Best Gifts for Catholic Teens

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Best Gifts Available for Catholic Teens

Struggling to decide on a meaningful Confirmation gift? Can't find a good Catholic gift for a teen? You've come to the right place. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Theology from Franciscan University, and have been a youth minister for the last five years. Thanks for visiting!

#1 My Daily Catholic Bible (Book)

The One Year Bible is basically the entire bible (all 73 books) divided into 365 chunks. You read one chunk per day. For example, on January 1st there will be selections from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and a Psalm. The translation is the RSV-CE, which uses no "inclusive language", and is considered by many to be the most accurate and faithful Catholic translation.
So why is it a good gift for a Catholic Teen? Chances are they have a regular bible lying around gathering dust, and if they try to read the bible straight through they will probably get frustrated right around the book of Leviticus. There are quotes from Saints for each day, and this is a much easier and convenient way to read the whole bible in a year. One final tip, write a personal note of encouragement inside the cover. It will make this gift much more meaningful.

My Daily Catholic Bible: 20-Minute Daily Readings (Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition)

Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 01/01/2010)
Used Price: $6.86

#2 Bella (The Movie)

"Bella" is an incredibly moving film. It is my second favorite movie of all time. It had a limited release, yet smashed expectations. In the film, a young male soccer star abandons the game after a tragedy, and works instead as a cook for a restaurant. A female co-worker shows up late for work, is fired by the boss, and he drops everything to spend the day with her.

***SPOILER ALERT***
This is a prolife film, and has already saved a number of children from abortion. Pregnant women who planned on aborting their child have changed their minds after watching this film. This is however not a "preachy" film. It sends a powerful pro-life message without ever mounting a soap-box.
***END SPOILER***

I think most teens would watch a DVD given to them at least once, and this one is definitely worth watching. This film does not have any language or nudity, however there is a disturbing accident scene with graphic results. This is nothing the average American teen hasn't seen hundreds of times on TV, but for younger or less media-exposed teens, use your judgement.

Bella

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 01/01/2010)

#3 The Chronicles of Narnia (Book)

C.S. Lewis is one of the greatest authors of the 20th Century, and while not a Catholic (he was Anglican), his work has been a blessing to countless people. This book is an incredible deal, you can currently buy it used on Amazon for 1 cent plus shipping, and it contains all seven books of the Chronicles of Narnia (768 pages). Teens will have heard of or seen the recent films based on books in the series. "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe", and "Prince Caspian". These books are Christian allegories, for example, the talking lion in "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe", is the "Jesus" of Narnia. They are beautiful stories, and will be much more helpful to a Catholic Teen than Harry Potter or the Twilight series.

The Chronicles of Narnia Movie Tie-in Edition (adult)

by: C. S. Lewis

Amazon Price: (as of 01/01/2010)

#4 WOW Hits 2009 (Music on CD)

WOW Hits is released yearly (like the secular counterpart "Now That's what I call Music 30"). However this is only Christian music. If you haven't heard Christian music in a while, it has completely caught up with the secular in quality. There is Christian rap, rock, alternative, everything you can think of. This CD does a nice job of mixing all the styles, and only choosing the absolute best releases of the year. If the teen you are buying for is not familiar with Christian music, this CD would be the "shotgun" approach to getting him or her hooked on a Christian artist. The teen mind is a battleground, and I am not one to say they should only listen to Christian music, but most would agree that some secular music can definitely lead the listener to sin. While there is only one Catholic artist on this double disc set (disc 1, track 12), usually Christian music does not cross denominational lines. The Catholic artist, Matt Maher is quite incredible, and active with Life Teen, a Catholic Youth Ministry movement.

**UPDATE**
WOW 2010 is now available, see link below. There are no Catholic artists on this one, but again it is an excellent cross-section of popular Christian music.

WOW Hits 2009

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 01/01/2010)

WOW Hits 2010

Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 01/01/2010)

#5 "Did Adam and Eve have Bellybuttons?" (Book)

This book is a collection of real questions from Catholic teens. It has completely faithful and orthodox questions to all kinds of questions. It is easy to read, because the answers are only a few pages long, and the teen could flip to the question they are wondering about. I would bet a teen is far more likely to open this than to crack the "Catechism of the Catholic Church". It is written at a level much more suited to teens. I also included a link to the sequel, "Did Jesus have a Last Name?", also an excellent book.

Did Adam and Eve Have Belly Buttons?: And 199 Other Questions from Catholic Teenagers

by: Matthew J. Pinto

Amazon Price: $10.07 (as of 01/01/2010)

Did Jesus Have a Last Name? And 199 Other Questions from Catholic Teenagers

by: Matthew Pinto; Jason Evert

Amazon Price: $10.39 (as of 01/01/2010)

#6 Indestructable Nylon Cord Rosary

These rosaries can last a lifetime. They are made from nylon twine, each "bead" is a carefully made knot. These are wonderful for carrying with you everywhere. Metal link rosaries can break in the pocket or in the washing machine. These are made for the most active teen. Check the website for the fun colors available. The rosary is a powerful method of prayer, and this one won't get left in their dresser.

Real Life Rosary, Cord Rosary only $6.00 ea: Beautiful handcrafted cord knot rosaries made with nylon twine or rope. There are many different colors to choose from and all are handmade. Each rosary is crafted when ordered and made by the Hahn family. This rosary is virtually indestructable.

Nylon Cord Rosaries, tough enough for life.

#7 A Great Catholic Bible that zips up!

This is a compact leather-bound edition of the "Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition" translation of the Bible. This has all 73 books, which includes the Deuterocanonicals. This is the best translation in the English language, and the cover zips closed to keep the pages clean and protected. This can be thrown in a bookbag, purse, or wherever, without fear of getting the pages wrinkled up. This is a great gift for a teen who is familiar with the bible. Again, a personal note written inside is a great idea to make this gift special.

Ignatius Catholic Bible: Revised Standard Version, Burgundy, Zipper Duradera

Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 01/01/2010)

#8 Alphonse Issue 1 and 2 (Comic)

This is a brand new series of comics written by Catholic writer Matthew Lickona. The main character is a drug-exposed unborn baby who is sentient and coordinated. This is a pro-life comic, which the teen is likely to read. It is so new that the author is still working on issue #3. There will be a total of 5 issues, with the possibility that they will be bound together when finished in one book. This is not for everyone, there is some language and a graphic depiction of the attempted abortion. Please read it yourself before giving it as a gift. Click on the link to read more about the story. I have read issue #1, and am thrilled that there is a comic tackling such a difficult issue. I have read Matthew Lickona's book (Swimming with Scapulars), and I know that this project is in capable hands.

Buy Alphonse issue #1 "untimely ripp'd": Click to buy Alphonse issue #1
Buy Alphonse issue #2 "murder sleep": Click here to buy Alphonse issue #2

#9 Catholic Fiction Trilogy

The Fairy Tale Novel Series by Regina Doman

These novels are absolute page-turners. The beauty of Catholic fiction is that they are fun to read, yet they deepen your faith at the same time. If the teen you are buying for is a reader, these novels are a good bet. These books are meant for teens/young adults, so there are some frightening and serious situations. As always, read them yourself first if you are concerned about this. You won't be sorry, I enjoyed them a great deal as an adult.

Here is the order of the trilogy:
Book 1: The Shadow of the Bear: A Fairy Tale Retold
Book 2: Black as Night: A Fairy Tale Retold
Book 3: Waking Rose: A Fairy Tale Retold

The Shadow of the Bear: A Fairy Tale Retold

by: Regina Doman

When Bear, a mysterious young man, lands on Blanche and Rose Brier's doorstep in New York City, the two sisters have conflicting opinions on whether or not he is dangerous. Even as Blanche learns to trust him, her fears that Bear's friendship threatens their family prove terrifyingly true. A modern retelling of the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale.

Amazon Price: $11.56 (as of 01/01/2010)

Black as Night: A Fairy Tale Retold

by: Regina Doman

Over the summer in New York City, seven friars who work with the homeless find a runaway girl named Nora, while Bear Denniston searches for his missing girlfriend, Blanche, in a suspenseful retelling of the Snow White story.

Amazon Price: $12.24 (as of 01/01/2010)

Waking Rose: A Fairy Tale Retold

by: Regina Doman

Nineteen-year-old Rose Brier is in love with Fish Denniston: but Fish, struggling with abuse issues in his past, holds her at arms' length until an old danger and a tragic accident threatens Rose's life. A modern retelling of the story of "Sleeping Beauty," and the third novel in the Fairy Tale Novel series.

Amazon Price: $13.60 (as of 01/01/2010)

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