Christmas for Christians — A Gift Guide

Last updated on: December 17, 2012 at 5:38 pm by Kathryn Jean Lopez

Christmas for Christians — A Gift Guide 2012-12-17T17:38:23-05:00 Kathryn Jean Lopez

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Some advice:

As Catholics we should give differently than those who do not share our faith. In our giving, we should try to give in such a way that those we love receive something of the pearl of great price, the buried treasure that rust can’t corrode, burglars can’t steal and the IRS can’t tax. We should give in a way that they receive something of the real Gift of Christmas.

This does not mean we should never give material gifts. If we know a young child who has no winter jacket or winter boots or other necessities, it’s a beautiful thing to buy such a gift directly or as a Secret Santa. But when those for whom we’re buying aren’t in material want, how much better would it be in this Year of Faith for us to give and spread our faith along with our gift?

For young kids, we could give a Veggie Tales DVD, or a good book for kids on Bible stories or on the lives of the saints. We can give a statue or a framed image of a beautiful Nativity that can help others ponder the mystery of Christmas throughout the year. We can support the work of organizations like Bethlehem Christian Families (bcfmission.com) who come to the churches of our diocese to sell olive wood sculptures made by the families of Bethlehem, to try to support economically those who are trying to maintain a Christian presence in the Holy Land, while giving on to others beautiful handmade goods.

If the person for whom you’re shopping likes jewelry, perhaps you could get a beautiful Crucifix necklace, or a stainless steel scapular or miraculous medal, or a Rosary ring like the members of my Team of Our Lady gave me a few years ago and I’ve used it every day since to pray.

If you normally get others gift certificates, rather than giving a pre-paid credit card or certificates to Amazon or to iTunes, perhaps you could give a certificate to the gift shop at La Salette Shrine, where your friends and family can not only visit the great Christmas display but, in passing through the gift store, allow God to attract them to something that will help them advance in faith.

Other good ideas would be to give a DVD of a good Catholic movie — like the recently released “For Greater Glory” or any of the dozens of films at Ignatius.com — or a good Catholic book. Pope Benedict’s latest short read on the Infancy Narratives of Jesus would be a great work for anyone who is a college graduate or student. Christopher Kaczor’s latest work, “The Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church,” would be a great read for anyone who has questions about the Catholic faith. For guys who might think that reading a book on the faith is not a virile activity, I’d encourage you to challenge them with Father Larry Richard’s accessible and compelling, “Be a Man!” And for women, young and old, I’d recommend Colleen Campbell’s “My Sisters the Saints,” about which I wrote last week.

When you send Christmas cards, rather than sending the secular ones featuring Frosty the Snowman or generic messages wishing “holiday cheer,” think about sending one with a beautiful image of Christmas with a message that expresses our great Catholic hope that they may join us in the joy of the Holy Family, shepherds and magi.

In the midst of a world that is trying to take Christ out of Christmas, it’s crucial for us who believe in Him — particularly in this Year of Faith — to take advantage of this season to spread our love of Him, by keeping Him front and center in the way we spend our time this season as well as in the way we sacrifice for others, by trying to give gifts that can be bridges for those we love to come to the Giver Himself and the greatest Gift of all.

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