Pope Francis' Unofficial Catholic Gift Guide

Janelle Peregoy looks to the writings of Pope Francis for inspiration in selecting gifts for children receiving a sacrament.

“I am attending a family Baptism. What would be a good gift?” 

In my work at the Office for Family Life & Spirituality at the Diocese of San Diego, I am used to fielding calls on everything from marriage preparation requirements, mental health referrals for family members, questions surrounding annulments, and more. 

Admittedly, the gift-giving question caught me slightly off guard.  

Besides gifts I have personally given on such occasions, I was at a loss about what kind of recommendations to make. Since this conversation, I have been thinking about how to better answer that question. One approach may simply be to list a lot of great Catholic and spiritual items in different categories (apparel/jewelry, art, books, and more). If this sounds familiar, you’re in luck because the Catholic Mom 2024 Christmas Gift Guide is right around the corner. Full disclosure: it is the source of most of my Christmas shopping! 

Yet, I still need some kind of framework to offer families when considering sacramental gift giving. Then it occurred to me, Pope Francis has already given us one! 

Specifically, Pope Francis’ Amoris Laetitia offers a guide on how to build our Domestic Church, also known as strengthening family spirituality. Regarding raising children in faith, Pope Francis recommends that parents “need symbols, actions and stories” and “moments of family prayer and acts of devotion … which can be more powerful for evangelization than any catechism class or sermon” (Amoris Laetitia 288).   

I propose that when selecting a gift for a Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation, a basic criterion should be that the gift integrates with one of Pope Francis’ four pillars for building the Domestic Church. Those pillars are prayer, stories, actions, and symbols. 

Prayer 

Prayer is simply about deepening one’s with God. There is no style of prayer that is “holier” than another. Parents are always the first teachers of faith, so it makes sense to take cues from their personal preferences. If a parent has particular devotion to the rosary, consider giving his or her child the Praying the Rosary kit from Loyola Press.  

Here are some other suggestions to encourage family prayer: 

• Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers encourages Catholic families to celebrate milestones and everyday moments with prayer. Take turns blessing each other for birthdays, anniversaries, illness and much more. 
• Help children follow along at Mass. A MagnifiKid subscription serves as a Sunday Missalette and weekly prayer guide. It is intended for ages 6-12. 
• Many Catholic retreat centers may offer family-focused retreats. Consider “sponsoring” the child’s or the whole family’s retreat cost. 

Stories 

Children are alive with imagination and crave stories. We are always called to learn more about the lives of Jesus and the prophets. To that end, every Catholic child would benefit from having an age-appropriate children’s Bible. The Catholic Children’s Bible from St. Mary’s Press has particularly eye-catching illustrations. 

Here are some other suggestions for exploring the stories that enrich our faith. 

• Be creative in celebrating the lives of the saints. Living the Seasons offers crafts, activities, meals for a wide variety of feast days. 
• The Life of Jesus is a full-color graphic novel that draws its narration from all four Gospels. This would be a meaningful gift for a First Communion. 
• Saints’ medallions and jewelry are ideal gifts for Confirmation. 

Actions 

Parents model their values and children witness their parents’ priorities. Families must then ask themselves a few simple questions. Do we spend your time in meaningful ways? Do we devote your free time to serving the Church? Do we volunteer to serve those in need? 

Here are some suggestions for encouraging a faith lived in action. 

• In lieu of purchasing a gift, make a donation to the parish or to a nonprofit organization like Catholic Charities USA. 
• Expose older children and teenagers to powerful vocation witnesses such as Sister Miriam James Heidland’s Loved As I Am. 
• Encourage the family to create a mission statement, then frame the results for them. 

Symbols 

The symbols utilized in the physical space of one’s home communicate values. Would a stranger know that the family is Catholic by entering the home? Is there religious imagery throughout the walls? Is there an obvious prayer or sacred space where the family can be in communion with each other? 

Here are some suggestions for sanctifying the home. 

• Religious art comes in a variety of styles and aesthetics. Search for Catholic artists on websites like Etsy. 
• Encourage the creation of a sacred space. Gift a “starter pack” of candles, prayer cards, Rosaries, and linens. 
• Celebrate the liturgical seasons. An Advent wreath or handcrafted Nativity set can be used as a source of family prayer year after year. 

Happy gift-giving! 

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2024 Janelle Peregoy
Images: Canva