Gift Guide: For the woman who is always busy
I’ve been checking out gift guides lately. They range from the utterly ridiculous (for those who have everything) to the downright practical (for those who have nothing) and everything in between. So I didn’t pause for a minute when our blog editor, Meaghen, suggested I come up with a gift list for the busy women in your life. Here’s a short list of great gifts.
Prayer and Devotion
A Catholic Woman’s Book of Days by Amy Welborn looks mighty lovely. I haven’t read this, but it has short reflections for every day of the year and is written specifically for Catholic women.
Catherine Doherty has an engaging book called Grace in Every Season. I have read portions and found Catherine’s reflections to be short and to the point, yet deep and relevant to my personal life. Perhaps Moments of Grace is more what the busy woman needs—a flip-style desktop calendar with 365 days of Catherine’s wisdom. Even Catherine’s one-liners are spicy enough to make you stop and think.
For a more frugal gift idea, the Companions of the Cross have a small booklet called Treasure in Heaven: A 40-Day, 10 minutes a day prayer guide. The guide is available for free online and gets any busy person into the habit of prayer and meditation, starting with 10 minutes per day. I’ve been using it now for several months and I appreciate the ease and flow of the prayers as well as the opportunity to meditate on Scripture.
And no woman is complete without a pretty rosary, perhaps one that doubles as an elegant bracelet. Check this one out. And this one. And this one. Who says you can’t fit more beauty and prayer into your day?
Gifts that make life a bit easier and a bit better
When I first started living on my own, I couldn’t cook much more than spaghetti and eggs. A friend of mine encouraged me to start cooking, giving me recipes for things like “rouladen” and “salmon” and thus began my life long love affair with food. Regardless of whether you love cooking or do it only out of necessity, a good knife is essential. Seriously. You don’t even need a whole set, just one good chopping knife. It saves you a surprising amount of time and fingers. Trust me on this one.
You want to know what else saves time? Full meals. In the freezer. (I just blew your mind, didn’t I?) Although I don’t own this book, it’s been on my wish list for months now. It’s called Don’t Panic—Dinner’s in the Freezer by Suzie Martinez, Vanda Howell, and Bonnie Garcia. There’s something comforting about knowing you’ve got a backup plan when the “There’s nothing for dinner!” blues hit.
Did you know that merely writing out your goals increases the likelihood of reaching them? It’s a fact. Being specific and breaking your goals down into smaller, more manageable pieces helps even more. The creator of Passion Planner has come up with a beautiful, practical gift for the busy ladies in your life that could use a bit of direction or even for those who just like to doodle or write. It’s a superb gift for those whose idea of a good time includes a stationary store, but I digress. (Incidentally, if you check it out and happen to like it for yourself, she’s offering it for free if you share her link on social media. I got the PDF file after I shared the link on Facebook and have been trying it out and I’m sold. I’m going in for the actual day planner. They’re back-ordered at the moment, but I’m patiently waiting for mine to come in January.)
Many working women have jobs outside the home. For those stretches of time where they are commuting to work (or for those with quiet time every day), audiobooks are the perfect (and frugal) gift. Loyalbooks.com has over 7,000 titles available free for download onto just about any technological device. Librivox has all sorts of public domain books ready for download. Some of that quiet time could be used to “read” Pride and Prejudice or listen to the eyewitness accounts of the sinking of the Titanic. Who says active women can’t be smart women?
Fun stuff
I’ve often heard about “Of the Month” clubs but have never tried them. It’s one of those things that I would find delightful, but would never buy for myself. In other words, the perfect gift. I found this site (amazingclubs.ca) that has a whole list of drool-worthy options. Wine of the Month, Chocolate of the Month, Beer, Tea, Candy, Candle, BBQ (and they even have a gluten-free option). I can’t vouch for how awesome this particular club is, or the quality of their stuff. I just think the idea is so cool.
There are always the go-to gifts for those living hectic lives. Gift certificates for favourite coffee shops or local haunts are good. Even gift certificates to grocery or big box stores are practical and useful—who doesn’t eat? Coupons for personalized meals or services are also excellent ways to tell a busy friend or relative that they are appreciated.
And who could ever forget, the Best. Gift. Ever. A subscription to Catholic Insight.
Saint Kateri , Canada’s Protectress
This was the title given to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, by Pope Benedict XVI, when he canonized her on October 28th, 2012, along with six others, in Saint Peter’ Square (she had been beatified by Pope John Paul II back in 1980). With Saint Joseph as our protector, along with the Canadian martyrs, we seem to[…]Continue reading→
Remembering Father Alphonse de Valk
(Today marks the sixth anniversary of the death of Father Alphonse de Valk, C.S.B., a faithful, courageous and indefatigable Basilian priest, pro-life-and-family apostle, and the founder of Catholic Insight magazine. Here is what we wrote those on his entering into eternity five years ago, as we continue to remember him in our prayers and thoughts)[…]Continue reading→
My Name is Bernadette
April 16th is a propitious day, for besides the anniversary of Father de Valk’s death, who founded Catholic Insight in its print form decades ago, and the commemoration of the ‘two Benedicts’, mentioned in accompanying posts, today we also recall Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the young visionary to whom the Virgin Mary appeared numerous times at[…]Continue reading→
Canonizing Sister Faustina and Divine Mercy
HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER MASS IN ST PETER’S SQUARE FOR THE CANONIZATION OF SR MARY FAUSTINA KOWALSKA Sunday, 30 April 2000 1. “Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus, quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius”; “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever” (Ps 118: 1). So the Church sings on the Octave of[…]Continue reading→
Divine Mercy Sunday – An Echo of Every Mass
Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe’… ‘My Lord and my God!’ (Jn. 20:18)). Today is Divine Mercy Sunday, and as we celebrate the end of the Easter Octave, we contemplate the wounded side of our Saviour, the Church’s source of life. On Good Friday in the[…]Continue reading→
First Holy Communion: Sermon from May 16, 1943
Here is a sermon from the good old days by +Rev. Msgr. Vincent Nicholas Foy (August 14, 1915 – March 13, 2017), from 1943. Readers may recall that Pope Saint Pius X, by the decree Quam Singulari in 1910, lowered the customary age of reception of Holy Communion – after the rigours of the plague[…]Continue reading→
In the Glorious Light of Easter, Alleluia!
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory (Col. 3:3-4). The Resurrection of Our Lord and Saviour[…]Continue reading→
An Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday
The time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is one of waiting, in silence, as the world wonders – anticipates – what will happen, after the death of Christ. We re-live this time each year in the anamnesis of our liturgy, and in turn look forward to the glorious re-creation of all things at the[…]Continue reading→
Europe’s Long Descent
(As we meditate on this day on Christ’s burial, and His descent into hell, it is fitting to ponder here with contributor Peter Marcus how the world seems to be heading there as well. The difference is that, although God cannot ‘redeem’ hell, nor those therein, He can and did redeem the world. There is[…]Continue reading→
Pope Saint John Paul II’s First Good Friday Homily
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS AT THE COLOSSEUM Good Friday, 13 April 1979 When we make the Way of the Cross from one station to the next, in spirit we are always at the spot wherethis journey had its “historical” place: where it[…]Continue reading→