Father, can you suggest some good religious items for Christmas gifts?
Great idea! Christmas is, after all, a celebration of the birth of Jesus! Here are some ideas:
1. Give a gift to Jesus. Maybe this could be a gift of time in prayer or service.
2. Give others the gift of Jesus. Maybe add a note to your Christmas card that you are praying for them. Or drop by the Curé office and have a Mass offered for them (suggested offering is only $5, but the value: priceless)
3. Religious music. We have some great CD’s by local Catholic artists here at Curé (in stock in our office and only $15): The Music of Camp Tekakwitha, Fr. Kent’s Musical of Tobit, the Curé Choirs, and CD’s from our excellent cantors Mark Fortino & Ellen Tuttle, Steve Courtney, and Ron Gutierrez.
4. Religious art. Every Catholic home should have reminders and signs of their faith. Consider a nativity scene, a crucifix, or images of Jesus or the saints.
5. A good spiritual book. First of all, every home, and really, every person should have their own Bible. There are several good Catholic translations out there. Already have a Bible? Consider one the many good Catholic books out there. Check them out at your local Catholic bookstore or online. I’ll throw out one specific recommendation: I was recently at the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) and saw Jason Evert speak there and blow away the teens! Therefore, I highly recommend his books for teens, such as “If You Really Love Me: 100 Questions on Dating, Relationships, and Sexual Purity.”
Yes, you’ll be going out on limb getting these sorts of gifts. And yes, the receiver might think they prefer an iPod or a gift card, but in the long run, these gifts will be far more rewarding. “Keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)
-Fr. Greg
If you would like submit a question, please write it out and place it in the “Ask a Priest” box in the vestibule or email me at frgreg@kc.rr.com.
