7 Inspiring Ideas for Confirmation Gifts

Our son is receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation this year, and well-meaning family and friends are scrambling for gift ideas to mark this momentous occasion.

In our family, cold, hard cash is the gift of choice for major milestones, and while we are grateful for their generous hearts, we are hoping to commemorate the celebration of the Sacrament with a more spiritual gift than a stack of greenbacks.

Here are seven Confirmation gift suggestions that will not only capture the spirit of the occasion, but will continue to provide inspiration and the opportunity to grow in faith for years to come.

1. A statue or icon of the Confirmand’s patron saint. A visual image of their Confirmation saint is a reminder that this saint is a special heavenly friend whose intercession they can rely on in a special way. This gift can be accompanied by a Holy Card with a prayer to that saint. Statues, icons and holy images are readily available on the Internet or at local Catholic gift shops.
2. A movie or book about the patron saint, or an original writing by that saint. Our son chose Pope Saint Leo the Great as his Confirmation saint, and while we were unable to find a movie about his life, we were excited to discover a volume of his letters available for sale on Amazon. Our hope is that the writings of this great saint, which were such a source of growth and formation for the people of his time, will continue to bear fruit in our son’s life as he grows
3. A Bible and a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Through the Sacrament of Confirmation, our children complete the process of Christian initiation and take their place in the Body of Christ as fully initiated, mature members. What better gift than the cornerstones of our faith: Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition as set forth in the teachings of the Church.  Having their own copies gives the child a sense of ownership of their faith and the personal responsibility to know and practice it.
4. A journal. Spiritual journaling, or writing down one’s prayers and meditations, is an excellent way to pray. Looking back on these journals can help one see the movement of God in one’s life. In the digital age that we live in, the act of writing our prayers and thoughts can be a way for the Confirmation candidate to jump off the digital bandwagon and focus on the Lord.
5. Catholic clothing. Tee shirts and hoodies which boldly proclaim the Scriptures make great gifts for an adolescent Confirmand. These shirts can be a great way for your child to heed the Lord’s command to “Go make disciples” by acting as conversation starters with people they meet. Be sure to coach your child on how to answer both questions and objections to their clothing message.
6. A spiritual bouquet. Invite family members and friends to have Masses said or to offer prayers and spiritual sacrifices on behalf of the Confirmand.  Gather these offerings together in a card or small book to present as a gift.  The spiritual benefits of these prayers far exceed any material gift, no matter how generous.
7. An honoring video. Proverbs 16:24 tells us: “Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Consider recording a video of friends, family, your parish priest and other important figures in the Confirmand’s life. Ask them to honor a particular virtue that they see evident in the child and also to speak words of encouragement for the future. For example, “My prayer for you is that you will be faithful to our Lord Jesus every day of your life and that you will be an ambassador of his love to everyone you meet.” The words spoken on this video will become a source of strength during the often turbulent days of adolescence.

While money can be a wonderful gift, gifts of a spiritual nature reinforce to the Confirmand that they are now beginning to take their place as a full and active member of the Christian community and that there is a body of believers around them willing to support, guide and encourage them along the way.

What about you? Please share your ideas for Confirmation gifts in the comments below.

Header photo CC: Flickr.com/photos: Lawrence OP’s Album

About Debbie Gaudino

My name is Debbie Gaudino. I am a Catholic to the core, a happily married homeschooling mom to three children, and a Graduate Theology student at Franciscan University of Steubenville. My family and I are striving for the heights of holiness in the trenches of everyday life and the saints are our examples.