• A special Italian religious gift will be appreciated by a Catholic-Italian friend.gift image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
  
  With the center of the Catholic Church, the Vatican, located in Italy, and the majority of Italy's population Roman Catholic, most Italians you meet anywhere in the world are likely of the Catholic faith. An Italian Catholic gift is a thoughtful way to celebrate any special occasion for a person of faith and shows your respect for his faith and cultural history. Whether you select something directly from the Vatican or go on a treasure hunt for a special Italian religious antique, your gift will be appreciated.
  
  

Rosary

• Rosaries can be made from a wide variety of materials.rosary image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com
  
  A rosary from the Vatican is a gift that will be treasured by any Italian Catholic. You can select a rosary made of silver or gold findings and fitted with coral, pearl, crystals, lapis lazuly, amethyst or mother of pearl beads, to name just a few. All prayer rosaries include the traditional crucifix, the antiphon beads, a centerpiece medallion usually featuring the Virgin Mary and 50 additional beads including the Five Decades. A special bonus of buying a rosary from the Vatican is that you can request that your gift be blessed by the Pope at a general audience blessing.
  
  

Bible

• An Italian antique bible will be a treasured gift.bible image by charles taylor from Fotolia.com
  
  Although you can purchase standard Bibles that are written in Italian or Italian and English, you can find even more ways to celebrate faith and Italian culture in print. Purchase a copy of the "Benvenuti Bible," which features religious illustrations by an Italian painter, Gianni, in the style of the 15th century artist Benvenuti. Colorful paintings bring familiar Bible stories to life and will be a treasured keepsake gift. If you'd like to give an Italian-language Bible, make the gift more stunning by offering an antique bible as a gift. Available from antique bookstores or online auction sites, you can purchase bibles like the "Italian Catholic Tullio Crispoldi Rieti Bible" dated 1566 or pages from even earlier additions for anywhere between $800. to over $1,000. An antique Bible in Italian will become a centerpiece to a home or a prized book in any antique book collection.
  
  

Medallion

• Patron saints and saint medallions are a mainstay for many Catholics and help remind them of the sacrifices of the faithful. Wearing the medallion of a patron saints provides a connection between a specific saint and a specific type of person, such as a new mother or travelers. Gifting a religious medallion that reflects Italian saints makes a meaningful gift for an Italian Catholic. Saints like St. Catherine of Siena who is the patron saint of fire prevention and St. Francis of Assisi, who is the patron saint of animals, merchants and ecology are just two options for Italian patrons saint medallions. Medals can be made in gold, silver and platinum and can be blessed by a priest to make them extra special to the recipient.