It’s that time of year again! Round off 2020 on a high note by spreading Christmas cheer to all your loved ones through these heartfelt and inspiring Catholic gifts. For a little help getting into a spiritual state of mind, be sure to keep up with this year’s Advent Calendar, and check out other creative gift ideas from Busted Halo’s Gift Guides of years past: 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016.
For those looking to build the Church at home:
Bringing the Church into our homes has never been more important than during the pandemic, and if you know someone who’s been trying to do so, these thoughtful gifts can make all the difference. This Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal is perfect to prepare for the Sunday readings (and jot down any notes from the homily that you’d rather not forget!), and the little ones can follow along too with their very own My Little Church Magnet Play Set. WhenBeautyMetTruth’s prayer cards and Providential Co.’s Holy Family Votive are sure to make any space feel more spiritual, while a digital gift like a subscription to Formed (which is basically Netflix for Catholics) can bring the whole family together for some meaningful programming when the weather gets frightful. And let’s not forget the Bible! Bishop Robert Barron’s leather-bound The Word on Fire Bible, complete with commentary and passage explanations, is a breathtaking gift for those who wish to dive deeper into the Scriptures. Finally, get into a spirited state of mind by putting together a Catholic Advent playlist for anyone who needs a boost!
For the spiritual and stylish:
Who doesn’t love a little fashion fun during the Christmas season? For the Catholic minimalists in our lives, this little woven bracelet fashioned with a cross bead or a painted Marian scrunchie from Be a Heart Designs are great for keeping it simple and stylish. If you know someone who’s always ready to get a little funkier with their fashion, these religious socks are a sure hit. (Who wouldn’t love socks adorned with Saint Michael the Archangel?) This baseball cap embroidered with “Be the light” is another must-have this Christmas. Finally, the “saint in the making” facemask from our very own Busted Halo Gift Shop is a comfy and practical gift for friends who love to experiment with facemask fashion.
For the faithful foodie:
Well, this guide is supposed to help you find gifts for others this holiday season, but you just might end up doing some shopping for yourself after reading about these treats. The Trappistine Nuns of Mount St. Mary’s Abbey in Wrentham, MA create delicious fudge, brittles, and other candies that will satisfy any sweet tooth. And don’t forget to pair that Trappistine Nun candy with some Carmelite Monk Coffee! Mystic Monk Coffee has an impressive array of seasonal coffee blends for the coffee lovers in your life, who might also need a fancy new double handled mug for their new monk coffee. Let’s just bring all the saints into this while we’re at it; for loved ones who enjoy getting creative in the kitchen, these “Cooking with the Saints” recipe book and apron will make for some *heavenly* cooking.
For kids:
We all love spoiling the kids at Christmastime. For the very little ones, this “Saint in training” onesie is an absolutely adorable buy. As the kiddos learn to read, a children’s first prayer book or the “Can You Find Saints” book (a Catholic Take on “Where’s Waldo”) will get them acquainted with the Catholic prayer and holy figures. Continue inspiring our future women of the Church to sainthood with these Dolls From Heaven, with Saints Joan of Arc, John Paul II, and Mary of Nazareth being just a few options to choose from.
For family fun:
At the end of the day, the Christmas season is all about family. Bring everyone together with a few fun hours of Bible-opoly, a spin-off of the ever-popular Monopoly board game that brings together Biblical history and some good old property trading. Or, order a whole box of Christmas activities right to your door with the Advent Catholic Family Crate, complete with Jesse Tree Cards, ornaments, and other goodies.
For the crafty Catholic:
Have friends or family who like to get artsy? Faith and Fabric’s sew-a-saint cutouts are a great choice for those just learning to thread their needles, while the more advanced might enjoy embroidering with a beautiful floral crucifix pattern from Studio Senn. The kids are sure to love this Jesse Tree Sticker Set complete with a storybook about characters of the Bible (as long as you’re open to the possibility of finding a Moses or baby Jesus sticker somewhere around the house in three months). And if you’re looking to keep it simple and cost-friendly, creating a homemade card for each week of Advent is a great way to show a loved one that you’re thinking of them this holiday season.
For the one who loves the saints:
Celebrating the feast days of saints is a great way to get more involved in one’s faith. A subscription to Feast Day will bring your loved one beautiful devotional items and traditional foods to help them celebrate the saints year-round. Those looking to add a little color to their accessories can don Saints for Sinners’ saint medallions, which are hand-painted in New Orleans. And this Alphabet Saints Poster is another fun way to keep the saints top-of-mind in your household (and look at how cute it is!).
For the home decorator:
A Catholic home could always use some extra spiritual decor. Providential Co. and MarekMade have wide selections of devotional prints, posters in modern and unique styles to liven up the walls of any room. Another striking print is this 5×7 rendition of the Madonna and Child from The Modern Saints. To keep things cozy, what better home decor gift to get a loved one than a throw pillow all about love? And the Three Kings would be proud of this one: a Frankincense and Myrrh candle, which is pretty much as close to a true Christmas scent as you can get (at least without the smell of animals in the stable). Or, if you’re looking to go small, an angel jewelry dish might be the way to go for a daughter, sister, friend, or anyone else in your life who likes to keep things beautifully organized.
For the philanthropist:
For those looking for more than just another “thing” this Christmas, consider purchasing a clothing item from Francis + Benedict, which will help fund the education, housing, and health of a child in need in the African country of Togo. And it’s never a bad idea to make a donation in someone’s name. Help those in need of coronavirus relief by donating to the Saint Francis Foundation or Catholic Relief Services, or those suffering from natural disasters through Catholic Charities and Unbound, and victims of human trafficking who find refuge with Courage Worldwide.
