24-hour crucifix emporium near London Bridge? Too much to ask?

July 23, 2009 9:27 AM

I live in London. My housemate will be baptised a Catholic on Saturday. I'd like to get him an appropriate gift, but am too much of a useless heathen to know where to start.

My friend and housemate has been preparing to enter the Catholic church for some time. I've been trying to be supportive, and back when he was closer to being the clueless agnostic I still am we had some pretty serious conversations about it. Lately, however, it's been something he gets on with pretty much on his own. I think he may have been a bit disappointed by how hard I found it to 'get' the Pentecost - but that's another story.

Anyway, yesterday he let slip that he's going to be baptised on Saturday. I don't think he wants to make a fuss of it, but I'd like to get him a gift of some kind in recognition of the fact that it's something of a big deal. He already has a gazillion Bibles and theology books as well as books of Catholic poetry. Other housemate, who was raised Catholic, suggested a rosary, but I don't have the faintest clue how one would go about getting one. I work near London Bridge but I can also hop onto a Tube.

posted by Acheman to shopping (25 comments total)

Often big churches or cathedrals have gift shops in the basement.

If you wanted to get him a book anyway, I'd recommend anything by G.K. Chesterton.
posted by yesno at 9:41 AM on July 23 [1 favorite has favorites]

I was going to suggest a rosary too. I'm sure someone more familiar with the area can suggest some sort of Catholic bookstore or gift shop where you can get one.

If you can wait until after Saturday, Heaven Help Us sells charms with saints on them, which are a pretty common thing, but here they're sort of tongue-in-cheek and available for all different needs (e.g. saints for jugglers, to protect against car trouble, procrastinators, etc.). They come with little cards with the saint's story (funny).
posted by LolaGeek at 9:42 AM on July 23

The Catholic Truth Society has a Catholic storefront near the Westminster stop.

Also, patron saints can be a lot of fun. If there are some characteristics about him which you think he exemplifies, a nod to a patron saint that he exemplifies might be a nice gesture as well.
posted by Nanukthedog at 9:44 AM on July 23 [1 favorite has favorites]

If you go to the Catholic store, the other traditional option besides a nice rosary is a (devotional) scapular.
posted by jeb at 9:52 AM on July 23

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posted by jessamyn at 9:52 AM on July 23

I vote for a nice rosary too...
posted by Hanuman1960 at 9:56 AM on July 23

seconding the patron saint idea. little statues and votive candles.
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:57 AM on July 23

Just want to point out that the gift can be totally secular, too. Any gift that would be appropriate for a graduation (watch, pen, etc.) is appropriate here. Wrap it up with a handwritten congratulatory note, and you're there.
posted by txvtchick at 10:08 AM on July 23

Seconding the GK Chesterton suggestion -- you can never have too many books. If your friend doesn't already have a copy of Orthodoxy, I highly recommend. There's a pretty well-stocked Christian bookstore called Church House Bookshop behind Westminster Abbey.
posted by stuck on an island at 10:38 AM on July 23 [1 favorite has favorites]

Is he being confirmed at the same time? If so, he'll already have picked a saint to name himself after. You could find something related to that saint.
posted by ocherdraco at 10:40 AM on July 23

Rosary's not a bad idea, but not all Catholics are into it.

I'd personally vote for a nice Bible that will stand the test of time. I "borrowed" a nice one (leatherbound with with lots of references/footnotes) from my mom years ago, and though I'm not exactly the nightly-Bible reader, I still know exactly where it is and have many memories of using it. I couldn't begin to tell you where my rosary blessed by Pope John Paul II is.
posted by jmd82 at 11:07 AM on July 23

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Every time I see that, my soul dies a little inside. Do not do WHAT, it cries out?! Where's the link I can click to see this forbidden knowledge?

Anyway, recovered Catholic here. Patron saints is exactly the right way to go, since it's an "acceptable" form of idolatry in Catholicism and gives you the opportunity to make it also a personal gift, by picking something about the recipient's personality. Does he lose his keys a lot? Get a St. Anthony medallion. Does he suffer from migraines? St. Theresa handkerchief. Is he a hairdresser? A St. Martin de Porres* hand-mirror.

Any good Bible (must be a KJV) is an acceptable backup gift.

* Yes, those Catholics have a saint for everything.
posted by rokusan at 11:31 AM on July 23

A rosary is the sort of thing that ought really to come from a family member or significant other, and ideally a godparent. So I'm going to make a slightly different suggestion: Growing Up Catholic. It's a funny but respectful take on the sociology and subculture of Anglophone Catholicism, and is a nice primer on some of the things he'll encounter in church life -- or will be mentioned by cradle-Catholic parishioners -- that don't get explained in the catechism. (One example: the unwritten rules of where everyone sits in church.)

Might be able to get it in a London bookshop in time for the baptism -- or even one of the Catholic shops, because it's really not irreverent. On top of that, you can't go far wrong with saint prayer cards.
posted by holgate at 11:33 AM on July 23

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I agree that one has to wonder what that is. Since the first answer that popped into my mind was something totally in appropriate (well, counter to what was being asked, anyway), I saw the comment above and had to wonder.
posted by Man with Lantern at 11:41 AM on July 23

Since you don't know what to buy, maybe you can buy a blank card and write something inside. He's making a life choice that means a lot to him. "Good Luck" might be a trite, but something indicating the respect you have for him making such a big decision in his life, and that you wish him the best - might go over well.
posted by Man with Lantern at 11:42 AM on July 23

Maybe a small holy water font? Catholic stores should have these, and that way your housemate could remember his baptism daily!
posted by adjockey at 12:02 PM on July 23

A rosary is the sort of thing that ought really to come from a family member or significant other, and ideally a godparent.

I agree with this if you're a kid and its like first communion, but as an adult? Do RCIA candidates even get godparents or just "sponsors"?

A more lighthearted but still on-topic suggestion is a copy of Lives of the Saints. Its like the Catholic Dungeon Master's Guide.
posted by jeb at 12:14 PM on July 23 [1 favorite has favorites]

For what its worth, I think the patron saint statues and so on...it would seem jokey to me. I mean, yeah, my grandparents still take that stuff super seriously and bury St. Joseph statues in their houses, but like...I don't know, it feels a little bit idolatrous to me, and if its coming from someone who doesn't take it seriously, it might feel kind of mocking. Yes, I realize this goes directly against my last comment. I'm rethinking that now.
posted by jeb at 12:17 PM on July 23

Pauline Books & Media has a branch in London - I'm afraid I have no idea if that is near you, but I wanted to suggest it as I've found the Pauline stores to be the best of the Catholic shops in the US. They have lots of books, but also a good selection of rosaries, saint medals, etc. The store is staffed by the Daughters of St. Paul, an order of nuns. Explain your friend's situation, and they'll be able to suggest appropriate gifts.
posted by xsquared-1 at 12:19 PM on July 23

Not sure about the rosaries. It seems to be an all-purpose Catholic gift, and many other people may have had the same idea. My mom has about 11, and those are just the ones she kept.
posted by stuck on an island at 12:36 PM on July 23

I think the patron saint angle is okay, provided that you're buying an item that is in keeping with more orthodox Catholic practices. I mean, it's one thing to buy a St. Sebastian medal / holy card / statue, and quite another to pick up a can of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Air Freshener.

If you can find a shop that sells Catholic items, you might ask whoever is working there for ideas. I've never been in a religious-goods store that didn't have an incredibly helpful staff.
posted by corey flood at 4:36 PM on July 23

2nding adjockey's idea. I imagine your friend is well fortified in books by Thomas Merton et al. If you're looking for a cultural Catholic book that's a little bit easier on the mind than intense theology, James Martin's My Life with the Saints is wonderful.

I would also consider, if your budget is a little larger, getting him a breviary and perhaps a book that explains how to pray it. You should be able to find one in any well-stocked Catholic book store.

It's likely you can make a donation to a local cathedral or basilica in his name, in exchange for which they will give you a nice certificate and pray for him on a regular basis.
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 5:08 PM on July 23

I wouldn't get a crucifix necklace or a rosary, a crucifix is probably too personal and he'll likely get one anyways (my non-Catholic parents gave me one when I was baptized in college and I got one from my grandparents too). However, a wall crucifix might be good (though it can depend on taste in art... you'd probably want to get a standardish one, wood cross, etc.) A rosary can be tough because it's something you actually use... so a lot of it depends on how it feels in your hands and that's a pretty personal thing that's hard to judge for someone else.

A scapular is also probably not a good idea... wearing a scapular generally represents a commitment to a certain form of Catholic spirituality (Carmelite, benedictine, etc...) However, if your housemate already wears say, the brown scapular, they do wear out, so getting him a nice one that he could wear next would be appropriate.

A small statue of the saint he's choosing as a confirmation name (or of his name if he's not picking a confirmation saint) would be appropriate... but again you'll have to judge taste. You could also get a nice framed picture of the saint (I actually have a friend who does this kind of art to order, frequently for baptism, confirmations or weddings, but your timeline is too short.)

A breviary is actually a pretty good choice. The linked one, however, is the U.S. translation and one of the shorter abridgements. The U.S. translation of the breviary is called the "Liturgy of the Hours", in England they call it the "Divine Office". This is an abridgment containing Morning and Evening prayer that would be a good start. The full set comes in three volumes and will set you back 105 pounds, which I'm guessing is more than you want to spend.

Books would be a good choice, one that's really excellent, but likely not something he's already read is The Fire Within by Thomas Dubay, an excellent book on prayer that should appeal pretty widely across the Catholic spectrum. Also good would be a gift certificate for books.

You could also have a Mass said for him. Basically, you offer the stipend for the priest to say the Mass and the priest prays for him particularly during the Mass. Go to your local Catholic Church and tell the receptionist "I'd like to have a Mass said for someone." Make sure they know that he's alive so they give you the right kind of card (frequently you get a choice) and so that they don't schedule the intention for a requiem Mass. The cost here in New York can be anywhere from 10 to 15 bucks depending on whether the Mass is announced or not and other factors. This would also be a good gift to give along with something else.

I think txvtchick's suggestion of a pen, watch, etc. is also a very good one.
posted by Jahaza at 7:23 PM on July 23

St George's Cathedral is close to London Bridge. I don't know if they have a shop, but you could give them a call. Number on website.

When I was confirmed, I was given a leatherbound Sunday Missal, which I thought was a good gift. It was blessed by the priest and signed by the giver and the priest. Nice thoughts there. It's possibly more useful than a breviary or rosary if your friend isn't the praying kind.
posted by sagwalla at 1:27 AM on July 24

Just make him feel guilty about something when he gets back from the mass.

Seriously, though, I was given a St Christopher necklace for my baptism. It's a pretty common gift and available lots of places like H Samueletc. Probably from St George's gift shop, too.
posted by Cantdosleepy at 6:58 AM on July 24