Christmas Gifts For Catholic Shoppers

I'm on a search to make Christmas shopping and gift-giving special, to never forget why we, as Catholics, celebrate December 25. As I come up with ideas I will blog about them.

A gift I will be giving this year is the gift of rosaries, though they are not just any rosary. I make them myself. In the process of making a rosary, I pray for the person who will be receiving it. Generally I pray twice on each bead. Then, when the rosary is finished, I say a complete rosary for the person.

It's hard to know who benefits the most. The person receiving it has been prayed for, and I benefit greatly from the additional prayer time.

There are two companies that I do most of my ordering from, though I am open to suggestions for other companies. For now, I often use The Rosary Shop. They have a site that is easy to navigate, and as you add parts you can see what the rosary will look like. They also offer other items for sale, such as prayer kneelers, books, and scapulars. You can, of course, buy pre-made rosaries from this site, too.

If it's your first time, this is one of the better sites for walking you through everything you need. The directions are easy to follow, and shipment is prompt.

Another site I order from is Lewis and Company. They have a couple of centerpieces and crucifixes that are just so beautiful I can't resist them. They also offer quality products, reasonably prices, and prompt shipment. The website offers a nice section for those who want to make a business out of making rosaries.

I highly recommend either site for rosary-making supplies and instruction.

Rosaries can be highly personalized because of the assortment of beads, crosses, and centerpieces. For example, when I made my dad's rosary (my first one!) I used blue beads because that was my Mom's favorite color, and he is still grieving. I used a centerpiece that depicted the Sorrowful Mother because Mom's name is Dolores. I used a triple crucifix as a symbol of his grief.

I pray that the rosary takes him from grief to acceptance.

For myself, I used a centerpiece of Jesus carrying the cross and a pardon crucifix. My priest has taught me just how special the crucifix is, so this was appropriate for me.

If any of you have other good sources of supplies, let me know. For myself, I find that making a rosary for others is one more way to spend more time in prayer.