Within the Catholic Church, there are seven sacraments. While some, such as the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick, may be celebrated individually, most are community events. Family and friends often join together to commemorate occasions such as baptism, first communion and confirmation.
It is not uncommon for gifts to be bestowed upon the person receiving the sacrament. However, it can be difficult to find the perfect item to mark these important events. Below are some suggestions for Catholic gift-giving as well as unique gifts.
Catholic Baptism Gifts
At baptism, original sin is removed, and a person formally enters into the Catholic Church. Although baptism can occur at any time, most Catholic parents have their children baptized as infants. Since Catholic baby gifts are not always easy to find, many baptismal gifts are intended for either future use or as a remembrance of the day.
Traditional baby baptism gifts include:
- Crib Medals
- Wall Crosses
- Board Books with Bible Stories
- Baptism Keepsakes Candle
- Catholic Rosaries
However, for a unique gift, consider a personalized baptism gift. These may include a baptism keepsake box to store a christening gown or a picture frame that can be autographed by those attending the baptismal party. Other personalized gifts include Catholic books and gifts engraved with the baby’s name and baptismal day.
Catholic First Communion Gifts
Children usually receive their first communion between the ages of 7 and 10. At this age, children are old enough to understand the meaning of the Eucharist and begin to appreciate their Catholic faith more fully. Therefore, Catholic gifts for first communion often focus on fostering greater participation in the Catholic Mass and prayers.
Catholic first communion gifts might be:
- Catholic Mass Books
- Catholic Bibles
- Communion Rings
- Wall Crosses
- Holy Cards
- Catholic Rosaries
For unique gifts, children receiving their first communion might enjoy receiving a Catholic Board game such Armor of God, Saint Search or Apples to Apples, Bible Edition. Personalized gifts such as engraved picture frames or religious keepsakes boxes are also good catholic gift ideas. Many parents also welcome savings bonds for college savings.
Catholic Confirmation Gifts
The final sacrament of initiation for Catholics is confirmation. During this sacrament, the Holy Spirit is invoked to make recipients ‘soldiers of Christ.’ Depending on the Catholic rite and tradition, confirmation may be done at the same time as baptism or at a later date. In the United States, most Catholic dioceses offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation to pre-teens and teenagers in junior high or high school.
While baptism is often entered into on behalf of a baby, confirmation offers children an opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to their faith. As a result, many confirmation gifts encourage students to fully explore and embrace their faith.
When celebrating confirmation, catholic gifts might include:
- Catholic Bibles
- Catholic Books about Saints and Theology
- Catholic Statues
- Wall Crosses
- Catholic Jewelry such Medals
Personalized gifts for confirmation may be engraved wall plaques, picture frames or jewelry boxes. Teenagers might also enjoy receiving contemporary Christian music CDs, Catholic computer games or religious-themed movies.
The Catholic sacraments of baptism, first communion and confirmation are times of celebration. Carefully selected gifts that commemorate these special days can not only be faith-building but also often become treasured keepsakes.
Maryalene LaPonsie - Maryalene LaPonsie has been writing professionally for nearly 15 years on topics including religion and politics, education and ...
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