“The Jews solemnized a day called by them dies ignis, the day of fire with which Nehemias consumed the sacrifice, upon his return with his countrymen from the captivity of Babylon. Even so, and indeed with more reason, should Christmas day be called the day of fire, on which a God came as a little child to cast the fire of love into the hearts of men. ‘I came to cast fire on the earth.’ So spoke Jesus Christ, and truly so it was . . .

It is a custom with many Christians to anticipate the arrival of Christmas . . . by fitting up in their homes a crib to represent the birth of Jesus Christ; but there are few who think of preparing their hearts, so that the infant Jesus may be born in them . . . Among those few, however, we would be reckoned, in order that we too may be made worthy to burn with that happy flame which gives contentment to souls on this earth, and bliss in heaven. Let us consider . . . how the Eternal Word had no other end in becoming man than to inflame us with his divine love. Let us ask light of Jesus Christ and of his most holy mother, and so let us begin.”

- St. Alphonsus Liguori

Last minute gift ideas for Christmas. We recommend and we offer  Priority Mail and FedEx shipping options to get your gifts to you on time!

The Essential Pope Benedict XVI: His Central Writings and Speeches	Common Sense 101: Lessons from G.K. Chesterton   Author: Dale Ahlquist
The Teachings Of The Church Fathers   Author: Fr. John R. Willis, S.J.	Inside the Bible: An Introduction to Each Book of the Bible   Author:  Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J.
Ignatius Catholic Bible, RSV Second Catholic Edition Bonded Leather	A Key to the Doctine of the Eucharist   Author: Abbot Vonier

Last minute CD gift ideas! Choose Priority Mail or FedEx.

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Becket, DVD   Starring Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole, and Sir John Gielgud	Saint Rita DVD   Starring Vittoria Belvedere and Martin Crewes
Saint John Bosco: Mission to Love, DVD	A Man for All Seasons, DVD The Academy Award winning drama about the conflict between St. Thomas More and King Henry VIII.  Starring Paul Scofield, Robert Shaw, and Orson Welles.

Beautiful Catholic jewelry is always a wonderful gift idea. Most of our jewelry is in stock and ready to ship out right away.
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Mary’s virginal motherhood in God’s plan

“The eyes of faith can discover in the context of the whole of Revelation the mysterious reasons why God in his saving plan wanted his Son to be born of a virgin. These reasons touch both on the person of Christ and his redemptive mission, and on the welcome Mary gave that mission on behalf of all men.

Mary’s’ virginity manifests God’s absolute initiative in the Incarnation. Jesus has only God as Father. ‘He was never estranged from the Father because of the human nature which he assumed …. He is naturally Son of the Father as to his divinity and naturally son of his mother as to his humanity, but properly Son of the Father in both natures.’

Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary’s womb because he is the New Adam, who inaugurates the new creation: ‘The first man was from earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.’ From his conception, Christ’s humanity is filled with the Holy Spirit, for God ‘gives him the Spirit without measure.’ From ‘his fullness’ as the head of redeemed humanity ‘we have all received, grace upon grace.”

- Catechism of the Catholic Church 502-504

Beautiful Christmas Ornaments are in stock now! Order today to have them on your Christmas tree this year. Choose Priority Mail or FedEx to receive them in time. . .

Baby Jesus in the Manger Christmas Ornament	Pope Benedict XVI Christmas Ornament
Pope John Paul II Christmas Ornament Limited Edition!	Flight to Egypt Pewter Ornament

Christmas pins are in stock now! Order yours today and and proudly profess that Christ is at the heart of your Christmas celebration. Choose Priority Mail or FedEx to receive them in time.

Jesus is the Heart of Christmas, Swarovski Pin	Keep Christ in Christmas Swarovski Pin
Celebrate the Gift of Jesus, Swarovski Pin	Jesus is the Reason for the Season, Swarovski Pin

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Olive Wood Nativity with Bell Tower

Round Base Olive Wood Nativity

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Joy is the True Gift of Christmas

“With the angel’s greeting to Mary – ‘kaire’ in the Greek, which means ‘be joyful’ – the New Testament begins,” he said. “We could say that the first word of the New Testament is ‘be joyful,’ ‘be happy,’ in other words, ‘joy.’ This is the true meaning of Christmas: God is near us, so near that He became a child.”

The Holy Father then highlighted how “we realize that today’s world, where God is absent, is dominated by fear, by uncertainty.” Nonetheless, “the words ‘be joyful because God is with you and with us,’ truly open a new time.”

“Joy is the true gift of Christmas, not the expensive gifts that call for time and money. We can communicate this joy simply: with a smile, a kind gesture, a little help, forgiveness. And the joy we give will certainly come back to us.…Let us pray that this presence of the liberating joy of God shines forth in our lives.”

- Pope Benedict XVI commenting on the scene of the Annunciation, as recounted in the Gospel of St. Luke, during his homily for the fourth Sunday of Advent in 2006.