For some families, balancing the holiday between the commercial and religious perspectives can be quite challenging. This can be especially difficult when it comes to the gift-giving portion of the day. There are, however, creative ways to bring the reality of Christmas to light when it comes time to assemble the stockings – even for the adult recipients. Here are some ideas for Catholic gifts that would make great stocking stuffers for the grown-ups of the family.
MEDITATIONS
A number of Catholics incorporate a Daily Book of Meditations into their schedules, leaving approximately 15 minutes each day to do some quiet reading and reflection, using this book as their guide. Even if the recipient already owns one of these books, there are many varieties of them available for sale, and a new version is always appreciated. Since these tend to be rather small in size, they fit quite nicely into a standard stocking – especially since they’re commonly found in paperback form. Catholic gift stores generally have a good stock of these, and the price is usually very modest.
LAMINATED SCAPULAR
The brown scapular, a very popular Catholic indulgence, is ideal for any adult – man or woman. While most of these are produced without the benefit of lamination, this protective covering keeps the woolen squares from curling, fading and separating at the seams, making it a much preferred styling for those who possess one. Due to the size, construction and pliability of the scapular, this is an ideal addition to any stocking. Very reasonably priced and easy to find at any Catholic gift store, scapulars - while Marian in nature - often portray specific facets of the Blessed Mother and those with whom she’s associated. Among these representations are Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady handing the Scapular to St. Simon Stock and The Blessed Trinity, to name a few.
HOLY WATER BOTTLE
Many Catholics make it a practice to carry a small bottle of Holy Water with them in their daily travels. These lightweight, flip-top plastic bottles are perfect for tucking into a Christmas stocking. Typically costing no more than a dollar, Holy Water bottles can be found at any Catholic gift shop – empty, of course. If you’re not Catholic, but are looking for stocking stuffer gifts for a Catholic person, you may not realize that these bottles must be filled with water that has been given a special blessing. Holy water can be obtained within the structure of the church itself, or by speaking with a local parish priest, who can provide you with enough to fill a bottle that’s designed for such a use.
CHAPLET
Chaplets, similar in appearance to a miniature version of the rosary, are made up of a number of decades of beads, and are designed to offer special prayers for a specific intention. The Divine Mercy Chaplet is quite popular among Catholics, as well as chaplets to St. Anthony (patron saint of lost items), St. Joseph (patron saint of the family), St. Michael (the archangel), St. Jude (patron saint of desperate situations) and many more. These beautiful little beads would be most appreciated by someone who has a special devotion to one of the saints, or has expressed the need to pray for a particular cause.
SPIRITUAL AUDIO BOOKS
Rather than listening to the car radio, there are a number of people who prefer to enjoy audio books while traveling. There are numerous such tapes and CDs that are available revolving around Catholic beliefs and customs, articles of the faith, inspirational stories and catechetical teachings. While some are presented in the form of multiple tapes or CDs, many are not, and can fit very nicely into a Christmas stocking. Larger stockings would be ideal for those that contain a greater number of audio books. This would be a particularly nice treat if a tape or CD player just happened to be under the tree for the stocking’s owner on Christmas morning.
STATUETTE
Available in many materials, these miniature statues can be found for nearly every saint or heavenly being. If the stocking recipient has a special devotion to a particular saint, this item would be very appropriate as a stocking stuffer. A name saint or patron saint would be other forms of Catholic statuettes that can be included in the Christmas sock of your loved one. Some of the more popular figures include the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, St. Michael, St. Francis, St. Jude, Padre Pio and The Holy Family. These can be obtained with felt-covered bases – to avoid scratching furniture – or adhesive bases, which are commonly used for car dashboards.
ROSARIES
If the person for whom you’re filling the Christmas stocking has a worn pair of rosaries or, perhaps, an inexpensive plastic set, now might be the time to consider purchasing a more permanent, sturdy rosary. Whether you choose pewter, sterling silver, 18K gold or crystal, these will provide your loved one with years of use and will make an exquisite presentation when opened (these are generally draped gracefully within a jeweler’s box). The good news is that this doesn’t necessarily imply great expense. Even gold rosaries can be purchased for a modest price, if you’re willing to take the time to shop around.
PAPAL WRITINGS
Pope John Paul II has released a number of books during his years as leader of the Catholic Church. Any one of these would be welcomed by a practicing Catholic, and many can be found in smaller versions that would fit neatly into a stocking. Among the numerous books that have been written by the Holy Father are Theotokos (A Catechesis on Mary – Mother of God), Celebrate the Third Millennium, Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life), John Paul II’s Way of the Cross, Letters to Families from Pope John Paul II and Familiaris Consortio (Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World). These and many others can be purchased at your local Catholic gift store.
THE INCORRUPTIBLES
This fascinating book is a collection of the stories and photographs of saints whose bodies have remained incorrupt after death. In many cases, these incorruptibles have been deceased for hundreds of years, yet their skin remains supple and their complexion (color) is such that they appear to simply be sleeping. Among the saints included in the book are St. Bernadette, St. Clare, St. John Vianney, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Catherine Laboure and many more. These are actual photographs of the bodies of saints that were canonized by the Catholic Church – in fact, most of them are on display in locations that are accessible to the public.
RELIGIOUS JEWELRY
There are lots of opportunities to get just the right type of religious jewelry for your loved one, due to the varieties that are available. Rings, crucifixes, medals, earrings, bracelets, pendants, pins, watches – any form of jewelry that you can think of – can all be found with a Catholic motif and in a variety of materials. Virtually all of these can be placed in a stocking quite easily and can be personalized to include a birthstone or inscription that’s appropriate for the recipient. This would be a great way to give the gift of a charm to be added to a charm bracelet, if the stocking is for a female. Of course, a crucifix is always nice, and can be purchased in the male or female variety.
Whether you choose to construct a Christmas stocking that’s filled entirely with Catholic items, or just use them as little “extras” in a more secular one, these gifts are sure to please any Catholic, and the effort that you made to obtain them will surely be appreciated.
