Mother's Day gift for mom returning to Catholicism
May 2, 2018 4:00 PM Subscribe
My mom has returned to the Catholic church after many years and is very enthusiastic about it. I would like to get her a Mother's Day gift that supports this interest but am pretty lost about what to get. I think that a lot of Jesuit writings resonate with her. She likes religious iconography. Um, and that's all I've got. I'm looking for gift suggestions that go beyond "nice Bible" or "rosary"--something she wouldn't think of herself.
Roman Catholic here.
A subscription to Magnificat Magazine!
I have a subscription, and I love it. It has the Daily Missal, as well as a monthly art essay, various excerpts from church writers both contemporary and historical, and blurbs about various Saints on their Saint Days.
I think she'd really appreciate this. It comes in both digital and print form.
posted by spinifex23 at 4:14 PM on May 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
A subscription to Magnificat Magazine!
I have a subscription, and I love it. It has the Daily Missal, as well as a monthly art essay, various excerpts from church writers both contemporary and historical, and blurbs about various Saints on their Saint Days.
I think she'd really appreciate this. It comes in both digital and print form.
posted by spinifex23 at 4:14 PM on May 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
A cross or crucifix ring or pendant?
posted by the return of the thin white sock at 4:16 PM on May 2, 2018
posted by the return of the thin white sock at 4:16 PM on May 2, 2018
As a total atheist with no religious upbringing, I still loved My Life with the Saints by Jesuit priest James Martin. It's about how the guy came to Catholicism and the priesthood from the secular world through his personal identification with the saints, many of them women. Very interesting and made me wish I had the capacity for some kind of faith (I don't).
posted by greta simone at 4:29 PM on May 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by greta simone at 4:29 PM on May 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
I’m Roman Catholic as well. Brother Lentz is a Franciscan friar who designs amazing icons. You can go by her saint’s name or by a saint who’s meaningful to her. If she’s a child of the 60s, she might like the icon of the Berrigan brothers, who aren’t formally saints (yet). The store features other artists as well. I’m just a big fan of Brother Lentz’s style.
The page I linked to has all of his icons (click to enlarge), but you can search the site by saints name too if you click on search for art. If you’re not well versed in the symbols, it’s hard to tell who’s who.
If you say more about her interests, people might be able to suggest saints. For instance, St. Cecilia is the patron of musicians.
posted by FencingGal at 4:36 PM on May 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
The page I linked to has all of his icons (click to enlarge), but you can search the site by saints name too if you click on search for art. If you’re not well versed in the symbols, it’s hard to tell who’s who.
If you say more about her interests, people might be able to suggest saints. For instance, St. Cecilia is the patron of musicians.
posted by FencingGal at 4:36 PM on May 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Also, I’m in a position similar to your mom’s, and I was profoundly moved by James Carroll’s book Practicing Catholic. Carroll is a former priest who has remained Catholic. It’s basically a history of the intersection of his life and the changes in the Catholic Church from the 1950s on. I learned a lot about some things I was too young to remember very clearly. I don’t know your mom’s politics, but it reenforced for me the tradition of liberal Catholicism, which is easy to lose sight of with the unfortunate ascendance of the conservative wing of the Catholic Church in recent times. Like many priests and Catholics of his generation, Carroll was very involved in the Civil Rights movement and protesting the Vietnam War.
posted by FencingGal at 4:45 PM on May 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 4:45 PM on May 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Could you orient around whatever it was that brought her back to the Roman Catholic Church? My mom greatly likes Mary, mother of Jesus, for instance, and so I try to keep that in mind when looking for religious gifts for her. Another likes the papal writings and another collects items from the Latin-language era.
And you may find your mother also appreciate religious imagery for greeting cards, especially Christmas, if you aren't used to that.
posted by beaning at 4:57 PM on May 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
And you may find your mother also appreciate religious imagery for greeting cards, especially Christmas, if you aren't used to that.
posted by beaning at 4:57 PM on May 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Also, does her local church do retreats? Sponsoring her for one might be appreciated.
posted by beaning at 4:58 PM on May 2, 2018
posted by beaning at 4:58 PM on May 2, 2018
I think Father James Martin is a great answer. In addition to "My Life with the Saints", he also wrote "The Jesuit Guide to Everything".
I'm also a big fan of GK Chesterton, who's funny and incisive.
posted by kevinbelt at 5:10 PM on May 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
I'm also a big fan of GK Chesterton, who's funny and incisive.
posted by kevinbelt at 5:10 PM on May 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
She might also enjoy the writings of Thomas Merton.
posted by 4ster at 5:18 PM on May 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by 4ster at 5:18 PM on May 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
I have some recommendations that your mother may appreciate in two ways, one for the support buying these suggestions gives to the brothers and sisters, and two for the gift to your mother:
From the Brothers of Clear Creek Abbey:
Little Office of the BVM
St. Benedict Medal
Various rosaries
Various devotional icons
The Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles have a number of CDs, several of which have topped the classical music charts. Some are of chanting, some are of traditional carols and so on.
posted by Fukiyama at 5:46 PM on May 2, 2018
From the Brothers of Clear Creek Abbey:
Little Office of the BVM
St. Benedict Medal
Various rosaries
Various devotional icons
The Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles have a number of CDs, several of which have topped the classical music charts. Some are of chanting, some are of traditional carols and so on.
posted by Fukiyama at 5:46 PM on May 2, 2018
I agree with spinifex23 about Magnificat Magazine. Also I would mention (in case you didn't know) that May is the month devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, in case you wanted to include a small gift in that theme, even if you decide to go with a different theme for the main gift.
Also, FWIW, my wife does an annual women's retreat at Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center in Maryland (though I have no idea how close that is to your mom's location).
posted by forthright at 5:52 PM on May 2, 2018
Also, FWIW, my wife does an annual women's retreat at Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center in Maryland (though I have no idea how close that is to your mom's location).
posted by forthright at 5:52 PM on May 2, 2018
Might be too late for this Mother’s Day, but you could get her a papal blessing parchment link
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 6:17 PM on May 2, 2018
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 6:17 PM on May 2, 2018
Response by poster: These are all such lovely suggestions! Some other characteristics of my mom: She's definitely into the liberal theology/social justice branch of Catholicism. She loves dogs. And her parish is heavily Hispanic. She's not, but she really likes this aspect of it.
posted by HotToddy at 6:23 PM on May 2, 2018
posted by HotToddy at 6:23 PM on May 2, 2018
She's definitely into the liberal theology/social justice branch of Catholicism.
The Harlot by the Side of the Road. This was assigned reading at my Catholic university, in a class taught by a nun, and it blew my mind.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:28 PM on May 2, 2018
The Harlot by the Side of the Road. This was assigned reading at my Catholic university, in a class taught by a nun, and it blew my mind.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:28 PM on May 2, 2018
Since she’s into liberal theology/social justice, I’d suggest books by and about Dorothy Day and Daniel Berrigan.
St. Roch is the patron of dogs. I’d never heard of him. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and ecology. It will be much easier to find icons of St. Francis.
posted by FencingGal at 6:44 PM on May 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
St. Roch is the patron of dogs. I’d never heard of him. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and ecology. It will be much easier to find icons of St. Francis.
posted by FencingGal at 6:44 PM on May 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Spiritual Exercises by Ignatius Loyola.
James Carroll is great. James Martin is awesome (and a friend) and I've enjoyed every one of his books.
America Magazine is a Jesuit-published Catholic magazine for thinking laymen. It is awesome. Every Catholic theologian I know reads it because it's that good, even though it's pitched at smart laymen! (Disclosure: I know the editor. I knew the last editor too; he married my parents. I know a lot of Jesuits.)
I like Kathleen Norris's The Quotidian Mysteries, which is about how the everyday work of women (laundry, dishes, etc.) can be an act of worship. Anne Lamott's memoirs about faith are also great.
Ellen Davis's Getting Involved with God is a fantastic introduction to the Old Testament for the smart lay Christian reader. (I took an OT class with her.) People universally adore it when I give it as a gift.
Iconography: Journey into Christian Art with lots and lots of pictures to enjoy might be of interest. I'm sure there are others, but that one has good text and pix.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:46 PM on May 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
James Carroll is great. James Martin is awesome (and a friend) and I've enjoyed every one of his books.
America Magazine is a Jesuit-published Catholic magazine for thinking laymen. It is awesome. Every Catholic theologian I know reads it because it's that good, even though it's pitched at smart laymen! (Disclosure: I know the editor. I knew the last editor too; he married my parents. I know a lot of Jesuits.)
I like Kathleen Norris's The Quotidian Mysteries, which is about how the everyday work of women (laundry, dishes, etc.) can be an act of worship. Anne Lamott's memoirs about faith are also great.
Ellen Davis's Getting Involved with God is a fantastic introduction to the Old Testament for the smart lay Christian reader. (I took an OT class with her.) People universally adore it when I give it as a gift.
Iconography: Journey into Christian Art with lots and lots of pictures to enjoy might be of interest. I'm sure there are others, but that one has good text and pix.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:46 PM on May 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Famously Catholic Martin Sheen and his son, Emilio, made a movie about the Camino de Santiago (a traditional pilgrimage in Spain) in 2010, and there's a dual-autobiography tie-in book.
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:02 PM on May 2, 2018
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:02 PM on May 2, 2018
(Not to abuse the edit window -- Martin Sheen also returned to the Catholic Church after an absence, and is heavily involved in social justice issues.)
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:04 PM on May 2, 2018
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:04 PM on May 2, 2018
I think America or Fr. James Martin would be great. A subscription to Spiritual Life would be great, too.
If you can get a copy of That Man is You by Louis Evely, she would be lucky to have it!
If she likes fiction, In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden (out of print) is WONDERFUL! (Maybe save for birthday or Christmas?)
posted by jgirl at 7:11 PM on May 2, 2018
If you can get a copy of That Man is You by Louis Evely, she would be lucky to have it!
If she likes fiction, In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden (out of print) is WONDERFUL! (Maybe save for birthday or Christmas?)
posted by jgirl at 7:11 PM on May 2, 2018
Lots of great suggestions here already. A priest I once knew would also recommend anything by Cardinal Carlo Martini.
posted by armeowda at 7:46 PM on May 2, 2018
posted by armeowda at 7:46 PM on May 2, 2018
If she is interested in the social justice work of the church, she might enjoy a DVD of the movie Entertaining Angels, which tells of Dorothy Day, Peter Maurin, and the Catholic Worker Movement.
posted by 4ster at 8:10 PM on May 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by 4ster at 8:10 PM on May 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
I like these ceramic wall hangings from St. Andrews Abbey - there are saints, Madonnas, crosses, etc...
https://www.monksofvalyermo.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=148
posted by Mallenroh at 8:34 PM on May 2, 2018
https://www.monksofvalyermo.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=148
posted by Mallenroh at 8:34 PM on May 2, 2018
Since her church is heavily Latinx, how about some readings or an icon of Oscar Romero? She might also enjoy reading the works of Leonardo Boff, one of the founders of Liberation Theology.
Or perhaps a milagros gift of some sort? A rosary or a crucifix, perhaps?
Anything by Sr. Joan Chittister is wonderful. One of my favorite books of hers is A Passion for Life: Fragments of the Face of God in which she writes meditation to Br. Robert Lentz's icons.
posted by dancing_angel at 8:42 PM on May 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Or perhaps a milagros gift of some sort? A rosary or a crucifix, perhaps?
Anything by Sr. Joan Chittister is wonderful. One of my favorite books of hers is A Passion for Life: Fragments of the Face of God in which she writes meditation to Br. Robert Lentz's icons.
posted by dancing_angel at 8:42 PM on May 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Fellow Catholic of the liberation theology/social justice persuasion here, seconding G.K. Chesterton and Fr. James Martin.
On a much lighter note, I would also recommend a volume of Giovannino Guareschi's Don Camillo stories. Very funny and incisive tales about a rural town in post-war Italy, where the Catholic priest and the Communist mayor are both hot-headed bruisers at permanent loggerheads with each other (but naturally have more in common than they suspect). As both a Catholic and a Marxist, I adore these books - I was given an omnibus volume many years ago by a wonderful priest, who has now since died, and I re-read it often.
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 6:45 AM on May 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
On a much lighter note, I would also recommend a volume of Giovannino Guareschi's Don Camillo stories. Very funny and incisive tales about a rural town in post-war Italy, where the Catholic priest and the Communist mayor are both hot-headed bruisers at permanent loggerheads with each other (but naturally have more in common than they suspect). As both a Catholic and a Marxist, I adore these books - I was given an omnibus volume many years ago by a wonderful priest, who has now since died, and I re-read it often.
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 6:45 AM on May 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
I have four of these dancing monk icons (Mary, St. Francis, St. Benedict, & Dorothy Day) on my office wall and love them. And, I'm loving this discussion... I'm flagging books to read right and left. Thanks for all the great suggestions, everyone!
posted by hessie at 7:02 AM on May 3, 2018
posted by hessie at 7:02 AM on May 3, 2018
St. Julian of Norwich was a medieval holy woman and an important early English writer, much beloved by liberal-theology social-justice Catholics. I'd pick up a copy of her writings - the title is usually rendered as something like The Showings of Julian of Norwich or The Revelations of Divine Love.
posted by waffleriot at 10:45 AM on May 3, 2018
posted by waffleriot at 10:45 AM on May 3, 2018
Response by poster: This turned out to be an unexpectedly delightful thread! Thank you all so much. My neighbor's issue of Magnificat was once accidentally delivered to my house and I thought it was beautiful and fascinating (and can be ordered in time for Mother's Day) so I'm going to go with that, but now I've got a treasure trove of gift ideas for future occasions. Thanks again!
posted by HotToddy at 6:29 AM on May 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by HotToddy at 6:29 AM on May 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
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