Gifts are a major focus this time of year as we move from Thanksgiving into Christmas preparations. As Catholics, we believe everything – spiritual and material – is a gift from God, even those tougher times in life, as they often draw us closer to Him. In response to His generosity, we give our lives to others through our vocations as we journey on our paths to holiness. God even bestows us with His grace, the gift of His divine life within us, to help us along the way. In addition to the sacraments, here are a few timely ways to receive and be a conduit of this grace.
Nov. 27 is the feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, or Our Lady of Grace, the title of the Blessed Mother that St. Catherine Labouré helped spread devotion to in 19th-century France. Per Our Lady’s request, St. Catherine had a medal struck in the way the Blessed Mother appeared to her in 1830 – with rays of light emitting from rings on her fingers. Our Lady told St. Catherine the rings not emitting light represented unasked-for graces – or gifts from God. To unlock these graces for yourself and others, pray the rosary and other Marian prayers like the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal novena. You can teach young Catholics to unlock special graces with Gather and Pray’s Montessori-inspired rosary board, a great holiday gift idea.