Gifts for a New Catholic
When someone becomes Catholic as an adult, they must complete the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, more commonly known as RCIA. This process includes taking classes from a priest, nun or deacon on both Biblical teachings and church doctrine. Once the classes are complete, candidates take place in a ceremony that includes the sacraments of baptism for the not-previously baptized, first communion, first reconciliation and confirmation. A gift after the ceremony shows your support of these important events.
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Catholic Bible
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A thoughtful gift for the new Catholic would be a Catholic Bible. This Bible contains seven more books in the Old Testament than other versions of the Bible. The Septuagint or Greek translation of the Bible, used by the Catholic Church, includes the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch and 1 and 2 Maccabees. When purchasing a Bible, consider having their name embossed on the front for a personalized touch. Check inside the first few pages and you will probably find a page devoted to the recipient of the book, the gift giver, date, occasion and room for a personal inscription.
Rosary
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The rosary is a string of beads Catholics use when they pray to assist them in counting the prayers included in saying a rosary prayer, a devotion to Mary. You will have several different types of rosaries from which to choose. The most traditional rosary, the five-decade rosary, consists of a Crucifix, a short set of five beads and then a rosary center, followed by a loop of five more decades. Often attached to a keychain, the one-decade rosary consists of one decade that requires successive prayers.
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Books
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Consider a book of Catholic prayers, available at most Christian bookstores and include prayers common to the Catholic faith. A Catholic devotional will provide them with one reading a day for a year, often with room to journal their thoughts on the side of each page. Other staples would include a Catholic Bible Commentary or Concordance, a Book of Saints or a Bible dictionary. A gift certificate to the Christian bookstore so they can make their own choice would also be appropriate.
Jewelry
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Catholics usually wear a crucifix, a cross with Christ on it, rather than a plain cross because they feel that only the fact that He died upon the cross makes it a sacred object -- the cross alone holds no sacred meaning. Crucifixes come in the form of necklaces, bracelets, key chains and tie tacks, so make an appropriate gift for a man or woman. Catholics often wear jewelry with medallions on it, the most common being the Virgin Mary, St. Christopher -- the patron Saint of travelers -- and St. Francis of Assisi, patron Saint of animals and the environment. There are dozens from which to choose and one suited to the gift recipient should be easy to find.
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References
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