Father's Day Gift Guide

 Thoughtful Gifts for Father’s Day

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 18^th this year.  On Father’s Day we honor the fathers, grandfathers, Godfathers, and other father-figures in our lives.  It is the perfect opportunity to show them gratitude for their love, guidance, and support.  We have the perfect Father’s Day gifts for all of the father figures in your life:

Books

The Way of the Wilderness Warrior by Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Riveting and accessible, this novelized account of the spiritual life is a hero's journey for our times. It tells the story of the conversion of a young man named Austin through the ministrations of a tough inner-city priest, Father Lawrence, who challenges nine college students to take a leap of faith on the path to holiness. As his friends set out for England, Ireland, and New York City, Austin heads for a remote monastery where he meets Fr. Aelred, a Benedictine hermit who guides him on the spiritual quest. Through a fictional dialogue, author Fr. Dwight Longenecker unveils a twelve-part plan for union with God that parallels the classic purgative, illuminative, and unitive stages of the spiritual life.

 

Holy Grit: ASaintly Guide to Becoming a Man of Virtue by Paul George

Discover what it means to become a man of faith through the lives of ten male saints and their experiences pursuing holiness. In Holy Grit, you’ll join Catholic life coach Paul George to consider some of the tough issues facing men today—struggles in marriage, parenting, suffering, and finding purpose—to determine areas for growth and take steps toward living the life for which God created you…Each chapter introduces a saint, offers practical takeaways for modern men, and includes reflection questions, an action plan, and a prayer.

 

Manual for Men by Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted

Manual for Men is for men who are in the arena, warriors for Christ and His Church. It is for those men who battle daily for their souls and for their family. It is often a struggle to shed the sins and vices the world offers men, but it’s a battle we must fight and win…Manual for Men serves as a field guide and instruction manual for those husbands, fathers, sons and brothers who would become real men of God— men who protect, physically and spiritually, those entrusted to them; men who sacrifice, pray, fight, love, and live by the example of Christ. 

 

Puzzles

“Be Strong and Courageous”500 Piece Puzzle

These encouraging sentiments of the puzzles, along with their smooth interlocking pieces, will make for hours long frustration-free relaxation. The puzzle is made from recycled material and eco-friendly ink and makes an excellent gift for an environmentally conscious friend.  Perfect for any dad, grandad, uncle, or other father-figure looking for a fun, relaxing activity.

“The Lord is My Strength”500 Piece Puzzle

 

Journals

These rugged, handsome journals with great quotes make great gifts for all of the men in your life.  Whether for work notes, spiritual reflection, or just jotting down thoughts, these journals are thoughtful, beautiful gifts for Father’s Day.

 

Prayer Books

The “St. Joseph PrayerBook,” “Daily Companion for Men,” “St. Joseph Gems,” and other great Men’s prayer books are perfect Father’s Day gifts.  These prayer books provide just the right amount of encouragement and challenge to guide and inspire men of every age and way of life.  Help the men in your life enrich their prayer life with these wonderful prayer books.

Saint Socks

Saint socks are a fun way to have your patron saint or St. Joseph, patron of fathers, with you throughout the day.  Whether it is a saint you have a connect with such as St. Benedict or St. Michael or the saint of fatherhood, St. Joseph, there are a variety of saint socks which make fun gifts for all of the men in your life this Father’s Day.

Find these and more gifts for Father's Day at St. Mary's Bookstore and www.StMarysBookstore.com.  Wishing all of the fathers and father-figures a blessed Father's Day.

Choosing a First Communion Gift

Whether you choose a First Communion gift that is specific to the Sacrament of Communion or simply what you feel the child would like, every gift can be memorable and special. We want to choose a gift to help a child not only remember their special day but also to further their prayer life and draw them closer each day to Jesus. How can we help?

Every day we are asked by parents and grandparents and friends and neighbors, aunts and uncles and godparents, WHAT is a good present for First Communion?

We highly recommend that parents and grandparents give the more traditionally "personal" gifts, such as, a rosary, a prayer book, a bible or a crucifix. Godparents may want to go with a piece of jewelry such as a cross or a bracelet with a chalice (we offer great masculine bracelets). Aunts and uncles may like to give a rosary box or pouch or a communion frame. Friends and neighbors can choose from many, many books about First Communion or the Mass. We suggest if anyone chooses to give a book, whether specific or general, that they personalize the inside with the date and a message for the child's special day. Other choices, in general, include medals, figurines and books of saints, bookmarks, crosses with communion symbols or a special message, and music boxes.
First Communion Day is a very special time for our children and we are aware that you want to keep the momentum of that day going forever. Let us help you choose something special.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2018

We all know Jesus is the REAL reason for the season. So...while we are picking out toys for children or clothes for adults, why not give a religious gift that reminds us why we celebrate Christmas? Here are some of our gift and stocking stuffer suggestions for every age group!

Mom/Grandmother

Pearl Rosaries $25-50
Bible in a Year: Your Daily Encounter with God $29.95
Daily Companion for Women $8.95
SS Miraculous Medals $35-60

Dad/Grandfather

4-5 Way SS Medals $35-60
Daily Companion for Men $8.95
Bible in a Year: Your Daily Encounter with God $29.95
Wood Rosaries $12-40

Child/Godchild

Saint Bracelets $7-14
Tiny Saints $5.50
Fontanini - My First Nativity Set (6pc) $115


More gifts can be found on our website (www.stmarysbookstore.com) or in our store (1909 West End Ave, Nashville, TN)

What's New?!

We are constantly trying to add "things" to do or see at St. Mary's so that our customers can visit and have maybe a little different experience than they've had on a previous visit or in another store or even online. This summer we have been full of new ideas that have been fun for us and that have truly been a hit with customers.

One such idea is a display in a small section of the store which includes book recommendations from the priests in our diocese as well as some of those who work in the Pastoral Center, Joan Watson from Adult Formation and Bill Staley from the Youth Office. I love to hear the comments from the "out of towners" who begin with, "Wow! Your priests give book recommendations?! That's awesome." And I agree. It is awesome. We are so fortunate to have such an amazing group of men who are willing and anxious to feed our spiritual lives. We have put the names of the priests inside the books along with a list of the books they recommend. Ideally, you love one recommendation and come back for another. Also, people like to see who recommends what. Of course, there are some duplicate recommendations, especially in the classics category but for the most part, it's a great mix. The titles will change about every three months. The guys need time to read!

So we invite all who have not been down lately or who are just curious for a little more, to come visit. Stay awhile. Drink a cup of Mystic Monks coffee. Sit in St. Luke's Loft and chill. We'd love to have you. Oh, and I'll have even more on the changes in the next few weeks so stay tuned.

Fr. Jacques Philippe

Fr. Jacques Philippe was in town last week speaking at the Aquinas Forum on the Dominican Campus which is home to Overbrook School, St. Cecilia Academy and Aquinas College. All of his books are wonderful and would be great during this Lenten Season or any other season for all that matter. Highly recommend!

What We Choose for 40 Days

There are many, many great titles we can choose to accompany us on our journey through the Lenten Season. There are many, many authors with wonderful reflections teaching us to take time, to meditate, to find ways to love more fully, to show mercy, to imitate the Saints or the Fathers of the Church or Pope Francis. There are those of us who will choose more than one book and there are those of us who will choose nothing. There are those of us who will give up something and there are those of us who will add something for another and there are those who will do both. Our children may ask others what they are doing for Lent. Adults tend to keep those questions more to themselves even though we may be curious. We are human. We do like other people's ideas, sometimes better than our own. We love good recommendations. We love partnership.

The point is that regardless of all of the above, today we celebrate Ash Wednesday. We acknowledge the beginning of Lent, of 40 days to do something. We acknowledge the truth that we are to blow the trumpet and proclaim a fast. We are to be ambassadors for Christ and we are to reconcile. We are to go to our inner rooms, to close the door and to pray. We are not to look gloomy or neglect our appearance. We are reminded that we are dust and to dust we shall return. The point is that today we are called to begin a 40 day journey to change, a journey toward God, a journey for something more.

Let's go. Together. And if along the way, you need a little encouragement, a push, a small reminder, stop by. I'm sure we could use the same. That's a large part of what we're here for!