Parishes buy devotional items in multiples: a rosary for each First Communicant, a medal for each confirmand, holy cards for a funeral, holy water bottles for the Easter Vigil. The gift-shop department is sorted for that kind of buying, in packs of 12, 25 and 50, with a few single pieces for the gift that has to be special.
Rosaries
For a class of First Communicants, wood or plastic rosaries in packs of 12 are the standard gift and survive a child's pocket. Crystal and glass-bead rosaries are the next step up, for Confirmation and for adults. Ghirelli, an Italian maker, sells rosaries with cast medals and centerpieces that are the gift when one rosary has to last a lifetime.
Check the bead count and the crucifix on bulk packs. A five-decade rosary has 59 beads; some inexpensive packs are single-decade or chaplets. Boxes or pouches are often sold separately.
Medals and holy cards
The Miraculous Medal, the St. Benedict medal and the St. Christopher medal are the three a parish gift shop always stocks, in packs of 25 or 50, with patron saint medals added for the parish's own saint. Italian-made medals in oxidised silver or gold tone are the usual quality; sterling silver is for individual gifts. Chains are rarely included.
Laminated holy cards come in packs of 25 to 100, with a prayer on the back. For funerals, the pack is given to the family; for religious education, assorted packs give each child a different saint. Packs of one image are cheaper per card.
Scapulars
The brown scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the one most parishes enrol children in, and wool scapulars in packs of 12 cover a First Communion or Confirmation class. Plastic-encased scapulars last longer in daily wear. A scapular medal can be worn in place of the cloth after enrolment, which suits teenagers who will not wear wool.
Holy water
At the Easter Vigil and on feasts, parishes hand out holy water in small bottles. Plastic 2-ounce bottles with a cross on the label are sold in packs of 48 to 100; glass bottles with gold crosses are for the gift shop. A small font for a home entrance, in porcelain or resin, is a common house-blessing or wedding gift.
Bottles should be filled from the font or the baptistry; the water is blessed, the bottle is not.
Gift sets for the sacraments
First Communion sets for a boy or girl bundle a rosary, a prayer book, a pin and a holy card in a box, and are the easiest answer for godparents and grandparents. Confirmation sets add a medal of the confirmand's saint. For Baptism, a candle, a shell and a small cross are the traditional trio. These sets vary a good deal in what is inside, so the product page lists the contents.
Questions
How many rosaries are in a bulk pack?
Usually 12, sometimes 6 or 24. The listing states the count, the bead material and whether each rosary comes with a pouch or box.
Are the medals blessed?
No. Medals, rosaries and scapulars are sold unblessed; the parish priest blesses them before they are given, usually at the Mass or in the sacristy.
What is the difference between a scapular and a scapular medal?
The cloth scapular is two small wool panels on cords, worn front and back. After enrolment, a scapular medal showing the Sacred Heart and Our Lady may be worn instead; it is approved for the same devotion.
Which holy cards suit a funeral?
Packs of a single image with a prayer on the back, such as the Prayer of St. Francis or a Psalm. The family's name can be added on a label or by the funeral home.