MY TOP PICK CATHOLIC GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS 2021

I don't know about you, but for me? Christmas is hard. I realized just how hard when the pandemic made it nearly impossible to dress up all the wounds, issues, sickness, conflict, anger, grief, and anxiety with guests, garland, and glitter. And yet... hope was born. Jesus still came. Imagine that.

And what the most vulnerable Christmas ever pointed out to me was the power of the right gift. Turns out, God taking on flesh and coming to rescue us as a baby beats any stocking stuffer or 50% sale. He is enough. Thank you, pandemic, for making this truth abundantly clear.

But for those of us who still enjoy shopping for our loved ones, I'd like to propose this: give something meaningful, lasting, and with the power to transform lives.

Give a book.

I just so happen to have a handful of excellent friends who are also excellent authors, and what I love about this group of Jesus-loving writers is that their stories are all so completely different...meaning...I have a book suggestion for just about every member of your family! The one seeking mercy. The one teaching their children. The one who left the Church. The one struggling with addiction. The one trying to be a good father. The one seeking holiness. The one who can't stand reading the same old children's book again. The one searching for a good Catholic perspective. The one who needs to know they are not alone.

See? Everyone.

So here is my list. I pray that one of these (or all of them) will speak to you. You will not only be gifting with a gift that matters, but you will also be supporting really good people who happen to be excellent Catholic Authors who have been given voices that need to be heard. A perfect Advent gesture, if you ask me!

FOR THE ONE WHO QUESTIONS GOD, HAS ONE FOOT OUT THE DOOR, OR HAS LEFT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

REKINDLED: How Jesus Called Me Back to the Catholic Church and Set My Heart on Fire, by Mallory Smyth

Not only is she adorable, but she's a great writer with QUITE A STORY.

This book is a MUST for parents of adult children who have left the faith or are well on their way. Mallory was one of those young adults, but the difference between her and other fallen-away Catholics is that she was able to work through the shortcomings of the Church as an institution filled with flawed people and rediscover the beauty and truth of her faith. My suggestion? BUY TWO COPIES. One for you. One for your kid/niece/nephew/friend. You need this so that you can better understand what your loved one is going through. And your loved one needs it because they don't want to hear about God from YOU! Let them read it (when they are called to read it) and YOU SHUT UP. Let the Holy Spirit speak through Mallory's well-crafted, raw and honest words. Whatever your loved one's issue is...mediocre Mass, hypocritical hierarchy, the Catholic teachings on sexuality, Mallory goes there. Because Mallory has been there. She speaks your kids' language and she sugar coats nothing pointing out what most of us want to ignore: our Church has problems. This book just might illuminate a path back home ...to a Church that is both holy and in need of perfection.

Buy it HERE.

Learn more about Mallory HERE.

FOR THE ONE IN NEED OF MERCY. (FUN FACT. THAT'S ALL OF US.)

SIMPLE MERCIES: How the Works of Mercy Bring Peace and Fulfillment, By Lara Patangan

The only thing better than reading this book is Lara reading it to you! Cutest darn girl with an adorable voice to match! And yes...she tells really good stories you need to hear.

This book needs to be on the bedside table of every Catholic checking the boxes, killing it at work, crushing it as the homeschooling mom, and yet... is going to bed with an unquenchable longing and emptiness that can not be satisfied. In her accessible, everyday approach to life kind of writing, Lara will walk you through some of the most heartwarming (and breaking) stories of her own journey of giving and receiving mercy. My suggestion? Buy a bundle and start a book club in the New Year making works of mercy your New Years' resolution!!! If you purchase a copy on Lara's website, you can get yourself a FREE STUDY GUIDE!!! How awesome is that?

Buy it HERE.

OR HERE, and learn more about Lara! Her website is BEAUTIFUL!

FOR THE ONE TRYING TO KEEP FROM FALLING INTO DESPAIR OR DYING FROM EXHAUSTION AS THEY WATCH THEIR LOVED ONE SLIPPING AWAY FROM ACTIVE ADDICTION

UNCHAINED: Our Family's Addiction Mess Is Our Message, By Nancy McCann Vericker and JP Vericker

How many books on addiction are written by both the parent AND the child suffering from substance use disorder???? I read this book in ONE DAY and then, read it again and again and again...

If you have a loved one suffering from substance use disorder, YOU NEED THIS BOOK. This book saved my life. It continues to save my life. I have read it multiple times. It is pure oxygen for the person dealing with addiction. Unlike any other book on this hideous disease, Unchained is written from the perspective of both the parent AND the addicted. It offers so much hope...not because it assures you that your loved one will beat the odds, but rather...because it recounts this family's efforts to help their son return home in the most honest and vulnerable way imaginable. You will see your family in theirs, and you will not feel so crazy and alone. You will also get a glimpse into the mind of the one being tortured by the disease; what he/she is thinking (or not). And this, my friends, is a game-changer. This book is an absolute MUST for any family dealing with addiction because addiction is a family disease.

Buy it HERE and learn all about Nancy and JP. SO MUCH HELPFUL CONTENT on this website.

Quick purchase HERE.

FOR THE ONE WHO WANTS TO DO A CONSECRATION TO JOSEPH BUT IS INTIMIDATED BY THE WHOLE IDEA OF IT SO WATCHES NETFLIX INSTEAD AND WAKES UP REGRETTING IT

GO TO JOSEPH: 10 Day Preparation for Consecration to St. Joseph, By Renzo Ortega

He's not a teenager! He is a husband and father of MANY and he can help you, not only with your devotion to Saint Joseph but in your vocation!

Consecrations are long. And confusing. And often, we bail before we are done. If this sounds like you, this is the consecration book for you! Renzo Ortega takes readers through the life of St. Joseph, as illustrated by the Gospels, and uncovers the integral role St. Joseph played in the life of Christ in a super easy and relatable way. He weaves a combination of scriptural analysis, and Catholic tradition, with prayerful insight into each chapter...along with honest stories about himself as husband and father. THIS is what makes this book great! Go To Joseph is a book for everyone but my suggestion? Put this one in your husband's or adult son's stocking!!!!!!

Buy it HERE.

And wait. There's more. You can also purchase Go To Joseph for your CHILDREN and family!!!!!!!! WHAT??? Yup. It is true. Guided by captivating illustrations from The Simple Saints, this book uses engaging reflections and prompting family discussions to introduce readers of all ages to the man whom St. John Paul the Great called the Guardian of the Redeemer. You MUST check this out!!! Every child should have this book. I will be gifting this to the two adorable little girls I do not even know but sit in front of me at daily Mass!

Buy it HERE.

AND GET THIS...You can grab FREE PRINTABLES HERE!!!

Learn more about Renzo and Monica and their ministry HERE.

FOR THE PARENT LOOKING FOR A GOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN'S BOOK THAT ENTERTAINS THEM AS MUCH AS IT DOES THEIR KIDS

A IS FOR ANGEL: The Alphabet In Sacred Art, by Adrienne, Katie, and Jamie Keogler

This is my go-to gift for babies!!! But you know what? Adults enjoy it too! This stunning book teaches children the tenets of the Catholic faith while also introducing them to exquisite religious art created by such great masters as Bouguereau, Brueghel, and Vélazquez. The youngest readers can explore words ranging from “Angels” and “Baptism,” to “Creation” and “Saints.” Those a little older will learn religious basics through easily memorized lines, all accompanied by gorgeous paintings that illustrate the concept—including (for “P”) that “We open our hearts to God when we kneel down in prayer.” As a unique religious keepsake, this is the perfect gift for a baby shower, baptism, or first Holy Communion. It will stand the test of time and quickly become a classic in Catholic households.