When I received my First Holy Communion in second grade, I was like most children – excited, nervous and looking forward to my party, where I’d surely get a lot of money!
I hadn’t thought about the third benefit until my brother Frank, one year older, tipped me off. When I started jumping up and down, my mom replied, “That’s not what this is about!” Frank deflated my balloon of joy further when he added, “Mom won’t let you keep it anyway; she just puts it in your bank account where you can’t touch it.”
There was someone else who shared my mother’s mentality when it came to the importance of my First Holy Communion: my godmother, my Aunt Trish. She bought me a very special gift, a little gold crucifix that I proudly wore that day. She had given me religious gifts earlier in my life, too: a statue of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and a beautiful picture of a little girl praying, “Now I lay me down to sleep.”
Today, it’s not uncommon to hear someone say, “I just give the kids money; that’s all they want anyway.”
I completely disagree, especially when looking back at my own experiences. I think religious gifts are so rarely received these days, that children really appreciate them. Some young people do not have any holy objects in their room unless they are gifts. That goes for Bibles and religious books, too.
Sometimes, people try to drop off their deceased loved ones’ blessed religious objects to churches because they don’t know what else to do with the items. Instead, try giving them to your grandchildren or your great-grandchildren. Not only will they love having something holy, it may be especially meaningful because those items belonged to a relative whom they loved.
For example, when I was 8, my great-grandfather died, and my grandmother set out a table with his mementos for relatives to take. I excitedly took a crucifix, which was probably detached from a rosary, and a little plastic rosary case with small figurines of the Blessed Mother and the three Fatima visionaries. I treasured those items.
Also, you never know how those religious items will be used to teach the faith – even when a little unorthodox! Once, when we were kids and about to watch a horror movie, Frank grabbed a crucifix for himself and various religious items for us three other siblings. He put the items in our hands and, before watching the movie, led a procession into the den, chanting, “Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison!” Although Frank could be a bit of a troublemaker, I don’t think he was intentionally being sacrilegious; he did have a deep respect for all things religious. Plus, that act did reinforce in me the power of good over evil!
When I was preparing for my Confirmation, my pastor gave each student a Bible. (I love it when parishes do that.) Although I stopped going to church after Confirmation, I did occasionally pick up the Bible and attempt to read it. When I finally went back to church, I started reading that same Bible every day, which really deepened my relationship with God. I believe in the power of having a Bible in the home. Saint Ignatius’ conversion began when he picked up a holy book after he couldn’t find any others!
Here are some age-appropriate Bibles and books to give to the young sacramental recipients in your life. You don’t have to wait until after they have received the sacraments, either. These great inspirational choices are also for those who are preparing to receive the sacraments, or at any time:
Baptism – Preschool to Early Grades
• “The Beginner’s Bible: Timeless Children’s Stories,” Zonderkidz, 2016
First Holy Communion – Middle Grades
• “The Catholic Children’s Bible,” Saint Mary’s Press, 2018
Confirmation Preparation – Middle Grades
• “God’s Superheroes: Amazing Catholic Men by Mary Bajda, 2022 (There is one for amazing women, too, that I have not read yet.)
• “The Gospels for Young Catholics,” Pflaum, 2021
• “Encounter the Saints Series,” Pauline Books & Media (There are numerous books in this series. My favorites are by Susan Helen Wallace).
Confirmation – Middle School/High School
• “Fireside Catholic Youth Bible-Next!: New American Bible,” Fireside Catholic Publishing, 2011
• “Breakthrough! The Bible for Young Catholics: NABRE,” Saint Mary’s Press, 2016
• “YOUCAT English: Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church,” Ignatius Press, 2011
• “Did Adam and Eve Have Belly Buttons? And 199 Other Questions from Catholic Teenagers” by Matthew Pinto, 2013
Sister M. Emily Vincent Rebalsky, IHM, is the program director at Villa Maria by the Sea Retreat Center, Stone Harbor.
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