By Dan McQuillan , Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent
Christmas is fast approaching, and if you struggle to find a good gift, consider one of the following options:
• To begin, a subscription to the
Rhode Island Catholic or
El Catolico. Founded in 1875 as The Providence Visitor, Rhode Island Catholic has received hundreds of journalism awards over the years. It is read by more 41,000 readers across the Ocean State and beyond. It provides spiritual reflections, news articles, interesting op-eds, and news and events around the Diocese. A must-have gift.
• For the readers in your life, anything from
Cluny Media makes for a good gift. Cluny is a Catholic publishing house based here in Rhode Island. John Clarke and Scott Thompson took over Cluny in 2017 and since then have published over 300 works from the Catholic literary tradition, including authors like Pope Benedict XVI, Jacques Maritain, George Bernanos, Paul Claudel, and many more.
• For the coffee drinker in your life, a bag or two of
Mystic Monk Coffee beans. Their coffee is delicious, and their story is great, too. “After much discernment and prayer, the monks had the inspiration to start roasting coffee and selling the beans online. The first samples were roasted on a cast-iron skillet in the monastery kitchen and in 2007, Mystic Monk Coffee, a Catholic coffee company was born.”
•
The Portsmouth Institute for Faith and Culture holds an annual summer conference in June at Portsmouth Abbey School, in Portsmouth, R.I. It is a wonderful weekend of prayer, learning, and fellowship along the beautiful Narragansett Bay. Gifting someone a conference registration makes for an excellent “experience” gift.
• Jackie Mulligan’s
Reform Wellness is a Christ-centered wellness apostolate that helps people heal in mind, body and spirit. Visit her website to learn more about Reform’s online programs. If someone you know is looking for better health, this faith-based program is a good gift.
• The
Hallow app is a wonderful way to pray using your phone. If you haven’t heard of it, Hallow is a Catholic prayer app with more than 100 prayers and devotions that you can listen to on the go, in the car, on a plane—anywhere, really. Devotions like the rosary, the Litany of Humility, and lectio divina are available with a simple tap on your smartphone screen. You can choose to pray according to time length, so it’s a great option for busy people.
• The
Word on Fire Bible is, without question, the most beautiful Bible I’ve ever seen. It includes commentaries by Bishop Robert Barron, the Church Fathers, saints, mystics and scholars from across the Church’s two-millenia tradition. Whereas some Bibles are all about study, this Bible is all about beauty. A great gift for any Catholic.
•
Monk Manual has set out to make weekly and 90-day planners using the wisdom and practicality of the monastic tradition. Their leather-bound planners are geared towards helping you plan, act and reflect, create goals and achieve them, all the while keeping you organized and at ease. We all know someone who can benefit from their planners.
• Shop local! You can’t go wrong with a visit to
Tally’s Religious Goods in Cranston or
Gabriel’s Trumpet in Coventry. Stop by their stores to see the myriad gift options, including statues, rosaries, books, Nativity sets and other items.
• Lastly, and most importantly, consider gifting a Mass intention. Material gifts are always nice to get, but a Mass offering is the ultimate gift one can give and receive. Contact your local parish to set this up.
