For example, we are one of the few places you can find quality religious-themed art prints, including one of the most famous images of Mary and the infant Jesus, titled simply Innocence.  This classic work, completed by William Bouguereau is one of our most looked-at images in the store.  Striking in its beauty, this piece is elegantly framed in a golden, highly detailed wood frame, complementing the incredible details throughout the image.  (Click on the image for more information about this piece and to order it for yourself!)

While we have the high art adorning our walls, we also carry some of the most adorable figures you’ve ever seen, found in the line of Sister Folk from Abbey Press.  This collection of black-habited nuns are colorful ways to add a little humor and humility to your life, or to say thanks to that someone who has been going the extra mile for you.  Seasonally, we get new items in the series, and every year–without fail–we have people who come in exclusively to seek out the newest pieces in the line.  With the incredible attention to detail evident in each nun, it’s no surprise that these remain one of our most popular gift ideas!  (Click on the image to learn more about this nun, “Savor Your Irish Heritage”, and to connect to the other figures currently available in the line.)

In addition to these varied items, we also house some truly inspirational gifts, DVDs, and music.  But more on that next week.

While I’ve heard in many circles about the concept of simplifying life, keeping things toned down, and limiting the self for the sake of all, “doing” simplicity is a little harder to take.  How does one simplify?  How is it possible for one to simplify thoughts, work, and ideas?  This book seeks to help those of us looking for a little less in our lives.

The Gift of Simplicity really does speak to the heart of the matter, going past the idea of just “making do with less”, and leaping into the depths of raeching for the spiritual aspect of simplicity.  Collected meditations from Brother Victor range on themes from defining simplicity to helping all of us understand how the Saints utilized and model the concept of simplicity for us.  Each meditation is a short 2-3 pages, perfect for morning prayer time or evening reflection on the day.  Topics presented by Brother Victor are practical applications for daily living, including simplicity at work or frugal simplicity.

This is a great book for enhancing your own spiritual life.  It would also be a great book for small faith groups, proposing topics that can work throughout a week, or individual segments that can be used to bolster discussion.  While glancing through the book myself, I immediately thought of Advent as an ideal time to begin this book, since the meditations are so short and reasonable, and there are four themes (four weeks; four themes…great math!). 

Finally, this particular book would be an ideal gift for anyone who is struggling with his or her spiritual journey.  Brother Victor’s reflections are wonderful for sparking individual progress, and grounded in scripture references, offered at the beginning of each topic. 

Many of you may be familiar with Brother Victor’s famous cookbooks, which focus on cooking ideas from monasteries.  These, too, are great ways to learn simplicity, as most of the recipes are based on simple, limited ingredients.  Consider coupling a cookbook with The Gift of Simplicity to make for an amazing wedding or new home gift!

After considering the concept, though, it does make sense.  My favorite hangouts for a long time have been the quirky local shops, the ones that when you walk in, it feels like a neighbor’s cool basement or the shop that has local artist’s works adorning the walls.  These shops are what make the community special, and they serve as markers of distinction.  In many ways, they are what separate “locals” from the visitors.

When I traveled to the Big Easy for my birthday this year, it was the local restaurants, the smaller bookstores and gift shops that I found most interesting.  Carrying eclectic arrays of books by local authors, post-Katrina tee shirts, and postcards of local sights, many of these shops found ways to be distinct from both chains and other stores in the area.  It’s this kind of unique quality that made browsing enjoyable.

Comparing that to our own store, I know we are unique, if for no other reason than being the premiere local vendor for the famous St. Joseph Home Seller Kits.  People are looking for these all the time in the uncertain “buyer’s market”, and we are proud to be the biggest resource around!

We also proudly carry in stock some of the most beautiful home statuary available, including the truly incredible line of Joseph Studio.  Breath-taking hardly begins to describe it, as these pieces are hand detailed, and range in sizes from approximately 8″ to over 15″ in stock.  The line is also set to begin a 6″ series this Fall, and we have access to statues up to 36″ from the same series.

Come in, shop around, and see what’s different about shopping local.

Enter Robert J. Wicks, one of my personal favorite authors in our store.  His works often reflect the ideas of the psychological value of spirituality, and vice versa.  In Everyday Simplicity, Wicks provides readers with daily reflections, meditations, and opportunities for spiritual growth.  Utilizing a key idea, corresponding reflection, and great journaling prompts, Wicks helps readers learn to focus on keeping spirituality close.  This particular book is really inspiring because of the inclusion of quotations and thoughts from a variety of sources, designed to last a whole month.

Consider this “commonse sense” approach to spiritual development to enhance your life, and you might just learn about living more simply.

Now, if I can just get motivated to attack a few more of those boxes in the closet…

But then, I realized how I typically shop.  Often, I’ll drive to a store, and if I don’t see what I want, I’ll go online to try to order.  But that means I’ve been in my car at least a half hour (if I’ve crossed town twice), spent time shopping, and ultimately wasted gas money (not to mention gained a headache from being in traffic).  If the price is really good, it’s probably because I’ve spent money on a “membership” to that store.

The real killer, though, is shipping.  Just to send a single book, shipping costs may run upwards of $10, for just one item.  Despite a great discount, I’m probably not getting much of a savings.  Even with “free shipping” offers, it’s sometimes hard to make the minimum or get what you need on time.  More than once, while placing an online order from a chain, my order got confused with someone else’s, meaning an extra delay in product and the frustration of returning materials.

Make life easier on yourself.  Talk to a local vendor with access to millions of titles or items.  When you place your order, you’ll know the person who assisted you–by name.  Smaller stores often have the same people work on an entire order, from start to finish, meaning that the staff will recognize you when you come back.

As a total aside to this post, let me share with you the utter shock people have about our available items.  For instance, while our in-store merchandise is from the Catholic tradition, we have access to literally millions of items and titles.  That means you can pick up the gift Bible you need while ordering your favorite author’s new novel.

More recently, I discovered a book of daily readings, taken from The Green Bible, aptly titled The Green Bible Devotional, edited by Carla Barnhill.  This particular book is really a great resource for those seeking to balance their faith life with care for the environment.  Reflections are divided across major categories, including Earth, Water, Humanity, Stewardship, and others.  Each reflection is taken directly from Scripture, and the passage is included.  Additionally, those with reflective hearts will find ample space for journaling, prayers, and personal thoughts on each topic.

A great resource for naturalists, but also a wonderful way to enhance one’s prayer life, The Green Bible Devotional is ideal for people who seek to better understand the connection between faith in the Creator and all creation.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve mentioned several of the many local and regional authors, as well as highlighted some of their best-selling titles.  Other posts have mentioned the hand-crafted items, from soaps to incense to the world’s best fruitcake, all crafted right here in Missouri.  All that has led me to this post, which focuses on the local talent of one community, which combines writing, hand-crafted gifts, and music.

Little Portion Hermitage is located in the heart of the Ozark hills in Northern Arkansas, and was founded by John Michael Talbot.  Though most well known for the music of its founder, the community of men and women has been able to share some of its remarkable talents with us. 

Most recently, our store has picked up their hand-made, all-cord knotted Rosaries.  Currently, we are stocking them in black, brown, and blue, but plan to expand that color selection over the next few months.  These outstanding Rosaries are truly inspired, complete with an all-knot cross at the end, and are perhaps the most durable Rosaries I’ve ever come across.  It’s no wonder that with their low price, these are becoming a fast favorite gift item, ideal for children and those who want to keep a durable Rosary close at hand.  To ask us about these incredible Rosaries, send us an email!

Of course, John Michael Talbot is the most well-known member of the Little Portion Community, and the music publishing house, Troubadour for the Lord, is the primary resource for his recordings.  A legend in the music world, he started his career with the group Mason Proffit; but Talbot found the rock star life lacking.  Mainstream music’s loss became Catholic music’s gain, as Talbot has released 50 albums in the course of around 30 years.  His latest release, Living Water, celebrates his history and development as a recording artist.

Although Talbot’s solo work and personal pieces have become favorites of fans across the nation, two of his most popular releases have been City of God and Table of Plenty, compilations which feature many songs of the St. Louis Jesuits, as well as other artists.   In addition to the title tracks, these albums feature beloved Catholic contemporary classics, including “Be Not Afraid” and “Here I Am, Lord.”

Go to our products page and look up John Michael Talbot.  I’m sure you’ll find something to impress you.

The most challenging of these vows, in a number of ways, is the idea of stability.  The idea of being rooted, of maintaining space, of staying committed to one place, is a little unusual in our modern, mobile culture.  In an age that afford many people the luxury of private transportation, when we can discuss regularly what we do in our weekday commute, the concept of staying in one place seems distant (forgive the pun).

This is the very idea challenged by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove in his relase The Wisdom of Stability.  Centered on the idea of “staying put”, Wilson-Hartgrove asks the most unusual question: “Where might God be calling me to be rooted, to stay put?”  It’s a vastly different thought than we find regularly surrounding ourselves.

Much of this text is a combination of how-to manual coupled with reflections and meditations on the idea of stability.  Wilson-Hartgrove encourages readers to become more intimately involved with their local communities, to become more aware of the local surroundings.  In doing this, he argues, we find ourselves able to find more simplicity in life, more attached to those around us, and more able to care for one another and ourselves.

Take a look at a more complete description of this text by clicking on the image above.  Then, find your way to living the value of stability.

There is very little that would be a better example of the talent that monasteries provide than the TWO–yes, two!–monastic houses that provide De Sales Catholic Bookstore with some of the most incredible soap available.

Monastery Scents is a line of soaps and lotions created by the Benedictine nuns at Clyde, Missouri.  For those unfamiliar with Clyde, it is a little town in the northwest corner of the state, just a few miles from Conception Abbey, home to Printery House greeting cards and icons (see below for more info!).  We began carrying the soaps from Clyde about two and a half years ago, and they have become some of our most popular gift items. 

Attractively packaged in beautiful cloth bags with a wax seal, these soaps are hand made, and each bar includes just a dash of holy water.  I speak from experience when I say that these soaps last and last, as do the fragrances.  From flowers to fruit, men’s to women’s fragrances are available.  Two of our most popular fragrances have been Oatmeal & Honey and Woodland Bay (very masculine!). 

We also proudly stock an even more locally manufactured collection of soaps, made by a group of Franciscan Friars from Our Lady of the Angels Friary in Ava.  My personal favorite has been the Peppermint and Tea Tree, which for a while, apparently, was a DCB exclusive!  One customer enjoyed the fragrance of it so much, she ended up ordering more than 20 bottles of the soap to give as gifts to her friends.  That’s a great example of what shopping locally can do for you!  She never would have been able to smell the soaps had she not been in our store.  Now, all of her friends know about the wonderful products that come from right here, in the southern part of Missouri!  Click HERE to see the current listing of products available from the Franciscan Friars.  More fragrances are available seasonally and by demand.

Soaps aren’t the only great gift available from local monasteries!  We are a proud distributor of Printery House greeting cards, notes, and icons.  For decades, Printery House has been one of the only Catholic printing companies that specializes in creating cards for Sacraments, priest anniversaries, and general notes.  They also provide us with an extensive line of Christmas Cards, which we can order with special imprints, including a digital image of your signature–if you sign a lot of cards every year, you’d appreciate that relief!  Contact us to find out how to order greeting cards, holy cards, or invitations with a specialized greeting and your signature for any time of year!

What would this particular post be if I didn’t mention our best-selling Christmas gift ever?  Assumption Abbey Fruitcake is perhaps the most popular gift from our store.  Beginning as early as September, we start getting reservations for our Fall shipments, and the lists keep growing until Christmas.  Usually, we have to start a “call early next year” list, right after the holidays!  In the last two years alone, DCB has sold over 300 of the 2-pound cakes, and we already have people with standing orders for this year!  Don’t wait to place your order–we always run out before Christmas, and so do the monks!

We also proudly carry incense and charcoal from Nazareth Hermitage.  Although not available online, we will gladly take phone, fax, and email orders.  Available in three scents and two sizes, you can get enough for the entire liturgical year at your church, or just enough for perosnal devotions at home.  Contact us for more information.

Next week, I’ll focus solely on a nearby hermitage in northern Arkansas that is the source of books, music, and gifts!