Posted on 11/27/2015 1:42:29 PM PST by NYer
We've never been keen on Black Friday—however … there is something to be said for getting shopping done this week so you can get the most out of Advent, as Zoe Romanowsky wrote here last week.
Perhaps we could spare a few minutes to Christmas shop—online—for these lovely gifts, handmade by monks and nuns from monasteries and religious communities. These are a few of the Aleteia staffs’ favorites:
1. Brandy-dipped fruitcake from the New Camaldolese Monks of Big Sur, California. This cake is unforgettable ($22 for a one-pound cake) as is the New Camaldoli Hermitage itself. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the monks offer Benedictine spiritual retreats in a beautiful setting. Now that would be a good Christmas gift! http://www.hermitagebigsur.com.
2. Fudge from the monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia. Try the “Southern Touch†fudge, with real peach morsels, pecans and a touch of pecan brandy ($12.95 a box).  http://www.holyspiritmonasterygifts.com.
3. The “Pope’s Soap”from Seignadou Soaps in Summit, New Jersey. The Dominican nuns who make these lovely soaps provided a gift basket to make Pope Francis’ stay in Philadelphia “squeaky clean.†Their “Christmas Pine Goat’s Milk Soap†makes a wonderful stocking stuffer ($4 a bar). http://seignadousoaps.com/.
4. Soap from the Texas nuns at the monastery of St. Michael the Archangel in San Antonio,Texas. More soap! We just couldn’t choose which we liked best. The Texas Nuns (Tune in to their radio show “A Good Habit” on Guadalupe Radio Networkon Wednesdays at 2 pm EST) offer their Nonnavita “super natural soap†in a variety of scents. On our personal shopping list: “Ranch Hand,†made with lemon, lavandin, orange and patchouli with exfoliating ground apricot kernels ($7 a bar). www.texasnuns.com.
5. Jams and jellies from the Trappist Preserves and the monks at Saint Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts. ($12.95 for three jars.) These monks have cornered the market on preserves for a reason. They’re delicious!  http://www.monasterygreetings.com/product/Trappist_Preserves.
6. Caramels from the Trappist nuns of Our Lady of the Mississippi in Dubuque, Iowa. And try their “Meltaways†a favorite among the sisters, made with milk chocolate, hazelnuts and a hint of salt (from $7.75 for a half pound)  http://www.monasterycandy.com. They also offer original Christmas Card designs.
7. Icons the Trappist Monks of the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky. Fans of Thomas Merton will appreciate these reproductions of religious icons painted by Br. Lavrans in the 1960s ($20 each) https://www.gethsemanifarms.org/abbeyGiftShop-products.aspx?ID=3.
8. Creamed honey from Redwoods Monastery in northern California. Try a gift-box of three flavors ($7 a jar, or $18 for three jars) http://www.redwoodsabbey.org/Store/.
9. Mustard from the Benedictine Sisters in Mt. Angel, Oregon. The secret recipe was passed on for generations until the Sisters started selling in in 2005. Aleteia editor-in-chief Elizabeth Scalia calls the garlic and jalapeno mustards “incredibly delicious.†Visit Monastery Mustard.org for information on how to call or email to purchase.
10. All-natural beeswax candles from the Monastery of Saint John in Manton, California. A trio of long-lasting, solid beeswax pillars in assorted sizes makes a lovely gift ($42.00 for a set of three). Available in other sizes and designs. http://www.stjohnsbookstore.com.
No trip to the mall necessary. Ping!
I don’t know if I want anything made out of monks and nuns.
Mmmm! When I spent one month in Sicily, I would visit cloistered nuns who would push through their delicious baked goods in a kind of post box on their property. In return, we would leave a few Euros. We’d eat their goodies in the car.
I spent Thanksgiving dinner with two retired nuns last night. They came with BO bumper stickers on their car. They are affiliated with a church that promotes illegal immigration activism in Tucson.
I recounted the story of the failure of collectivism of the pilgrims. Even with them, I was trying to change hearts and minds.
I think the poster was referring to the fact that the title is awkwardly phrased. He/she isn’t too keen on eating fudge that someone used ground up nuns to make.
St. Joseph Abbey, in St. Tammany Parish,La.
Then I immediately apologize! Just jumped the gun on the usual Catholic haters!
I’ve actually purchased the creamed honey from the Monastery of the Redwoods! The ginger honey is AWESOME!
I visited the monastery about 20 years ago. The Trappist nuns take a vow of silence—but they sing, and we were invited into the chapel to sing with them.
Behind the altar is a huge plate glass window, behind which is a gigantic old redwood. Mother Veronica told us the tree was over 2000 years old, and so it was there when Christ walked the earth.
Their honey is wonderful, and it’s how the nuns sustain themselves.
Highly recommended by mumblypeg!
I’ve also been to St. Joseph’s Abbey in Louisiana, and purchased a wonderful recording of chants performed by the choir.
In their dining hall, there is / was a mural of the Last Supper, ostensibly painted by one of the Brothers.
If you look closely at the painting, there is a salt and pepper shaker on the table.
Pope soap on a rope? Heh!
I love Catholics! Just enough to buy things made out of them. :-)
Dang, now I can’t write worth a darn.
Should have read: I love Catholics! Just NOT enough to buy things made out of them. :-)
(And yes, I was making fun of the somewhat clumsy headline).
I’m not Catholic and I don’t really agree with the teachings of the RCC, but I don’t really have a problem with Catholics, nor am I averse to buying products made by nuns and monks. It’s infinitely preferable and cheaper than buying from the Muslim-owned Edible Arrangements. I am planning on buying several gifts from these websites. I may buy myself soap. :)
Thanks for posting this tip. It will be fun.
Don’t forget about the wonderful products that the Trappist monks in Europe produce and ship to these shores (available on the beer aisle).
Remember when the Louisiana’s funeral home directors tried to shut down the Monk’s coffin making venture?
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