Resisting a Commercial Christmas

Every year, my husband and I strive to escape from the all-consuming consumerism that has come to characterize this season. 
      I know there are plenty of other parents out there who struggle to keep Christ at the center of the celebration of Christmas. One wonders where the custom of giving gifts even originated. It is apparently a more recent phenomenon that arose in the West.
      It makes sense, on the one hand, considering that Jesus said, Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto Me. Since we can't give Him material gifts on his birthday (something we typically do nowadays with our friends and family), we give them instead to our loved ones, in whom Christ resides.
     But He also resides in the poor, who need material gifts far more than most of us do.  And the Church tells us we are to make a "preferential option for the poor". What exactly that looks like in each person's life will differ, but it doesn't mean forgetting the poor or putting them in last place.
     Don't we all admire those rare folks we hear about who opt not to exchange gifts with each other, but instead use that money to give to the poor? Some also spend Christmas serving at a soup kitchen.
     A variety of reasons, however, might make that not work for other families. There's also certainly a place for showing our loved ones love on that day too. 
     While there's nothing wrong with giving material gifts to our loved ones, still many of us really don't need any more stuff. Our homes are already so stuffed we're running out of places to put it all. 
     Moreover, Mother Teresa of Calcutta noticed that we of the West are spiritually poor. Just about everybody could use some help in his or her spiritual life.
      Here then are ten counter-consumer-culture gift ideas. Some are gifts that help the spirit. Others, by costing less, reserve some funds for the less fortunate while challenging the must-get-the-lastest-gizmo mindset. Some fit both categories.

1. As I said last week, one can support a monastery or convent by purchasing their goods—such as Mystic Monk Coffee, Trappist Abbey Bakery desserts, or handmade rosaries & sacrifice beads from the Franciscan Sisters. Also check out what your local religious goods store has available.
2. How about a book from a publisher like Ignatius Press, Pauline, Sophia, or Catholic Answers? Some of them also carry music, movies, religious artwork, and children's books. You can support wonderful apostolates while giving a terrific gift.
3. A subscription to Magnificat or Word among Us can really aid a loved one's Mass and prayer times. Or a subscription to Catholic Answers magazine, Catholic Digest, or other magazine can help with living the faith on a daily basis.



Ornament made from old Christmas cards

4. Homemade gifts seem to have gone the way of the dinosaur, but I'm not sure why. My kids had fun last year making decorative, fun, and/or useful gifts that were all the more meaningful coming from their hands. Our tradition growing up was for the kids to make "bourbon balls" as gifts for our extended family.
5. Create your own coupons—anything from giving a massage, to a home improvement project, to making dinner, to a lunch date, to whatever you can think of.
6. Spiritual gifts are another beautiful option: pray a holy hour for someone and send them a card (many adoration chapels have pre-printed cards available). Have a Mass said for someone at your parish or by your favorite religious order.  Alone or with others, gather a spiritual "bouquet" of prayers for someone and list them on a card.
7. Create a personal gift. Compose a poem or a song or a heartfelt letter telling of your love for someone or how much they mean to you. Delight grandparents with recordings of their grandchildren singing Christmas carols or videos of the toddler's latest achievements. Grandparents, in turn, could record themselves retelling favorite family tales, or parents, reading a favorite story. Or dig out those photos and put together an album or scrapbook of wonderful memories (no need to go overboard buying scrap-booking paraphernalia).
8. With the great variety of fonts and decorative papers available these days, one can print and frame lovely renderings of Scripture passages, such as 1 Corinthians 13 ("Love is patient...") or Colossians ("Bear with one another...").
9. We tend to think a gift must be new, but our ancestors knew the value of giving something of their own—an heirloom or item with sentimental value.
10. Give the gift of yourselves: Open your home and your heart and invite someone who might otherwise be alone on Christmas. Bake a cake for baby Jesus and don't forget to sing "Happy Birthday."

     Whatever we do, let's make sure to spend some time with the Birthday Boy. And while we're at it, let's ask Him what's on His wish list this year and strive to give Him something He'd like for His birthday.