Top 9 Best and Most Appropriate Catholic Confirmation Gifts

Why Choosing an Appropriate Confirmation Gift is Important

Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church which gives confirmation candidates special strength from the Holy Spirit. With this imbued strength from the Holy Spirit, they are then able to confidently spread and defend the Catholic faith by word of mouth and through their actions in daily life.

The temptation at this time, or probably the easiest thing, is to give confirmation candidates secular or worldly gifts. However, at this critical juncture in the spiritual life of your confirmand or confirmation candidate, it is extremely important to provide him or her with spiritual tools and resources that will:

(a)  Provide him or her with accurate knowledge to effectively spread and defend the Catholic faith;

(b) Arm him or her against the wiles of the devil and non-believers in the world;

(c)  Assist with his or her continued spiritual growth.

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from any qualifying purchases that you make through this blog post. If you purchase anything, I thank you for your support.

Confirmation Gift No. 1 - Catholic Bible

Yes, that’s right!  Many Catholics are unaware that there is a huge difference between a Catholic Bible and a Protestant Bible. A Catholic Bible is a precious gift that your child, godchild, niece, nephew, etc. will never outgrow. It will serve as a guidebook for life and will aid his or her spiritual growth at all stages of life, up until the very last breath.

In particular, this Catholic Youth Bible encourages teenagers to read, live and love the Bible by including engaging activities and tools such as, colouring, drawing, self-reflective journaling, maps, study aids, daily life challenges, etc. 

 

 Confirmation Gift No. 2 - Catechism of the Catholic Church

Far too many Catholics become dormant Catholics after Confirmation or leave the Catholic Church because they don’t know much about their Catholic faith and therefore say that Catholicism is “boring”. Some time ago, I created a YouTube video titled ‘Faith and What Catholics Believe’. After a friend of mine watched it, she sent it to a friend of hers who had left the Catholic Church. Later, she told me that this person was surprised that she did not know many of the things that I had discussed before she left the Catholic church.

With the gift of a Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), you will provide your confirmand with a solid toolbox for his or her continued journey of self-education and growth in the Catholic faith. The CCC also provides answers to a wide range of real-world subjects and situations, such as celibacy, duties of citizens, tax evasion, sickness, happiness, etc., to help navigate everyday life.

 

Confirmation Gift No. 3 - Crucifix Pendant & Chain

When I started working, at age 18, the very first gift that I bought myself was a gold crucifix and chain. Whenever I was travelling or felt apprehensive, I would touch my crucifix and say a quick prayer for guidance or protection.   

The cross is the very foundation of Catholic Christian faith and one of the most important sacramentals in the Catholic Church; however, it must be treated with respect and reverence. This point was emphasized by Pope Francis who denounced the wearing of crucifixes for fashion. Consequently, if you do choose this gift for your confirmand, be sure to stress the importance of him or her wearing it with reverence and not as a fashion statement. 

  

Confirmation Gift No. 4 - Holy Rosary

The Holy Rosary is an extremely powerful Catholic sacramental which provides protection from Satan. Countless popes, priests, nuns, other religious and saints, including Saint Faustina and Saint Padre Pio, have expounded on its power.

In his Apostolic Letter titled ‘Rosarium Virginis Mariae’, which means 'Rosary of the Virgin Mary' in English, Pope John Paul II explained in detail the significance, power and beauty of the Holy Rosary. 

  

Confirmation Gift No. 5 - Daily Devotional

One of my favourite quotes from Aristotle is: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit”.  I would say the same about our journeying as Catholic Christians. We have to make a habit of doing daily prayers, reflections, praise and worship if we are to become perfect Christians.

By gifting your confirmation candidate with a daily devotional, you would:

(a)   Encourage him or her to set aside daily time for God

(b)   Provide him or her with a framework for engaging with God

(c)   Make it easier for him or her to stay focused during spiritual alone time with God  

 

Confirmation Gift No. 6 - Life of the Saints

Saints are people who lived virtuous lives while they were alive and whom the Church honours through canonization. Reading the lives of the saints gives us both inspiration and encouragement. In terms of inspiration, the saints motivate us to become model Christians in our own daily lives. In terms of encouragement, since they experienced some of the same challenges and temptations that we face when they were alive, they reassure us that:

(a)   Nothing is wrong with us when we face similar challenges and temptations

(b)   We too can live virtuous lives and it is not an impossible feat

(c)   We can call on them for assistance, through prayer, in our daily life struggles

I recommend getting your confirmand both of these books, as a package, for the following two reasons:

1)      One book contains a mix and variety of the traditional saints.

2)      Although the other book focuses on one saint, Carlo Acutis, it makes sainthood relatable to your confirmand since Carlos was also a teenager and lived in our time (i.e., the 21^st century).   

   

Confirmation Gift No. 7 - Catholic Education in Purity for Teens

The truth is that my list would be incomplete if it did not broach this delicate but super relevant topic of teenage sexuality. Your confirmation candidate will most likely be a teenager whose hormones are raging, at this stage of life. So, he or she needs sound Christian advice to counter the overpoweringly loud voices in our world championing freedom to do as they please with their bodies. Additionally, since we know that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, you cannot pretend that this topic isn’t real in the life of your confirmand, be too shy to treat with it or address the subject head on.

I recommend this book as a safe book for your confirmation candidate since it has an imprimatur by an Auxiliary Bishop and encourages sexual purity among teenagers through chastity. So, in short, it conforms to Catholic Church doctrine and teachings.

 

 

Confirmation Gift No. 8 - Book of Novenas

I personally believe in the efficacy of novenas since I have had the blessing of prayers answered by God through them. I have said them at all stages of my life from childhood and still continue to do so in adulthood.

I have my favourite saints and, therefore, have a natural affinity for novenas to my favourite saints. After reading the life of the saints, your confirmation candidate will most likely develop his or her own personal list of preferred saints which will also pique his or her interest in novenas to them.

This novena book has close to 30 powerful and well-known novenas, as well as some information on the history of novenas and novena problems to avoid. It also has an imprimatur by a Bishop, which means that it has been approved for publication by the Catholic Church.

 

 

Confirmation Gift No. 9 - Bible Verses Wall Decor

In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul urged them to be strong and put on the full armour of God in order to effectively withstand the devil. That full armour of God consists of six pieces. One of those pieces of armour is the ‘sword of the Spirit’, also known as the ‘Word of God’. Saint Paul’s very practical advice is still relevant for us Catholic Christians today. 

This bible verse wall décor consists of seven powerful and evergreen bible verse reminders from the Word of God that your Confirmation candidate can hang in his or her bedroom to:

(a)   Serve as a daily reminder of God’s love and provision

(b)   Gain strength at the start of each new day for the day ahead.

It is also easy to dismount and pack up. So, it can go with your confirmand to college, university, his or her new apartment or new house and provide spiritual strength throughout his or her lifetime. 

 

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from any qualifying purchases that you make through this blog post. If you purchase anything, I thank you for your support.

***Photo attribution: The photo in this blog post is creative common. Special thank you to the talented artist – geralt (pixabay).

******************************************************************************************************

Share with us, in the COMMENT section below: (a) Which Confirmation gift was your favourite; or (b) Which Confirmation gift you eventually bought.

******************************************************************************************************