My parents bought me my very first adult Bible when I made my First Communion & it’s the one I still use today.  DH & I decided that we’d do the same for our kids.  We purchase the Bible then take them to chose their own Bible cover.  Our oldest chose a cover that is camouflage & says “Army of God” on the front.  Our second oldest will be making his First Communion this year, so I can’t wait to take him for his cover.

I’m looking forward to hear what others do for Confirmation. I am my BFF’s daughter’s sponser & am looking for a gift idea for her.  I usually give a book about the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit, but I want something extra special for her.

Like Munchesmom, I like the idea of giving out a special Bible or other book of religious significance (for example The Lives of the Saints). Our family also likes to give one non-literary gift such as a piece of religious jewelry or a specially made Rosary or a small patron saint statue. Those gifts tend to differ based on who we are giving for.

I like the idea of using cash for a charitable donation, but I like it with caution. I had a lot of non-Catholics give me gifts for confirmation (because they knew it was a big deal) and some of them would have had their feelings hurt if I donated their gift (be it cash or say another Bible). It sounds silly, I know, but I’ve especially noticed this about gifts recently since my kids were born, especially among older people. I would make sure ahead of time people knew I would be donating the cash or have an idea of who would love their cash to go to the needy vs those who might not understand it.

It had never even occurred to me that people might give cash for these occasions.  I have personally always given a religious gift of some sort - most recently a Bible for my nephew for First Communion.  My own daughter is being confirmed in a few weeks, and I love the sterling silver dove necklace I found for her.  I like the keepsake boxes.  I guess these are occasions where I stronly feel that a ‘religious’ gift is required.  Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t be offended if someone chose to give something else, it’s just not what I would do.

Regarding gifts to charities, I wonder what other people think.  I personally think if you are given cash, it is yours to do with as you want (with parental guidance in the case of a child, of course).  However, I personally dislike people choosing a charity to give something to in another person’s name, unless you know that charity is something a person feels strongly about.  I always think, if you wanted to give to that charity, you should just give to that charity.  It’s not a gift to me unless I choose the charity.  But I also think maybe that’s not very charitable thinking on my part.    I guess I’ve just heard people say they gave money to a ‘buy a heifer’ program or something, and while I’m sure that’s a good charity, there are so many charities that are nearer to my heart and if it’s a gift to me, it should be something I care about.  I hope I’m not veering too off-topic.  I’m sorry if I am.  It’s just something I think about every time people talk about giving gifts to charities as a gift to someone.

My mother had a tradition of giving each of her children a statue of their patron saint in recognition of First Communion.  My oldest will be receiving his First Communion very soon, and I think we’re going to follow that tradition.
Also, on a sort-of related note, I was thinking of giving a nice family Bible as a wedding gift for someone special this Fall. While I want it to be a Catholic translation, for various reasons it is not the best idea to have it say “Catholic” in the name. Maybe one that has space for recording births and other special events? Does anyone have recommendations?

My daughter was confirmed this week.  Besides one rosary bracelet and one other religious one that was for sale at our parish to help the youth go on a Mission trip, she also got about $50 in cash.  I am going to suggest that she use this to help pay for her food on the Mission trip that she is going to in Gallup, New Mexico.  I have also purchased a copy of the new Youcat, cathechism for teens and young adults, but it didn’t get here in time.  Still, I think it will be something she will turn to again and again.  My son got a lot of books on prayer that he never read.  My other daughter got a book about her confirmation saint, Joan of Arc (the one by Mark Twain) and The Story of A Soul (her name is Theresa) - neither of which she has read although she is an avid reader.  I think cash can be a great gift in that if used in a way that can buy them an experience (mission trip, Steubenville conference, World youth day, ND Vision) etc.  that may be life-changing.

For Confirmation, I plan to give my daughters each a cedar chest filled with a book of family recipes, a book about their patron Saint and an adult Bible. There will be plenty of room for them to store their Sacrament blanket and other keepsakes from Baptism and First Communion.

Growing up myself and each one of my brothers and sisters received a crucifix engraved with our name and the date of our First Communion from our parents.  My mother has continued this tradition with each of her 17 grandchildren- (the last one making his First Communion next month).  My crucifix from my First Communion still hangs in my bedroom.  For my daughter’s Confirmation, my mother gave them a dozen roses and then had a Rosary made from those roses.  I prefer to give religious gifts - Bible, books, jewelry etc… versus money for sacraments so they have something special to remember their special day.

For our own family (I have only daughters) we’ve given a gold necklace with either a crucifix or simple cross pendant for their First Communion and a nice, leather bound Catholic bible for Confirmation. I still wear the gold cross necklace that I received from my parents for my First Communion and always knew that I would follow that tradition. I always give something religious to others too for such occasions, even if it goes along with some cash too.

Fro my oldest daughter, her own idea, for her first Holy Communion said she wanted to give half her money received to Sisters of Charity, and visit their mission here locally—then sisters even spoke to her about how to pray for your vocation in life. The other half of her money she split 3/4 going to college fund, and the other 1/4 I told her she could spend on anything she wanted (in those days we didn’t have much of anything—and she received a great deal of money), so we went shopping and she picked out clothes for her little sister, then just a few small items for herself.  I received the greatest gift in witnessing this totally selfless love of a child of God—a true witness to the faith at 7 years old.  We don’t wait for Sacraments for my children to give them good Catholic teaching—-we are always at the Catholic Book Store, so my children have acquired their own extensive Catholic library and saints bracelets and necklaces etc…
I teach confirmation at our local Parish and I give to my students all the wonderful Catholic teenage books—-there are some really good ones, and also buy them many prayer books etc…they love the gifts and seem excited to read them.
What I give to others for Sacraments is always a Catholic item, normally a book on the Saints or a Bible.  For Marriage I give all my nieces and nephews a Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Theology of the Body and Love and responsibility by John Paul II.

We gave our son a watch that also tracks tides and tells the best time to fish. Fishing is his favorite activity and something we spend a lot of our family time doing.  I do like the idea of a bible as well, but all of the children were given a bible by the parish.

I was a Sponsor last year to a close friend - my Confirmandi actually gave ‘me’ a gift, for which I was very humbled ... it was a simple matching James Avery bracelet - a wire bracelet ... she had a cross w/ a dove on it, mine had a cross - we had the Priest bless them together that evening.  When my daughter was confirmed, her Confirmation Sponsor gave her the most beautiful handmade Rosary she found online that was made from precious stones and had not only a medal of the Patron Saint she took (St. Philomena) but also St. John Vianney (w/c was special b/c it was the Year of the Saint that she was confirmed in).  It was given to her in a beautiful satin pouch that she treasures.  For First Holy Communion, we often give the “The Weight of the Mass” book - EXCELLENT book and it comes with an explanation of the hidden details illustrated - you can also have the author sign it.  Finally, a friend just shared with me a beautiful poem: “A Child’s Wish Before an Altar” by Abram Joseph Ryan.  Truly brought tears to my eyes ... this poem printed out and placed in a beautiful frame would make a special gift for a First Holy Communicant.