19 Catholic Books That Make Great Christmas Gifts

by Books | Our Favorite Catholic Books To Read, Gift Guides

A good book is a wonderful gift to give to family and friends this Christmas. But let’s be honest, if you’re looking at this list, you’re probably more interested in selecting one of these titles for yourself! That’s perfectly fine. The Saints agree that spiritual reading is important.

“The harm that comes to souls from the lack of reading holy books makes me shudder . . . What power spiritual reading has to lead to a change of course, and to make even worldly people enter into the way of perfection.”

— St. Padre Pio

The Best Catholic Books To Give Or Get For Christmas This Year

“A Stained Glass Rosary” | Thy Olive Tree

Catholic books

A Stained Glass Rosary cleverly pairs a modern and sleek design with the richness of traditional sacred art to transform how you pray the Rosary. Increase prayerful focus and deepen your meditation as you become immersed in the 20 mysteries of the Rosary through stained glass masterpieces from the 13th – 17th centuries. With limited distractions and containing just enough content without being overwhelming, A Stained Glass Rosary is designed to be used while praying. 

Each turn of a page reveals a mystery of the Rosary with its corresponding full-page stained glass art, spiritual fruit, and a Printed Bead Tracker. Simply move your thumb down the page of beads to keep your place, allowing the colors of the tracker to pull you into the scene of the stained glass. 

While designed for adults, A Stained Glass Rosary is suitable for older children as well. It is perfect for those learning to pray the Rosary, those who want to pray on the go, and especially for those who desire to enter more deeply into the mysteries of the Rosary and the life of Christ. 

Use coupon code CATHOLICLINK10 for 10% off at Thy Olive Tree shop from Nov 19 – Dec 10, 2021. 

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Living on Love | Fr. Didier-Marie Golay

Thérèse of Lisieux is one of the most popular modern saints in the world, but the details of her life and spirituality are still not widely known and are somewhat of a mystery even to her devoted followers.

With over 150 stunning photographs, in-depth text, and plentiful sidebars on history, geography, and themes, this gorgeous work helps us enter into the universe of “the greatest saint of modern times” to discover the simplicity, yet depth of her daily life and of her relationships, both human and spiritual.

The True Meaning of Christmas | By: Michael Patrick Barber

What does the Bible really say about the birth of Jesus? How did the celebration of Christmas
become associated with things like Santa Claus and decorated trees? In The True Meaning of
Christmas: The Birth of Jesus and the Origins of the Season, biblical scholar Michael Patrick
Barber offers an inspiring look at the Bible’s accounts of Jesus’ birth and the development of the
Christmas season. 

Behold It Is I | Fr. George Elliott

The Catholic Faith begins and ends with Jesus Christ, culminating in the Eucharist as its Source and Summit. “Behold, it is I,” Jesus says, and the faithful believe. Examining these words of Jesus, Fr. George Elliott and Dr. Stacy Trasancos provide some of the most convincing proofs for the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist from Scripture, Tradition, and the scientific investigation of Eucharistic miracles. 

Hallow Plus

Hallow is the #1 Catholic App in the world, downloaded over 1 million times and used to pray over 25 million times in 150 different countries! It is authentically Catholic and features more than 3,000 audio-guided prayers, meditations, Christian music, and audio Bible readings. Some of the content you can find on Hallow include a free daily Rosary, daily Gospel Lectio Divina, Daily Examen, and Daily Saint Meditation. Hallow also has praylists for Calm, Humility, and Joy, Minute Meditations for brief moments with God throughout your day, regular Litanies and Novenas, and meditations and prayers for Mental Health. Hear prayers and Bible Stories from your favorite Catholic speakers like Bishop Barron, Dr. Scott Hahn, and Fr. Mark-Mary, and enjoy Gospel readings from Jonathan Roumie and the #1 Bible in a Year Podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz. Hallow has so much content to bring you peace and into deeper relationship with God. Join Hallow’s #Pray25 Challenge this Advent to journey to Bethlehem with Mary. The #Pray25 Challenge features daily meditations bringing you into the story of Salvation with the woman who brought Christ into the world. For free access to all of the meditations on Hallow, sign up at hallow.com/catholiclinken

Wholistic Feminism: Healing the Identity Crisis Caused by the Women’s Movement

Wholistic Feminism: Healing the Identity Crisis Caused by the Women’s Movement (Lumen Press, 2021) is the first book from author Leah A. Jacobson, MA, IBCLC.  Illustrating how the American women’s movement, hijacked by the sexual revolution, has defined success in a way that keeps women striving, yet never fully arriving at true fulfillment, Wholistic Feminism highlights female contributions in a new light while refuting the lie that women and their female bodies are inadequate or problematic.  With this book, Jacobson aims to begin a women’s movement that is truly whole.


Untroubled by the Unknown: Trusting God in Every Moment

The world is uncertain and ever-changing—but Catholics are called to be untroubled by the unknown and secure in the midst of insecurity. How can this be?

Untroubled by the Unknown, a booklet in The Curious Catholic series, was created to help draw busy Catholics closer to God by calling them to trust in his mercy. Fr. Mike Schmitz shows Catholics that enduring hope and trust is just as possible today as it was for the first disciples. Complete with questions for personal reflection or group discussion and real-life challenges after each chapter, this booklet is perfect for individual devotion or group study.

Readers will learn:

  • What hope and trust really are
  • 3 ways hardships can actually help to deepen faith
  • How to face the unknown without fear
  • Why mercy is the key to understanding trust in God
  • How to surrender one’s own plans and trust in God’s plan

Theology of Home: Finding the Eternal in the Everyday

Written by three wives and mothers, Theology of Home is a simple guide to help reorient all of us toward our true home, allowing us to think purposefully about how to make our own homes on earth better equipped to get all those living in them to the Father’s house. Featuring more than 100 beautiful (and inspiring) photographs from homes around the country, profound words from the saints and other literary figures, and in depth commentary on the theological and spiritual underpinnings of our love for Home, Theology of Home offers readers a tour of the both the Home and the human heart. Whether you live in a sprawling estate or a humble dwelling, whether alone or with a crowd, this is far more than a book of beautiful photos and great décor ideas.

Discernment Dos and Donts

Do you feel like God is calling you to…something, but you don’t know what? Don’t know where to start? Do you find it hard to clear away the noise of life, and apps, and phones and really listen to God?

The Ave Catholic Notetaking Bible

The Ave Catholic Notetaking Bible combines exceptional readability, generous margins for journaling and notetaking, and a variety of special features designed to deepen your understanding of the Holy Scriptures.
Thoughtfully crafted by the world’s premier Bible designers and featuring the trusted and elegant Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, this Bible is perfect for men and women, for individuals and groups, and for high school classrooms and adult faith formation.

Pray for Us | Meg Hunter-Kilmer

How is it possible that a chain-smoking socialist, a teenage video gamer, an opium addict, a satanic high priest, a disabled beggar, and a self-absorbed mean girl became saints?

Popular itinerant missionary Meg Hunter-Kilmer will stretch your preconceived notions of holiness by exploring the lesser-known lives of seventy-five extraordinary people whose human struggles and limitations reveal the power of God’s grace.

Joy to the World | Scott Hahn

Catholic Books Scott Hahn

What could be more familiar than the Christmas story—and yet what could be more extraordinary? The cast of characters is strange and exotic: shepherds and magicians, an emperor and a despot, angels, and a baby who is Almighty God. The strangeness calls for an explanation, and this book provides it by examining the characters and the story in light of the biblical and historical context. Bestselling author Scott Hahn who has written extensively on Scripture and the early Church, brings evidence to light, dispelling some of the mystery of the story. Yet Christmas is made familiar all over again by showing it to be a family story. Christmas, as it appears in the New Testament, is the story of a father, a mother, and a child—their relationships, their interactions, their principles, their individual lives, and their common life. To see the life of this “earthly trinity” is to gaze into heaven.

 “Christmas Blossoms” by Priscilla Smith McCaffrey 

Christmas gifts books catholic
“Christmas Blossoms” is an impassioned and imaginative tale that explores the fascinating irony of our most cherished Christmas objects, both sacred and secular, produced by the artists and craftsmen of Communist China. In their imaginations, in the depth of their hearts, what do these artisans think of the mangers, the shepherds, Santa Claus, and Mother Mary? Of the star, the bells, the holly, and the Wise Men? Most significantly, what do they make of the Holy Child Who exists at the heart of the West?
A story for young and old, parents and children alike, this beautifully illustrated novella captures how the Christmas spirit endures and stirs hearts despite the antagonistic forces of commercialism and oppression—and it will touch your heart as well. Prepare to be swept away as you witness the precious moment when Christmas returned to China.


Saints Letter Club | Use Code SAVE20FOR2 to save 20% for two months

Catholic Gifts Kids Childrens Catholic Gifts

Catholic Children’s Books

The Tiny Seed

catholic books for children
Best-selling children’s author and illustrator duo Katie Warner and Meg Whalen (FirstFaithTreasury.com) bring to life for young readers Christ’s famous parable of the mustard seed – a favorite of young children and a striking testament to the idea that great things often come in small packages. Through charming illustrations and a beautiful, scriptural storyline, The Tiny Seed reveals the deep truth of our God-given uniqueness and the incredible process children undergo as they grow into the person God made them to be. 

This will be 40% off at TANBooks.com November 24th -28th!

Through the Year with Jesus: Gospel Readings and Reflections for Children

The liturgical year invites us to walk with Jesus through the most wonderful story ever told: the Gospel. In Through the Year with Jesus: Gospel Readings and Reflections for Children,  catechist and popular blogger Katherine Bogner reveals the rich mystery of the seasons we celebrate in the Church.
With Gospel readings for each week of the liturgical year, along with tools for reflection, discussion, and prayer, Through the Year with Jesus offers endless opportunities for discovering who Jesus is and better understanding Catholic teaching about his life and mission.
Promote prayer and conversation about the life of Christ with children through
Weekly readings from the Gospels
Lectio Divina prompts to nurture personal prayer or journaling
Sacred art to accompany the Gospel reading
Stories of saints and many rich Catholic traditions for the liturgical year
The easy-to-use format of Through the Year with Jesus helps adults lead children to an intimate encounter with the heart of Jesus through the rhythm of the liturgical year and the powerful words of Scripture.

Champions of the Rosary | Laurie J. Schmitt

In 1859, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a young woman named Adele Brise. Mary gave Adele a special mission: “To gather the children to the wild country to teach them what they needed to know for their salvation.” A chapel was built in honor of Our Lady of Good Help in the place where she appeared.

Champions of the Rosary introduces us to siblings Philip, Elizabeth, and John, who attend catechism classes with Sr. Adele Brise. Together, with their older brother James, they witness the raging Peshtigo Fire of 1871.

Listening for God: Silence Practice for Little Ones

Catholic books for kids
Through bright and captivating illustrations and a compelling, interactive storyline, Listening for God, by bestselling children’s book author Katie Warner (FirstFaithTreasury.com), shares the biblical story of the prophet Elijah to help children understand the importance of silence in listening for God’s still, small voice and uncovering His adventurous plan for their lives.  Listening for God, with its creative elements that make children eager to read and participate again and again, will become an invaluable resource to your family prayer life.
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