The Easter season and spring means celebration of sacraments, particularly the Easter sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. Many men are ordained to the priesthood or diaconate during this time, as well. Catholic Digest offers some new and tried-and-true gift suggestions to commemorate these special events. Congratulations to all!
CONFIRMATION GIFTS AND HOLY ORDERS GIFTS
A modern take on the votive candle, Providential Co. offers premium grade, 100 percent natural soy wax, long-lasting candles in a variety of designs. Pick from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Our Lady of Walsingham, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Joseph, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Thomas Aquinas in unscented or scented. All of the candles’ aromas are derived from phthalate-free fragrance oils. These votives would also make a great gift for those receiving First Communion, Confirmation, and the sacraments of Matrimony or Holy Orders.
Price: $24
Promo code: “SPRINGGUIDE” for 10 percent discount. Offer expires May 1, 2019.
Website: Providential.co/shop
Day By Day With Saint Faustina: 365 Reflections by Susan Tassone (Sophia Institute Press, 2019) is a gift that will enhance prayer life and help foster the faith. Tassone draws on the Diary of Catholic visionary and mystic St. Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938) to bring the reader closer to God. Each page features a quote from St. Faustina paired with an inspirational reflection and a short prayer.
Price: $14.99 (paperback)
Promo code: “Digest25” for 25 percent discount off of the book.
Website: SophiaInstitute.com
Pope Francis’ favorite devotion, Mary Undoer of Knots, has become incredibly popular since he began his pontificate. Handcrafted exclusively at The Catholic Company is this beautiful Mary Undoer of Knots Decade Rosary with a prayer card. The rosary features marbled sodalite, nickel seed beads, and antique silver toned rondelle beads with an oxidized silver medal of Our Lady Undoer of Knots.
Price: $23.95
Website: CatholicCompany.com
FIRST COMMUNION GIFTS
From Indiana-based Clarey Clayworks is their best-selling personalized clay First Communion Bowl. The handmade bowl features the child’s name and the date of their First Communion along with the Scripture quote: “Whoever eats this bread, shall live forever.” It’s the perfect container for a rosary. The bowl comes packaged in a gift box with a bow.
Price: $54.95 (size about 4.5 inches)
Website: Etsy.com/shop/ClareyClayworks
Looking for a memorable gift, this handmade Marian temporary tattoo will be a hit. Pennsylvania artist Katrina Deem took her inspiration for the tattoo from an early 20th century Marian cross design. “[I] added a modern touch to it as a result of my recent prayer intentions to become closer to Our Mother,” she explains. “I’ve been praying and reflecting on her life quite a bit, and when our wonderful social media followers suggested to make this design into a temporary tattoo, it seemed like a natural fit.”
Price: $3.49 (two tattoos; size 1.5 x 1.5 inches)
Website: Etsy.com/shop/littlewaydesignco
Maura Roan McKeegan has written child-friendly books that draw parallels between Old Testament stories and the New Testament. The series includes three books vividly illustrated by Catholic Digest’s Ted Schluenderfritz. In Into the Sea, Out of the Tomb: Jonah and Jesus, children will easily see how the story of Jonah being trapped in the whale relates to Jesus’ entombment and resurrection. In Building the Way to Heaven: The Tower of Babel and Pentecost, McKeegan shows how the story of the Tower of Babel was rewritten by the story of Pentecost; and in The End of the Fiery Sword: Adam & Eve and Jesus & Mary, she discusses the relationship between Adam and Eve and the new Adam and Eve — Jesus and Mary.
Price: Each $10.95 (paperback); $17.95 (hardcover)
Website: StPaulCenter.com
BAPTISM GIFTS
This personalized Baptism Holy Water Bottle is a keepsake that a child will treasure into adulthood. The bottle features a shell (a symbol for Baptism), the child’s name, and date of the Baptism.
Price: $24.95
Website: CatholicCompany.com
Back in 2016, I featured this rosary in Catholic Digest. Three years later, the rosary still looks like new, and it remains one of our family’s favorite rosaries. We like the feel of the smooth olive wood beads, and the different colored beads make it easier for our children to follow along with the rosary. The rosary features large beads (12 mm in diameter) with a plain cross (approximately 2.5 inches tall) hand carved by Christians in the Holy Land. Children under 3 should have adult supervision when using the rosary.
Price: $25
Website: Etsy.com/shop/BCInspirations