Look to Our Sunday Visitor’s annual gift guide to find Catholic gifts that aid your loved ones’ spiritual lives or remind them of their faith. Here are 25 present ideas, including collectible saint dolls, newly released books, beautiful art prints, Catholic coffee, and more. Keeping budgets in mind, we chose gifts mostly in the $10-$50 price range.
Preparing for Advent gifts
“The Jesse Tree for Families”
“The Jesse Tree for Families” by Colleen Pressprich and illustrated by Amy Heyse offers children a look at salvation history, beginning with Adam and Eve and ending with the birth of Jesus — the new beginning. The book is laid out from Dec. 1 to Dec. 24, so families can read about 24 key figures in salvation history each day leading up to Christmas. Also included are meditations and “Conversation Starter” prompts for parents to help their children think more deeply about the Bible and prepare them for baby Jesus’ birthday.
Price: $24.95 (softcover)
Website: osvcatholicbookstore.com
“Virgin of Tenderness” Christmas cards
The “Virgin of Tenderness” is an early Renaissance painting by Liberale da Verona, showing the intimacy of motherhood. The inside of the card says, “Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year,” allowing for plenty of space to write your Christmas message to loved ones. The back of the card contains a Scripture verse — “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord: my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” — and a commentary on the art.
Price: $9.95 (set of 10)
Website: osvcatholicbookstore.com
Gifts for littles
Nativity play set and carrying case
Littles will enjoy playing with the Catholic Company’s fabric Nativity play set, which includes a sweet little Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus, along with a cow and a sheep. It also has a cloth carrying case so kids can take the Holy Family with them.
Price: $28.95 (tallest piece: 5″)
Coupon code: OSV2023 for 15% off
Website: catholiccompany.com
“Saintly Creatures” set
“Simply gorgeous” is the best way to describe Word on Fire’s new children’s book, “Saintly Creatures: 14 Tales of Animals and Their Holy Companions.” Written by Alexi Sargeant and vividly illustrated by Anita Barghigiani, the book introduces children to male and female saints and the animals that impacted their lives. While cuddling with the accompanying stuffed animal, Grigio, children will hear how the big, gray dog repeatedly protected St. Don Bosco from danger. They’ll also meet Martin de Porres and his mice, St. Germaine Cousin and her sheep, and more.
Price: $24.95 (hardcover)
Website: bookstore.wordonfire.org
“Saintly Rhymes Through the Year”
“The chaste and humble Joseph was skilled in carpentry and chosen as protector of the Holy Family. The Greatest foster-father Our Savior could have had. St. Joseph prays for those who work as well as every dad,” writes Meghan Bausch in her new book, “Saintly Rhymes Through the Year.” Bausch’s eye-catching illustrations accompany her St. Joseph poem and 21 others about saints children will grow to love.
Price: $17.95 (hardcover)
Website: osvcatholicbookstore
Collectible saint dolls
Young children will love these charming collectible saint dolls from The Little Rose Shop. Choose from St. Joseph, St. John Paul II, St. Thérèse, Mary with baby Jesus, and more. The 11-inch dolls are made of cotton and are available in limited quantities.
Price: $28
Coupon code: OSV10 for 10% off orders until Dec. 23, 2023
Website: thelittleroseshop.com
“‘Twas the Day Before Christmas in Bethlehem Town”
Meet Ben, who does a kind deed for two strangers and ends up having the surprise of his life in this retelling of the Nativity story called, “‘Twas the Day Before Christmas in Bethlehem Town.” Written by Leslie Bond Diggins, the story is told in rhyme and accompanied by joyful-looking illustrations by Erin Nielson.
Price: $24.95 (hardcover)
Website: paulinestore.com
Marian blanket
Perfect for a new baby gift, the double-sided Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette quilt has eight layers made from cotton and bamboo. The handmade blanket measures 47 “x 47”.
Price: $55
Website: thestumpofjesse.etsy.com
Gifts to foster the spiritual life
“Martyred and Blessed Together: The Extraordinary Story of the Ulma Family”
This new book by Father Pawel Rytel-Andrianik and Manuela Tulli offers a fascinating read about a Polish family known as the “Samaritans of Marakowa.” The Ulma’s risked their lives to hide three Jewish families from the Nazis. Ultimately, the entire household was murdered, including six children and Wiktoria Ulma’s partially-born baby. In an unprecedented act, Pope Francis beatified the whole family.
Price: $16.95 (softcover)
Website: osvcatholicbookstore
Seven Sorrows Chaplet
The Seven Sorrows Chaplet is also known as the Servite Rosary. This rosary, or chaplet, scripturally based on the New Testament, directs meditation towards Mary’s seven sorrows. In the 1600s, the Servites created the Seven Sorrows Rosary to promote the practice of meditating on her trials. Exclusive to OSV, the Seven Sorrows Chaplet is hand-crafted by Born Again Rosaries and comprised of Italian-made, silver oxidized medals and purple-and-blue dyed tiger’s eye beads. The chaplet has seven beads for each of the seven sorrows. One prays an Our Father and seven Hail Marys for each of the Seven Sorrows with the refrain: “Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the sorrows of your son, Jesus.”
Price: $49.95 (comes in blue velvet pouch)
Website: osvcatholicbookstore
“New Friends Now and Forever: A Story about the Holy Souls”
Help littles understand Purgatory’s beauty with Susan Tassone’s latest book, “New Friends Now and Forever: A Story about the Holy Souls.” Tassone says, “Purgatory exists because God loves us.” She hopes to offer children and their parents better catechesis about purgatory because too many Catholics view it negatively. Illustrated by Yorris Handoko, the book tells the story of twins named Hope and Ben. The siblings make a new friend, Mr. Ray, who becomes their prayer partner. Through their friendship, readers will learn about purgatory and how to pray for the holy souls.
Price: $22.46 (hardcover)
Website: amazon.com
“Pocket Guide to the Rosary: Reflections from the Bible and the Saints”
Popular speaker and podcaster Matt Fradd’s new book, “Pocket Guide to the Rosary: Reflections from the Bible and the Saints,” uses Scripture and the wisdom of holy people to aid meditation during the Rosary. Every mystery has a lovely illustration and a personal application passage.
Price: $24.95
Website: ascensionpress.com
“Saintly Habits: Aquinas’ 7 Simple Strategies You Can Use to Grow in Virtue”
In “Saintly Habits,” Andrew Whitmore guides you through ways to overcome vice to foster virtue and live a happier life. In a conversational tone, he teaches how to break bad habits, and more. A good aid for the men taking part in Exodus 90.
Price: $15.95 (softcover)
Website: ascensionpress.com
Fun gifts
Rosary hanger
The rosary hanger from Catholic All Year provides an ideal way to organize your rosaries so they won’t get tangled or lost. The hanger features 10 hooks on quarter-inch birch with the engraved adage: “The Rosary, even prayed badly, is better than no Rosary at all.” Mary accepts our efforts and little gifts of prayer even when we struggle to pray devoutly.
Price: $25 (8×11 inches)
Website: catholicallyear.com
Holy Family Hearts mug
The ladies in your life will appreciate this feminine-looking mug. Hidden amongst hearts and flowers in this whimsical design are the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Most Chaste Heart of Joseph. The ceramic Holy Family Hearts Mug holds 15 oz.
Price: $20
Coupon code: OSV10 for 10% off orders until Dec. 23, 2023
Website: thelittleroseshop.com
Beautiful gifts
Framed print of “St. Thérèse of the Holy Face”
Gifted sacred artist Blair Barlow Piras’ “St. Thérèse of the Holy Face” is a stunning image of the Little Flower commissioned for Word on Fire Ministries. Piras desired to “honor the saint as patron of missionary work and specifically her role as patron of Word on Fire ministry.” The image features St. Thérèse holding a veil with the image of the Holy Face of Jesus — harkening back to the veil of Veronica. The saint is reputed to have a special devotion to the Holy Face. The ornate print comes in three sizes and three frame colors (walnut, black or white).
Price: $79.95-$149.95
Coupon code: OSVART for 20% off all art prints until Jan. 1, 2024
Website: bookstore.wordonfire.org
“Sacred Hearts of the Holy Family” set of three
Looking for a beautiful but affordable last-minute gift? The “Sacred Hearts of the Holy Family” art printables are instantly downloadable with unlimited access. There’s also a “printed and shipped” option featuring a poster printed on museum-quality matte paper. The three prints — the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Chaste Heart of St. Joseph — are available in sizes from 5″ x 7″ to 24″ x 36″.
Price: $15.81 for printable download, or $34.21-$129.35 for shipped print
Coupon code: FAITHFULPRINTS20 for 20% off
Website: www.etsy.com/shop/MariaCarminaDS
Holy card pendant
Art Angel by Raphael makes lovely holy card pendants fashioned from vintage holy cards. This “Dutch Madonna” pendant features an early 20th-century holy card from Holland. Mother Mary embraces the Christ Child framed by a garden of roses. The pendant has an 18″ silver-plated chain. Choose from five different designs.
Price: $22
Website: market.catholicallyear.com
Holy Family ornament
Give a Christmas ornament that honors the Holy Family. The ornament features a tender moment of Joseph and Mary gazing at the infant Jesus. The embossed ivory image set in a gold, Baroque-style, oval frame offers a lovely way to show appreciation to a teacher or a hostess.
Price: $13.95
Coupon code: OSV2023 for 15% off
Website: catholiccompany.com
Masculine gifts
Custom rosary tray
Looking for a thoughtful gift for your priest or deacon? The custom rosary tray from Simply Shining Light features an 8″x5″ Acacia wood tray engraved with a lovely religious image and personalized. Choose from five sacred designs and five different font styles. The gift arrives quickly and comes in an organza pouch.
Price: $25
Website: simplyshininglight.etsy.com
Gray stone rosary
Here’s a full rosary that’s small enough for a man to keep in his pocket but also weighty enough to feel masculine. Exclusive to OSV, this handmade gray-stone rosary features unpolished, natural mapstone in shades of gray. It also includes a cross with the corpus.
Price: $41.95 (13.5″ length)
Website: osvcatholicbookstore.com
Catholic coffee
Give the gift of one, two or even three of Catholic Coffee’s “Heavenly Roasts.” The packaging is so beautiful, you don’t need to wrap them! Choose from 16 coffee varieties, including Our Lady of Guadalupe Mexican Mocha, a medium roast coffee with smooth milk chocolate with cinnamon and clove spices.
Price: $16.95-$17.95 (12-oz bag)
Coupon code: OSV2023 for 15% off
Website: catholiccompany.com
“Route 60: The Biblical Highway” DVD
Part Biblical history documentary and part travel piece, “Route 60: The Biblical Highway” makes a perfect gift for the history buff or traveler. The film follows David Friedman, an Orthodox Jew and former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, and Mike Pompeo, an Evangelical Protestant and U.S. Secretary of State, as they travel Route 60 — the path between Nazareth and Beersheba, which connects to many holy sites and Biblical events.
Price: $19.95
Website: amazon.com
A gift that touches the heart
Box of Joy
Help Cross Catholic Outreach spread Christmas joy to needy children with a Box of Joy. Their goal is to bless 151,118 children with their own Box of Joy. The boxes will go to six poverty-stricken countries: Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, El Salvador, Honduras and Malawi. Select how many Boxes of Joy you wish to send, and Cross Catholic Outreach will do the work.
Price: $34 per box or donate
Website: https://crosscatholic.org/box-of-joy
Editor’s pick
Hallow app
Hallow is the No.1 Catholic prayer and meditation app: with digital gift cards available, it makes a great Christmas gift for anyone on your list. With a massive library of prayers and meditations, including those dedicated to sleep, daily saints, the Bible and mental health, it’s the perfect present to help your friends and family find peace through prayer.
Price: $69.99 for a one-year subscription
Coupon code: OSV23 for a 90-day free trial
Website: Hallow.com
