 percent of their apps work offline. Users can also go to Biblezon’s marketplace to download additional apps and books. They even have a tablet geared specifically for children ages 5-12 loaded with 66 Bible stories, 50 saint stories, Catechism for Kids based on the Baltimore Catechism, coloring activities, puzzle games, Bible games, a Rosary guide and much more.
Price: $69
Website: Biblezon.com
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Marian Consecration for Children
Author Carrie Gress’ “Marian Consecration for Children: Bringing Mary to Life in Young Hearts and Minds” provides an elegantly illustrated, simplified version of St. Louis de Montfort’s Consecration to Mary. Divided into 34 days, the book includes a short meditation for each day and accompanying discussion questions, prayers and a “Did You Know?” section that teaches children about the rich tradition of their Catholic faith. Recommended for children ages 5-12.
Price: $14.95
Website: TanBooks.com
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Dolls From Heaven
Make your little girl’s Christmas one she won’t forget with a saint doll. The Mary of Nazareth is the newest item at Dolls From Heaven. Featured along with Mary — clad in her favorite color blue — are St. Thérèse, Pope St. John Paul II and St. Joan of Arc. These Catholic versions of the American Girl Dolls are 18-inches tall and have movable vinyl heads and limbs. The Dolls From Heaven company was started by a Catholic family who wanted to offer dolls that “lead children closer to God through the lives of the saints.” Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Price: $98
Coupon Code: “OSV10” for 10% discount
Website: DollsFromHeaven.com
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Lady of Fátima Apparition Figurine
From Little Drops of Water comes this collectible Lady of Fátima Apparition figurine. The statue, fitting for a child’s bedroom, serves as a reminder of how Our Lady visited three little shepherds — Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta — to give them a message from heaven. The figurine is hand-painted resin and stands 3.5″ tall. Little Drops of Water also carries figurines of other apparitions, Jesus and the saints.
Price: $16.50
Website: LittleDropsofWater.com
GIFTS FOR TEENS
“Ode to Saint Cecilia” CD
Augustine Institute Radio Theatre’s “Ode to Saint Cecilia” brings the saint’s story to life with professional British actors, music and sound effects. Hear why this young woman — patron saint of musicians — is a source of inspiration for all who practice the craft. Interwoven in the story of St. Cecilia’s martyrdom is one of the most astounding love stories of all times. Her witness dramatically changed the life of her husband and inspired early Christians. Your teen will want to share this audio with the whole family.
Price: $29.95 (4-CD audio drama)
Website: LighthouseCatholicMedia.org
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Personalized Mary Mother of the Church Bible
Exclusively from The Catholic Company is their new NAB-RE Bible with an icon image of Our Lady, Mother of the Church, on the cover. The Bible’s blue, leather-look softcover has the option of being personalized with the recipient’s name, making it a cherished gift for a teenage son or daughter.
Price: $69.95
Website: CatholicCompany.com
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Eight-Way Devotional Necklace
A young man would especially appreciate this necklace with an eight-way devotional medal in the shape of a cross (dimensions 1 3/8″ x 1″ medal with stainless steel 27″ ball chain). Also known as a scapular medal, the images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Miraculous Medal, Holy Spirit, Guardian Angel, Saint Benedict, Saint Joseph and Infant Jesus of Prague are depicted. According to Pope St. Pius X, the scapular medal may take the place of a cloth scapular after a valid enrollment.
Price: $19.99
Coupon: “DIVINE10” for 10% discount
Website:RuggedRosary.com
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Sterling Silver Christian Symbols Ring
This Christian Symbols Ring, made from genuine 925 sterling silver, is a concrete reminder of our faith. Engraved on the ring are 11 Christian symbols including the Chi Rho (Khristos, Christ), and Alpha and Omega symbols.
Price: $48
Website: ReginasGifts.com
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Butterfly Girl Prayer Journal
With the journaling craze, there are a lot of journals on the market, but none are as romantic as the Butterfly Girl Prayer Journal. The journal — with a leather tie and metal butterfly charm — comes in multiple colors and holds 85 pages of refillable, lined paper. Buy two journals and get one free.
Price: $18.76 (small) $26.54 (large) from
Coupon Code: “15PERCENT” for 15% discount.
Website: DailyNourish.org
GIFTS FOR THE HOME AND FAMILY
Monastery Creations Soap
Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde, Missouri, make blessed soap from pure ingredients, including shea and cocoa butter, olive, coconut, palm, palm kernel, almond and castor oils, fragrance and essential oils — plus a few drops of holy water. Their soaps come in a gift box containing four attractively packaged bars of your choice. Pick from 40 different scents or fragrance-free bars.
Price: $30 (boxed set)
Website: MonasteryCreations.com
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Avian Motif Gourd Ornaments
These hand-dyed and etched bird ornaments made by Peruvian artisans are the perfect hostess gift or an ideal gift for those who have the tradition of gifting their children with an ornament each year. These ornaments, made from real gourds with seeds in them, rattle when shaken. An important benefit is that Peruvian artisans earn a fair wage, plus a percentage of the purchase is donated to Catholic Relief Services.
Price: $24 (set of two)
Website: EthicalTrade.CRS.org
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Glory Be Saints Calendar 2019
Want to spend the year with some of your favorite saints? This full-color, 11″x17″ wall calendar will help keep your life organized and your faith inspired during 2019. Each month features a saint drawing by artist Rebecca Pohlmeier along with a prayer, and Bible verse or quote from the saint, including St. Gianna Beretta Molla, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Josephine Bakhita and more! Gift this calendar to family members to get 2019 started with the right perspective.
Price: $14.95
Website: OSVCatholicBookstore.com
