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December 9, 2024By Tanya Connor
The Catholic Free Press
Want to play St. Nicholas as we celebrate his feast day today? How about giving gifts?
For the person who has “everything,” you might try something unique that helps support those praying for us. Local monasteries have gift shops that include inspirational, useful and tasty novelties made by the religious who live there or in other communities. You can stop and shop (and visit their chapels) or order by phone or online.
“They are truly monks when they live by the work of their hands,” declares the website of St. Scholastica Priory Shop in Petersham (stscholasticaprioryshop.com), quoting the Rule of St. Benedict.
The website depicts items made by the Benedictine contemplative nuns of St. Scholastica Priory, including soaps, bowls, rosaries, cards, candles, a Celtic knot scarf, a stuffed rabbit, and “java jumpers” to insulate your mug of Christmas cocoa.
“We’re praying as we’re making our products,” Benedictine Sister Maria Isabel Gomez told The Catholic Free Press.
“Your purchase supports us in our life of prayer,” says the website of St. Mary’s Gift Shop (stmarysgiftshop.com), run by Benedictine contemplative monks of St. Mary’s Monastery on the same property. The shops, on opposite sides of the church the monks and nuns share, are attached to their monastery and priory.
“We sell Christian devotional items, preferring hand-crafted works from artisans from several countries, as well as our own products,” St. Mary’s website says. Benedictine Brother Vincent Catanzano, shopkeeper, said he tries to support the artisans by buying from suppliers who import the crafts. He buys some Fair Trade items that artisans are paid fairly to make, along with being given decent working conditions.
The gift shop also sells “Benedictine Balm” the monks in Petersham make for chapped hands and lips, and jewelry, medals, crosses, and icons.
The website of St. Joseph’s Abbey Gift Shop and Bookstore in Spencer (spencerabbey.org/abbey-gift-shop) boasts: “In addition to the full range of our own Trappist Preserves, we have a variety of quality food products from Trappist communities across the country – including handmade chocolates, caramels, fruitcake, fudge and honey. In addition, we offer a wide range of religious art and devotional objects, a large selection of Catholic books, as well as handcrafted ceramics, artwork and photographs by monks of the Abbey.”
They sell soaps, bath salts, lotions and lip balm made by the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde, Missouri, said Trappist Father Stephen Shanahan, gift shop manager.
“They put a drop of holy water in all their soaps,” he said. “People really like it.”
The Spencer gift shop provides an opportunity to welcome people and enable them to see the monks’ crafts and hear Gregorian Chant played there, he said.
The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of the St. Benedict Center in Still River run True Devotionals, a gift shop that sells items the sisters design and the brothers print, said Sister Agnes Mary Mueller, a member of the Slaves.
“We feel like it is a part of mission” to have the shop and “bring spirituality” to the public, as well as support the sisters and brothers, she explained.
She said the sisters embroider Marian, Benedictine and Carmelite emblems, or quotes from saints, on aprons, vests, scarves, caps and bags, proclaiming their own spirituality and responding to a request from Carmelite friends. Other items include Advent calendars, Christmas cards, mugs, scapulars, books and “True Devotion to Mary” jewelry.
Religious Specialty Shops
St. Joseph’s Abbey Gift Shop and Bookstore
167 North Spencer Rd.
Spencer, MA 01562
508-885-8720
800-472-0425 (Monastery Greetings for mail order gifts) monks@spencerabbey.org
spencerabbey.org/abbey-gift-shop/
Thurs.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
St. Mary’s Gift Shop
271 North Main St.
Petersham, MA 01366
978-724-3350
giftshop@stmarysmonastery.org
stmarysgiftshop.com
Daily 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
St. Scholastica Priory Shop
271 North Main St.
Petersham, MA 01366
978-724-3213
sspriory@aol.com
stscholasticaprioryshop.com
Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m., 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-12:10 p.m.
True Devotionals
St. Benedict Center
271 Still River Rd.
Harvard, MA 01451
978-456-8877 ext. 101
giftshop@saintbenedict.com
shop.saintbenedict.com/
Tues.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.,
or call for appointment
