Listers, Christmas approacheth. If you are looking for quality last-minute Catholic gifts to share with your friends and family, here are a few SPL suggestions:
1. The Roman Missal – 3rd Edition
The use a personal missal has fallen into disuse since Vatican II, but there are many reasons to own one outside of following along at the mass. The Missal is filled with prayers, daily readings, and other spiritual guideposts for the devout Catholic. SPL suggestions the edition of the Roman Missal that is made available through EWTN.
Seven Reasons You Should Own Your Own Missal – Dan Burke, National Catholic Register
2. Catholicism by Fr. Robert Barron
Word on Fire Ministries and Fr. Robert Barron have produced a tour de force video series explaining the faith and beauty of the Catholic faith.
3. Confessions by St. Augustine, trans. Sheed
St. Augustine’s Confessions is arguably the first autobiography in the Western World and is without a doubt one of the most recognized spiritual works in Roman Catholicism. However, not all translations are created equal. In actuality, since many traditions pull and lay claim on St. Augustine, various traditions interpret his work according to their own views. For Catholics, it is not about searching for who translates Augustine according to the Catholic faith, but who simply translates Augustine as St. Augustine, the Catholic Bishop of Hippo. In this light, SPL suggests the clear and faithful translation of FJ Sheed.
4. Home Altar Starter Kit
Every Catholic home should be adorned with a home altar. It is a place of devotion for the family to come together and celebrate the mysteries of Jesus Christ. Icons, candles, prayer cards, rosaries, and a crucifix are all necessary components of a domestic sacred space.
5. Rosary & True dedication
Many of us have lapsed in our daily devotion to the Blessed Mother. Those looking for a short text to invigorate a devotion to Mary then look no further than Louis de Montfort’s seminal work A True Devotion to Mary.
“Never will anyone who says his Rosary every day be led astray. This is a statement that I would gladly sign with my blood.”
Saint Louis de Montfort
6. The Works of Pope Benedict XVI
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI is arguably one of the most intelligent popes the Church has had. He is a prolific writer and his works glare with a clarity and strength that speaks to the wavering Catholic heart and the most astute scholar of the faith.
A Few Works for Your Christmas Consideration:
The Spirit of the Liturgy – A wonderful treatise on proper Catholic liturgy and the traditions behind them
Light of the World – A groundbreaking interview with Pope Benedict XVI over various subjects
Jesus of Nazareth (Part I) – The beginning of BXVI’s seminal work of the life of Jesus Christ
Jesus of Nazareth (Part II) – The astute academia continues in exploring Christ’s life up until the Resurrection
7. Youth Catechism
Save a few examples, most Catholic things preceded by the adjective youth are terrifyingly heretical. The YouCat, however, is not. Designed by the Vatican for World Youth Day 2011, the catechism returns to the natural question and answer format and is characterized by vibrant pictures and illustrations. It is a wonderful gift for a young loved one.
