If you’re anything like us, then you can hardly believe we’re just slightly over a month away from Christmas. Although many of us have hardly left our homes this year and the days (quite literally!) seem to blend together like some weird marathon session of Groundhog Day, it certainly hasn’t slowed the passage of time.
We’re all in need of a little bit of holiday cheer, and thankfully it’s right around the corner. While it seems like everything else in world has been cancelled, it’s comforting to know that Christmas and the immense joy that Christ brought to the world cannot and will not be cancelled.
In the spirit of the season and to help spread a little bit of that joy, we present our 2020 gift guide. May your Christmas season be full of jubilation and rejuvenation!
Books
We’ve all likely been glued to our phones or a screen of some sort more than usual this year, but it’s never too late the kick the habit! Why not bury your face in a good book instead? It’s better for the brain, more enriching, and the pages don’t emit a mind-numbing blue glow.
1. Consecration to St. Joseph by Father Donald Calloway (Marian Press), $14.95 2. The Imitation of Mary by Father Quan Tran (Sophia Press), $17.95 3. Pray, Hope, & Don’t Worry Prayer Journal for Catholic Women: A 52-Week Guided Devotional Through Scripture and the Saints to Overcome Anxiety by Sara A. Smith (Holy Water Books), $13.95 4. Theology of Home: Finding the Eternal in the Everyday (TAN Books), $34.95 5. Theology of Home II: The Spiritual Art of Home Making (TAN Books), $34.95 6. Brilliant! 25 Catholic Scientists, Mathematicians, and Supersmart People by David Michael Warren (Word on Fire), $24.95 7. Fatima: 100 Questions and Answers on the Marian Apparitions by Paul Senz (Ignatius Press), $14.95
Clothing/Accessories
Just because we’re Catholic doesn’t mean we have to be dressed for Sunday Mass all the time, nor does it mean we can’t wear some hip Catholic gear every once in a while. Here are just a few small Catholic businesses that are thinking outside the box when it comes to clothing and accessories.
1. More Than You Realize (mtyrstore.org) 2. Catholic Socks & That One Sheep shirts (sockreligious.com) 3. Pink Salt Riot Jewelry (pinksaltriot.com) 4. Rosary Habit jewelry (rosaryhabit.com) 5. Brick House in the City (brickhouseinthecity.com) 6. PAL Campaign (palcampaign.com)
Baby/Kids/Teen
Look beyond the shelves of Target and Walmart when shopping for the little ones and kids in your lives. From adorable swaddles to books of the children’s and comic variety, here are a few Catholic alternatives.
1. Be A Heart Catholic baby swaddles (beaheart.com), $28 2. Chews Life rosaries (chewslife.com), $38 3. Custom saint peg dolls (TheCheerfulGifter Etsy shop) 4. Noah’s Wooden Ark Animal Shape Sorter (Tender Leaf Toys), $99 5. Stories of the Saints: Bold and Inspiring Tales of Adventure, Grace and Courage by Carey Wallace (Workman Publishing), $24.95 6. Lily Lolek: Future Saint by Katie Warner (TAN Books), $16.95 7. The Four Gospels for Young Catholics (Pauline Books and Media), $29.95 8. Friends Again by Karine-Marie Amiot & Violaine Costa (Magnificat), $14.99 9. The Kingstone Bible Comic Books (Kingstone)
Practical/Religious gifts
While many religious gifts in the past seemed to be better suited for your grandma than your niece, that is no longer the case. Consider gifting one of these sacred gifts this Christmas season. Included are a couple of unique new Bibles, just in case yours or someone’s you know is getting a little raggedy.
1. Monk Manual 90-planner, $38 (monkmanual.com) 2. Rugged Rosaries (cordbands.com) 3. The Catholic Candle Company (catholiccandlecompany.com) 4. The Catholic Woodworker Crucifixes (catholicwoodworker.com) 5. The Little Rose Shop: Unique Catholic prints, coffee mugs and more (thelittleroseshop.com) 6. The Catholic Journaling Bible (Blessed is She), $49.95 7. The Word On Fire Bible, Vol. 1: The Gospels (Word on Fire), starts at $29.95 8. The Augustine Bible ESV-CE (Augustine Institute), starts at $49.95
Local stores
It’s important to support small, local Catholic businesses, and especially so this year. Lucky for us, there are quite a few just around the block, and they have wide ranges of gifts that would be perfect for your loved ones of all ages. The best part is you can order online too!
1. Bethlehem Handicrafts (bethlehemhandicrafts.com) 2. Creator Mundi (creatormundi.com) 3. Stargazer Fine Chocolates (stargazerfinechocolates.com) 4. Gerkens Religious Supplies (gerkens.com) 5. The Retro, home of Full of Grace USA and Motherboards (theretro.net)
