“Sing to the Lord a new song, a hymn in the assembly of the faithful . . . Let them praise his name in festive dance, make music with tambourine and lyre” – Psalm 149

Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

“Approaching the Mystery of the Incarnation through Prayer and Contemplation

We cannot come to the fullness of contemplation of the Lord’s face by our own efforts alone, but by allowing grace to take us by the hand. Only the experience of silence and prayer offers the proper setting for the growth and development of a true, faithful and consistent knowledge of that mystery which finds its culminating expression in the solemn proclamation by the Evangelist Saint John: ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.’ (John 1:14)”

- words of Pope John Paul II in “Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Pope John Paul II

Great last minute book gift giving ideas:

Seek That Which is Above: Meditations Through the Year   Author: Pope Benedict, XVI	Jesus of Nazareth   Authors: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict, XVI
The Treasury Of Catholic Wisdom   Author: Fr. John A Hardon, S.J.	The Confessions of St. Augustine   Extracts Selected by Carolinne White
The Imitation Of Christ – Illustrated   Extracts Chosen From Richard Challoner’s 1737 Translation   Author: Thomas A’ Kempis	Salve Regina: The Story of Mary   Author: Jacques Duquesne

To browse more books for gift-giving ideas, please click here.

Great last minute book gift giving ideas for young people:

To browse more Children’s books for gift-giving ideas, please click here.

The Son of God Became Man

“Why Did the Word Become Flesh? With the Nicene Creed, we answer by confessing: ‘For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.’

The Word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God, who ‘loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins’: ‘the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world,’ and ‘he was revealed to take away sins’

Sick, our nature demanded to be healed; fallen, to be raised up; dead, to rise again. We had lost the possession of the good; it was necessary for it to be given back to us. Closed in the darkness, it was necessary to bring us the light; captives, we awaited a Savior; prisoners, help; slaves, a liberator. Are these things minor or insignificant? Did they not move God to descend to human nature and visit it, since humanity was in so miserable and unhappy a state?

The Word became flesh so that thus we might know God’s love . . .

The Word became flesh to be our model of holiness  . . .

The Word became flesh to make us ‘partakers of the divine nature’ . . .”

- from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 456-460

Great last minute DVD and CD gift giving ideas:

Saint Francis – DVD – English Dubbed	Thérèse DVD: Original Motion Picture Edition
Catholic Latin Classics, CD   Author: Richard Proulx	Sublime Chant: The Art Of Gregorian, Ambrosian And Gallican Chant   Performed by The Cathedral Singers, Richard Proulx, Conductor

Beautiful Catholic jewelry always makes for a special gift at Christmas. Most of our jewelry is in stock and ships quickly from our warehouse. Please click here to browse our selection of Catholic jewelry such as patron saint medals, crucifix and cross pendants, rings, bracelets, and items from the Vatican Library Collection:

Calendars and items for the New Year: 

2008 Mary and the Saints Calendar	Icons: Windows to Heaven 2008 Calendar   Commentary from Fr. Thomas J. Loya, S.T.B., a Byzantine Catholic priest and expert on iconography
St. Joseph Sunday Missal And Hymnal For 2008	Abide In My Word 2008; Mass Readings at Your Fingertips

To browse our selection of beautiful Catholic art, including paintings and icons, please click here.

To browse our complete 2008 Calendar selection, including perpetual calendars, please click here.

To browse our complete selection of Lionheart Catholic apparel, please click here.

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.

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