Thy Olive Tree Blog

  • Why did RCIA change to OCIA?

    OCIA stands for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. It is the process through which adults (and sometimes older children) prepare to enter the Catholic Church. The change from RCIA...

  • Who was St. Gianna Beretta Molla?

    St. Gianna Beretta Molla was an Italian pediatrician, wife, and mother. She was a devout Catholic who balanced her career in medicine with a deep commitment to her family and faith. 

  • Thoughtful Catholic Easter Basket Gifts: Beyond Chocolate and Sweets

    Easter is a time of joy and celebration of Christ’s resurrection. While Easter baskets are often filled with chocolates and candy, they can also be a beautiful way to share and deepen our faith. Thoughtfully chosen Catholic gifts can transform a simple basket into a meaningful tradition that nurtures the spiritual growth of children and loved ones.

  • Catholic Baptism Gift Ideas: For Children, Godparents, Priests, and Deacons

    Baptism is one of the most significant moments in a Catholic’s life—the sacrament that marks their initiation into the Church and welcomes them into the family of God. For parents, godparents, and loved ones, choosing a baptism gift is a special opportunity to provide something meaningful that nurtures the child's faith for years to come. Since many people are involved in this special day, we've included gift ideas for the child, the priest or deacon, and the godparents.

  • Our Top 5 Catholic Resources for Lent

    A great way to embrace Lent is by using faith-based resources that provide structure, inspiration, and guidance throughout the season. In this article, we’ve compiled five incredible resources that can help Catholics experience a more meaningful and transformative Lent. We hope these Catholic resources guide you to a closer relationship with Christ and a prepared heart for the Easter season.

  • Catholic Gifts and Resources for the Month of March

    March is a rich month in the Catholic liturgical calendar, filled with important feast days and solemnities that offer spiritual growth and reflection. Looking for Catholic books, devotionals, or gifts to accompany these celebrations? Explore our curated selection of Catholic resources for Lent and feast days to enrich your spiritual journey.

  • 7 Tips for Praying with a Visual Rosary Book

    7 Tips for Praying with a Visual Rosary Book

    A Rosary book is a powerful tool for deepening your prayer practice, especially when combined with stunning artwork that brings the mysteries of the faith to life. A Stained Glass Rosary from Thy Olive Tree offers a visual approach to prayer that helps you engage more fully with the mysteries. Here are 7 comprehensive tips to help you get the most out of your visual Rosary book.

  • The Best Rosary Book for Beginners: A Painted Rosary

    Praying the Rosary is a beautiful and transformative devotion, but for beginners, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. How do you keep track of the prayers? How can you meditate on the mysteries with focus and depth? If you’re new to the Rosary and looking for a Rosary prayer guide, A Painted Rosary is the perfect Rosary book to help you grow in this prayerful practice.

  • The Power of the Rosary: A Personal Testimony

    I had recently converted to Catholicism. Often I would pray the Rosary, but this time was different. Before starting to pray, I could feel a special "burning, prompting, pulsing" in my heart. Words can't really describe it. The closest I can come to explaining it would be that anticipatory excitement you get... like a kid before Christmas morning, or when my husband got back from a six month deployment.
  • 4 Great Books for Catholic Families

    We asked Sam from Cultivating Catholics to pick a few books from our Market to review. Here were her thoughts on four Catholic books she selected that would be great for Catholic families.
  • Katie Bogner's Top Picks

    We asked Katie Bogner, Director of Religious Education, Author and Writer at Look to Him and Be Radiant, to pick her favorite books to review from Thy Olive Tree Market. Here's her list and what she had to say.
  • Katie Warner's Top Picks

    We asked Katie Warner, bestselling children's book author, to browse our Market and pick her favorite Catholic books to review. If you are looking to narrow down your search, take a look at Katie's top picks!