Things Only Kids Who Grew Up Catholic Will Remember | The Catholic Talk Show

In this episode of The Catholic Talk Show, the guys reminisce and talk about things that only people who grew up as a Catholic will remember.
Episode 86:
In this episode, you will learn:
• Things you'll remember about Mass as a kid
• 5 things you'll remember about Catholic School
• Why Donut Sunday was the BEST
• Things you'll remember about your 1st Communion
• Why giving the envelope as a kid was awesome
• Things Catholic kids remember about their Grandmother
• and much more
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[@CatholicTalkShow]

Become a supporter of The Catholic Talk Show on Patreon and get awesome gifts like mugs, hoodies, and more: bit.ly/SupportTheCatholicTalkShow

[@wendytekia]

Waiting on my mug

[@shellytgregory1]

Worth every bit!!! Money well spent!

[@chikodilionianwah9235]

The gentleman on your panel made a good Batman impression. You interpreted it as being ghetto; is it because you thought he sounded “black “? Automatically, when you reference something as ghetto, you think “black “. There are still a lot proud practicing Catholics who watch this show, among others. Maybe you don’t know any black lay Catholics. Please be sensitive.

[@kimbo1521]

M .

[@kimbo1521]

@@wendytekia .

[@josephcottam1382]

Thank you for sharing all of your memories growing up Catholic. My most favorite memory is going to midnight Christmas Eve Mass. My mother would put us to bed for a nap before going. When we entered the church I felt like I was in heaven and I still do. We had a beautiful choir and would sing All of the beautiful Christmas songs from 11:30 to 12:00 midnight. The reason we went to midnight Mass was because we could not open any Christmas presents until we had gone to Mass. After getting home we were allowed to open one present and then go to bed. I've kept up that tradition when my daughter was born and still do it today. I love my Catholic faith. It gives me such peace. May God richly bless all of you ✝️📿⛪

[@lynbrown4054]

I'm 75 and still have Communion veil, prayer book, candle, and Rosary.

[@bookwoman53]

My Communion dress had been worn by my three older cousins. My cousin Ashley was going to have it next but she was too tall.

[@psmaureen]

I made my First Communion in 1947. I didn’t receive any money. But, felt like a princess dressed in white. It was a special day for me. I wore my dress all day long.

[@paix1234]

I loved Christmas Eve Mass. It started at around 11 pm and it was very long. It was at a Carmelite Monastery. The Carmelites would sing so sweetly. It was heavenly. It was hard not to fall asleep.

[@maryellen2312]

A little boy sitting behind me during the sign of peace said, "Rest in Peace". Wow, nothing like feeling old! 🙂

[@Roxher33]

😂😂😂

[@Roxher33]

😂😂

[@oyvey9463]

I remember playing Joseph in my church’s Nativity play. To this day, it is still one of my fondest memories of growing up Catholic. I felt very connected to the story and Jesus’ birth.

[@teresatoth3821]

I loved Christmas Eve Mass. My family would gather at my aunt's house first around 6pm, then leave for Mass around 10:30pm. Our Mass was always at Midnight, but if you wanted a seat, you had better arrive by 11pm. There was always music playing before Mass.

[@marymadelynevangelista9799]

I remember Christmas eve Mass that ended at midnight with everybody really singing into Christmas carols joyfully. Great memories!

[@ednaaugusta8417]

I remember the really fancy dresses, purses, gloves, shoes my mom would dress my sister and I up for Sunday Mass.

[@mascara1777]

And hats ! No little girls wear Easter bonnets anymore, it's sad.

[@antaine1916]

When I was about 5, I didn't get doused with holy water during the asperges (we always sat in the front row). I said (loudly, and disappointed) to my mother, "Hey, I didn't get wet!" Fr. Germain, God rest him, came back down off the first step of the sanctuary, dunked the aspergillum , and gave me a full dose point blank in the face. BOOM!

[@clanausse]

😂🤣😂

[@Kitiwake]

A bit brutal, wasnt it?

[@janeserovy666]

You get what you ask for! (Luke 11:9-10)!🙏😍

[@stevencardenas6094]

If that happen to me, I'd say just as loudly, "NOW THATS WHAT IM TALKIN' ABOUT!!!"😂

[@az.shelly]

Amen!!😊

[@michellearmenta1116]

I wasn't raised Catholic but I'm raising my son Catholic. It's nice to see it through his eyes. You're right! He loves placing that money in the basket and hates midnight Mass!!!

[@mrswilbert]

The extortion basket? That's what I always called it, even in grade school

[@andyZ3500s]

So many good memories. I was the oldest so grandma used to let me put the envelope in the basket. She didn't use donuts to get us there because there was a Foster Freeze across the street. My best memorie is of my little sisters first communion. She looked like a angle to me, I will never forget that day as long as I live. God bless her she died way to young.

[@AbnRangerJoe]

My grandmother, the sole person responsible for my devotion to Christ, passed away 14 years ago and I am still unpacking boxes on boxes of prayer clippings, hand-written notes, prayer cards, rosaries, statuettes, memorial funeral cards, medals, and scapulars. Many of these items will rotate onto our home altar next to an image of Jesus and His Sacred Heart; an image I have known my who life (50 years) as it hung on my grandma's wall just above her record player. I also burn a candle perpetually on our home altar in remembrance first that Jesus is the Light of World, but also as a memorial for my grandma who burned a candle perpetually and prayed back-to-back rosaries for me for my protection, and my conversion. As a child before walking into mass, my grandmother would take a tissue and scrub my face and try to fix my hair to the best of her ability. She would then rip a stick of Juicy Fruit gum in half because a full stick would be too much for a 6 year old, give me half and put the other half back in her purse. As an altar boy for an Easter Vigil Mass, I was maybe 8 or 9 years old. I stood right next to the incense, breathing it in for a good 45 minutes until I started feeling light headed. When the priest came close to me, I told him I wasn’t feeling well. He told me to go sit down with my family. As I started making my way down the steps towards the center aisle, I tripped over my own feet, fell flat on my face, and passed out. The congregation of 300 people rose to their feet. Although blacked out, I could hear my Italian grandfather utterly embarrassed mutter, “Somebody grab that boy!” My grandmother dragged me back into the pew.

[@poetlover30]

Omg! How embarrassing! 😛🤣

[@AbnRangerJoe]

@@poetlover30 Apparently, embarrassing for my grandfather. For me, I was incapacitated so I don’t recall.

[@poetlover30]

When you woke up, how long was it before you went back to church?

[@carmelpereira6003]

@@AbnRangerJoe your late grandma reminds me so much of my own who returned to our Lord in 2006. She really shaped the way I practice the religion myself. She didn’t have so much knowledge about the nitty gritty about Catholicism but she knew how to pray and taught me well.

[@Ochepeochpe085-gu4hm]

Thank you Amen. ❤

[@jesusislord6020]

I laughed and smiled alot watching this. It's a very good show. I also feel sad, im reminded and I confess ive been a bad christian during these stressful times. I must Do better.

[@leonoradecastro1651]

A friend told me that while teaching kindergarten kids, they used to say some prayers before class begins. And several kids seriously prayed "Hail Mary, full of grapes..... "

[@jnbrasileira]

Growing up in the traditional state of Minas Gerais, Brazil in the 1980s was wonderful: Holy Week was so beautiful and praying the rosary with my grandma and other ladies is a loving memory. I reminder my first reconciliation and first communion at the age of 8

[@juliesokolowski3553]

I love your show. I grew up Protestant so I missed out on all this good stuff. I hope to someday be that holy Catholic grandmother you spoke of ❤️

[@gloriarascon9709]

So sweet! ❤️

[@sterjulie]

COVID stopped the passing of the basket at a local parish. Instead they put a large basket at the altar steps and people walked up and dropped their gift inside.

[@sterjulie]

At another parish’s Christmas Eve children’s Mass, the children were asked to bring baby items to give the Baby Jesus for the Right to Life babies. After Communion, someone dressed as Santa Claus would enter very quietly and piously, hat in hand. He came up to the manger, knelt and prayed. Then he would rise, reached into his bag, and hold up a baby toy to present to Baby Jesus as the first gift that Christmas. Not a dry eye in the house.

[@joan5856]

That gesture would be wonderful here in Africa. There are so many in rural impoverished communities and give wealthy communities a chance to adopt a poor community at Christmas.

[@Jacksanitize]

When I was stationed at Langley AFB, VA, the off-base housing parish did a Fellowship after the 10am Mass on Sunday. They did not mess around with donuts and coffee, they had a full on brunch where you had to make a plate, sit at a table and engage with others from the Parish. Hands down, it was the best post Mass interaction with other parishioners, it truly was Fellowship.

[@Travelers845]

Grew up Catholic and this brought me back... thank you for the memories... loving your channel! Thanks for being educational and fun!! Blessings!

[@brendaforshaw9635]

I just loved being brought up Catholic. Loved being in the class room, and the teacher telling us all to put our work away until later and we would put our ladies statue on the teachers desk and light candles and sing all of our ladies hymns. Lovely memories. Walking around the church in the month of May, our ladies month. Wearing our long blue cloaks, and veils. This doesent happen today. Nothing is the same. It upsets me. From Brenda in England.

[@andreaandyparedes7997]

Thank you guys for all your content!!! My faith is such a huge part of my life and I pray to be able to pass that love on to my children. To this day I remember my First Communion. I still have my missal my godmother gave me. I even remember all the songs we sang that mass. One of the most beautiful memories I have!

[@Pruner15]

You should have split this episode into 2 parts: 1.) Pre-Vatican ll and POST Vatican ll memories. The 2 are vastly different as far as what we remember based on how so many things changed in the church in the '60's. Cradle Catholic here, (from So. Calif.) and LOVED experiencing the TRADITIONAL customs and observances as well as the beauty of the Latin Mass. Excellent education from dedicated nuns in full habits who had 50 plus kids in one classroom yet maintained order, and were tough when necessary yet kind and understanding. Learning Latin, being an altar boy, getting out of class to serve funerals, going to rest homes, etc. May processions, Wednesday night devotions, singing the traditional old hymns in choir, of course DONUTS after Sunday Mass, the St. Joseph Table, Catholic holydays which meant NO SCHOOL that day, priests playing basketball with us at recess, nuns playing softball with us after school, and lest we forget, the Pagan Babies. I thought they were classroom pets in a cage. My siblings would ask my parents for $$$ to feed the Pagan Babies because I had no clue what PAGAN meant ! SOME things from that era did suck, though...like Tuna Casserole on Fridays, (gag me) no grass on the playground, and the public school kids making fun of our haircuts and uniforms. Everything we did was church/parish centered and it was all good.

[@Pruner15]

@@prepperjonpnw6482 You're absolutely right. I never did the math to realize that they're all too young to have experienced any of it. I'm 65 !

[@ritablanchard8133]

Wow. You nailed my upbringing

[@johnspence9718]

very true. I was born in '67 - Baltimore, MD. Catholic schools were a refuge after the race riots. Many students weren't Catholic, but still had religion class every day. My memories were more "Folk Mass." I hated it, even as a kid. I preferred the wafer, not bread & the pipe organ not acoustic guitar & Kumbayah.

[@ignatiusjackson235]

Okay, I understood everything else that you said, but this particular youngster needs to know more about these "Pagan babies."

[@SuzyRN61]

⁠@@ignatiusjackson235 I attended Catholic grade school in the LA area- late 60s. Each classroom collected money donated by the children. When a certain amount was reached, we were allowed to name a “pagan baby” . A pagan is a nonbeliever. I presumed that these were children of Catholic converts who would be baptized by Catholic missionaries, somewhere in the third world. As was the case of every baptized infant (at least back then), you couldn’t use just any name. Every baptismal name had to be a saint’s name. You wouldn’t find any Brittany or Mackenzie. It would probably be something like Barbara Anne or Theresa Marie. Looking back on it now, I’m kind of horrified. I’m all for donating to charity, but, did they actually use these picks for real children?

[@scarlet020100]

These guys make me laugh, but the other day I watched Fr Pagano at a Mass and I was impressed with his very traditional liturgy, his reverence and his excellent homily.

[@stephaniehatfield5831]

Enjoyed your show. You are all youngin’s! My First Communion was in 1959. The Irish Sisters of Charity made me the Catholic I am today. Thank you😬🐾

[@RCstudios2012]

You guys are awesome. I'd fallen away from the faith for a few years after I finished undergrad. Now in my post-grad, I finally wised up and decided it was time to go back to church this past Lenten season. You guys have made this whole COVID thing much easier.

[@LKLD_Grandma]

Yay! Welcome home.

[@catherineanncappello2865]

I grew up in the 60's and 70's in the Catholic Church. My dad never went to Mass; however, my mother was involved in everything imaginable - in every place we lived. I remember a number of the things you mentioned, especially the donuts. They were used as the bait for good behavior. And Dunkin' Donuts was the place. Something you guys missed was the May crownings. We got that most years in the CCD programs - especially since my mother was the coordinator in a couple of places. Teaching in the late 90's in a Catholic school that was very prevalent. Moving around a lot, I missed out on the normal time for receiving the Sacraments, so didn't make my First Communion in 4th grade. Because I was so much older than the rest of the group, Fr. Menard (God rest his soul!) came to our house to prepare my younger brother and myself especially for our first confession, which was to be the day before our first Communion. I'll never forget the horror on his face and that of my mother as my brother and I knelt at the arm of the couch and began: "Bless me Father, for I have sinned. This is my first confession. I have committed adultery (how on earth is a 8 and 10- year-old supposed to know what that is?!) three times, I murdered a classmate a few times, and I robbed the local bank and stole a million dollars. . . . but that was just once." (I guess, I can identify more than I thought with the shenanigans of Rich D.!)

[@stephaniemc9948]

Ha, I remember the May crownings

[@cherylhee9762]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@loripeppers4841]

Growing up in a 100-year old Catholic school and Cathedral through the 60’s (graduated h.s. in ‘71), I remember a beautiful Fatima grotto, midnight mass, the wonderful smell of old polished wood, praying the “St Anthony” prayer as we searched for a lost item for someone. My personal fave was the May Day procession for Our Lady and singing Ave Maria and other old hymns. Our Pastor was a Monsignor. It was a great life!!

[@annhalpin9926]

This was for sure one of my favorite episodes! You had me laughing because everything that was discussed was me as a child! And you are so right, the “donut” is very powerful. They got my boys through CCD and many masses! Now 19 & 24, they watched this with me & laughed because it’s so true. I look forward to your shows, keep up the great job!

[@molendera19]

Back in my day and my children we made our first communion . Kneeling at the alter rail. That was before, they tore down the old church and built a new one. We use to have sisters in they're habits also. Now it's very rare that you see one like that anymore.

[@FranklinPUroda]

The way Muslim women dress reminds me of what my teaching Sisters of St. Francis used to look like.

[@anitalindquist8191]

I grew up in 50 and 60 and I look back on great memories of the church being so full at Latin mass and becoming a child of mary, also praying rosary in home.

[@lynbrown4054]

50's-60's: snell in church candles, incense, flowers. Latin Mass, beautiful music, a feeling of holiness. Uniforms and Nuns in full habit. Rosary after lunch in school. Pilgrim Virgin visiting for 1 week in the neighborhood. Station of the Cross every Friday with Benediction to follow.

[@althaushexe4825]

I grew up Catholic in the 50s/60s. I am glad Father Rich mentioned the nuns. I went to a really great school and had wonderful nuns teaching me. I think I was very lucky. It was a time when teachers were allowed to hit the children. No one was ever hit at our school. However, we never saw a doughnut anywhere near the church! We had to wear our best clothes (and hats) to mass.

[@sgh416]

I grew up Catholic in the 50s and 60s too. We always dressed up for Mass. - gloves, best shoes, hat, then chapel veils. Now I see most women at Mass wearing pants. This isn’t critical of them. However, I still wear a dress or skirt and nice top, and I’m usually the only one at Easter Mass wearing a hat. That’s just what I do.

[@lightningboltck1220]

Would love to share this conversation with you!! So many memories of being a small town Catholic kid and going to Catholic school with nuns for teachers❤

[@lorihentges6333]

I am at the tail end of the Boomers. I remember chapel veils, altar rails, and 3 communion songs as we all knelt at the altar rail and the priest gave everyone communion. (My grandma's danish cookie tins held buttons, bias binding,and other sewing supplies. I never had a danish cookie and didn’t realize they were still available.) Then in the 70's we switched to the guitars and felt banners. One youngnun started wearing a habit with a short skirt, amd scandalized the parish.

[@kimberlymba9065]

I remember also always going over to my grandparents after mass for lunch. All 21 of us cousins playing together every Sunday. Such a wonderful childhood.

[@teresabaker-carl9668]

I grew up in the 50s and 60s. 1966 I spoke to approximately 30,000 members of the Legion of Mary. I walked out, saw all those people, and when I walked off the stage I was told how beautiful my talk was, (I was 13) but don't ask what I said because I have no idea. I don't recall any of the rest of the day. With 9 children in the family, we all had to touch the collection basket; that meant every Sunday it was dropped and there were 8 little Bakers crawling under the pews gathering the money up. My dad always went to the back of the church with the baby, and let my mother deal with it. It wasn't TOO bad though; there were 3 other families bigger than ours doing the same thing. Ah, family life in the time of Gregorian Chant, and Ad Orientum, and lots of children - families. Incense, bells, mystery, awe, majesty, Communion rails, Rosary after Mass, the Prayer of St. Michael, choirs in robes singing with the organ, sermons, not homilies, hearing Catholic teaching from the pulpit, people packed into the same pew every week. I never believed the church buildings would ever be locked, the Eucharist hidden away, confessions refused, priests not allowed to give comfort and Last Rites to the sick and dying, bishops (not all) telling their priests to close out their flocks... It's a very sad day for lifetime Catholics who love the Church, Catholic converts who have finally found their home, and parents trying to raise their children to be good, solid Catholics. A sad day indeed.

[@samwiseg7380]

So beautiful to hear of your childhood experiences! We have 7 children and found the TLM 8 years ago when our oldest was 11. He served with his brother all these years, their younger brother joined them a couple years later and this year my 9 year old was going to begin and our youngest was just about to make his First Communion and possibly start serving too but now it's all on hold. Our girls were being encouraged to help start a girls' soldality- and now with all that's going on we've tried to watch live Masses coordinating with friends so the kids can feel like we're somehow together but it hasn't been easy, moreso confusing for everyone but we're trying to keep the focus on how this hardship will bear fruit in the form of a more holy Church. The purging and Purification that is so needed. Thank you for your story! : )

[@teresabaker-carl9668]

@@prepperjonpnw6482 priests aren't even allowed into the hospitals and nursing homes, let alone allowed to give ANY Sacraments. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Cardinal Cupich has said in cases of emergency a priest can Baptize, but only if they get the Cardinal's permission first. I don't know exactly how many dioceses these rules cover, but it's nearly all of them in the States. I truly do not understand how this can be, but so it is. Part of it is because of the bishops, who are obeying the government rules, some are obeying the pope, and some are just plain scared, especially of the police action that has been threatened to be used against them. One thing I'm certain of, a persecution has begun, especially when abortion, alcohol sales, pot sales, and selling lottery tickets are all considered essential services, but worship services are not, nor are any of those Sacraments, and prayers with the sick and dying. And where is Pope Francis in all this? Check behind those walls around Vatican City which he says no one should ever have; you can find him blessing the empty St. Peter Square from his high up window where everyone not there can see him.

[@ColleenW2019]

@@teresabaker-carl9668 Totally agree with you. Here in western Oregon the parishes are preparing for minimal reopening at the end of May because the fascist governor is still restricting gatherings to only 10-25 at a time. Makes me sick. I found out that our parish is going to a reservation system for now where you choose which Mass you want to attend and maybe you'll get it, but then you can't reserve another Mass for 3 weeks after. I am sick at heart, it's so wrong! I'm not so sure it's better than nothing. And lanes and directionals have to be set up in the sanctuary so we can all be herded about properly. Seriously? You are right, the persecution our Blessed Mother spoke of has begun and our beloved Church is in grave trouble. I am praying a rosary every day for the salvation of the Church, our Blessed Mother asked this of me.

[@teresabaker-carl9668]

@@ColleenW2019 are you in Archbishop Sample's diocese? I have known him many years, and I learned long ago that what to do if he was ordered to obey his superior in something he knows is wrong, was quickly a cause of concern for him. The pope has order bishops to obey local laws. I imagine he would be struggling right now...I'm just wondering....

[@ColleenW2019]

@@teresabaker-carl9668 Yes, I really like him. I can hear the pain in his voice when he talks about having to work within the restrictions set up by the guvmint. I know all of the clergy everywhere are struggling, I see it in our pastor's face, they're all doing the very best they can. Archbishop Sample has a Friday evening live stream on his facebook page at 6:30pm PDT if you're interested. He's been doing them for about a month now, I guess. I listen to his show on Mater Dei Radio called The Voice of The Shepherd, I really like that show. I look forward to meeting him some day.

[@johnm4011]

I never forget the sheer excitement of receiving Christ personally for the first time. Prior to my First Communion, I would join my mom in the Communion line and would get a head tap from our Parish Priest. It's like going on a first date; exciting yet nerve-wracking. Now I understand that this was what Pope Benedict XVI tweeted about before he retired: it was the joy of putting Christ in the center of our lives.

[@divinemercy417]

16:00 made me cry--AMEN. My grandparents were firm in their Catholic faith, but sadly, not my parents or my husband's parents. My children are being deprived of the role-models of faith that grandparents can be. So I'm finding myself now praying for my children & my parents the way that my grandparents did. I hope that I model for my children the faith. I wish my husband did, too. Any suggestions as to how wives can get their husbands, who are lukewarm in the faith, to become enflamed with love and devotion to the Lord? Right now, all I've got is prayer.

[@louis-vd3ur]

Confession. The power of confession is being purposefully understated in today's hedonistic and ignorant culture. Prayer is for communication, there needs to be action to fully interact with reality. God leads us through prayer and keep praying for your family. If you don't have a shrine in your home with a crucifix and image make one, get statuettes of your saints and your grandparents saints and the saints of all the family. Burn candles and say the rosary back to back. These devotions will give you clarity and peace which draws others to us naturally. Back to confession,suggest it to your husband the next time you go. Discern his response, if he shows rejection and voices opinion listen. Many people hurt and the hurt takes over their conscience causing damage for years. Devotion instills the message of Christ, make that your evangelical starting point. May God Bless you.

[@Randaed]

Oh my goodness! You guys just brought this back to me! My first communion, I was absolutely livid because the nuns at my Catholic school whipped up a special big, flat, circular, scored, wheat, bread loaf and to my 7 year old mind, that was 100% not what I had spent my entire life waiting for. I wanted the pure white hoast. I just sat there seething in my pretty white cotton dress. 😆 Not the best mind set for a first communion for sure! I guess that was my trad foreshadowing. 😅

[@buddytrevino8259]

I remember trying to make eye contact with people during "peace be with you" and feeling super accomplished or failed depending on whether or not I succeeded.

[@staceysmith5591]

I love Christmas Eve Mass! When I was younger I used to sing at the 4 o'clock Mass. When I got into the adult choir I do the midnight Christmas Eve Mass it is so beautiful! Now as a cantor in my parish I cherish all of the Christmas Eve Masses! My family never really went to Christmas day but now I can't get enough of it!!!

[@marleneleblanc59]

I have been remembering Mama pinning little white lace veils on us as children for Mass.I bought one about 3 months ago..and though shy at first,I have been wearing it every Mass since.💞💞🙏🙏

[@marymadelynevangelista9799]

So, finally, at 50+ minutes we get to First Holy Communion! Did you do that just to keep me sitting thru all your shenanigans? I will never forget my Dad giving me an adorable, beautiful bouquet of white carnations that smelled great and after Mass we drove from Jersey City's Our Lady of the Assumption over to his cousin's house in Bayonne, NJ to have them share in our joy . . . Mom was home with all the other kids. Thanks for the shout out to the nuns and Grandmas! Very precious memories for me from back in the '60s.

[@iodine63]

We belonged to a large parish in Detroit with two school buildings it was so large. K-5 in one building, 6-8 in the second building. It was the best education. When I started college the classes were comparable to what I learned in 8th and 9th grade. Our parish was tight with many families that had rosary nights that traveled houses each week. Parish festivals, those and the Christmas bazaars for fundraiser were so much work but great fun too.

[@Joeybagofdonuts76]

Midnight Mass was the highlight of my year. Loved it.

[@TheDoctorsDancer]

I have to agree with Father Richard about Christmas Eve Mass. Our Christmas Eve Mass is late, like 9:00 or 9:30, and we have a full choir and a small orchestra and everyone dresses up all fancy. Before Mass we also have a couple dressed as Mary and Joseph carrying a real baby who walk around the sanctuary. The honor goes to the family who has a baby closest to Christmas. Pretty cool. Really sets the mood for Mass.

[@Everythingever-seeing]

I grew up Catholic in a mostly "Catholic" family. Only 1 sister cared truly, and went to confession and holy days of obligation. She raised me in faith.

[@shawnhansen8517]

I truly enjoyed this episode. This was an episode that truly brought great memories and was a terrific example of the wonders of the Catholic Faith.

[@lois2997]

Grew up catholic in the 60s and 70s. Remember first communion, catechism, fighting with my brother, having to take a nap before going to midnight mass, wearing Easter dresses, hot cocoa downstairs and donuts after mass, my mom giving us coins for the collection basket, getting special days off from school.

[@gina5692]

My church (like many others) has a life sized nativity scene for Christmas and on Christmas Eve once mass ended they would start singing silent night and Santa would walk into the church with a gift for Jesus and put it in the nativity. It’s my favorite part about Christmas

[@Frometheus117]

Got you guys beat. We would ALWAYS go to the Midnight vigil for Christmas Eve Mass.

[@raqueltyler5576]

I think I was 12 years old before l made it awake through the whole Christmas Midnight Mass start till home. It was the best times in my kid year

[@thomasbegley630]

I still have my first communion rosaries and Bible. My favorite Mass was midnight mass for Christmas, once it was time for church to start they turned off all the lights and then turned the Christmas tree lights on and the choir sang silent night and then after the song we turned all the lights back on and Mass started.

[@elaineleslie955]

Grew up in the 50s and 60s. I remember the Latin Mass, the communion rail. If my dad needed to work on a Sunday he would ask for permission to do so. We went to church every Sunday, prayed the rosary every day during Lent, went to Stations of the Cross every Sunday afternoon during Lent. I am so happy my Father instilled these true habits of Catholic faith in us, to this day I go to church every Sunday, say the rosary daily, read the Bible daily. I love the Lord.

[@annaappel2810]

I know how you feel. Blessings.

[@Lola-kv6fx]

I’m a cradle Catholic. Grew up in a town who was mostly Mexican and Catholic. There was this Mexican candy that looked like the Eucharist except it had caramel in the middle came in different sizes. We use to play church and my older cousins would be the priest. I loved it. I think if you were a Mexican Catholics kid you have this same memory.

[@Linda-gx9fq]

I also grew up in a HispanicCatholic perish, after mass , we would go to the perish hall, menudo and Mexican sweet bread were served with all the fixings.

[@danacarpenter2635]

I am a child of the 50’s … growing up Catholic was not always easy. My Dad was United Methodist and Mom was a devout Catholic. I grew up in the middle of a religious war. My Mom had me baptized at St Michael’s Catholic Church one Saturday, and my United Methodist Grandmother had me baptized Methodist on the following Saturday. I remember how sacred midnight mass was at Christmas Eve. It was a packed house every Christmas Eve, followed by a wonderful family gathering at my Uncle Jim and Aunt Denise’s home. Lots of food and lots of alcohol, but no one ever got really loaded or drunk. You just didn’t do that at their home, no matter what the circumstances. This party happened every year, of course, after my cousins were grown and gone and had lives and children of their own. It would last until well after 4 am. And our elderly parish priest would also come and celebrate Christmas with our huge family. My Aunt had 8 siblings including my Mom. And 4 of those siblings were still local, and so they and their children came to the Christmas Eve party after Midnight Mass. At one of the last Christmas Eve gatherings that I attended, our elderly parish priest was having a wonderful time with my Uncle Jim chatting away. I remember that it was really late, wee hours, after 4am., when Father suddenly announced that it was time for him to go back home to the rectory. He stood up and then he and my uncle walked outside to his car. I knew that Father only had about 6 to 8 blocks to drive back to our Church, small town/small blocks - a bit more than 1/10th mile. When he left, I asked my favorite Uncle Jim how he could allow Father drive himself home like that. And in true Irish fashion, my Uncle Jim quipped, “Well, he was too drunk to walk!” My Uncle Jim is gone now. He and my Aunt said the rosary every evening together in the living room before bedtime. They were a very devout couple, and their four children also have continued to pass on their Catholic faith. My Mom always told me that she would have been lost without her Catholic faith. My parents were divorced when I was 6 years old, and times were extremely tough for Mom and us 4 kids. My Mom was tough, and her rule was law. She used words to back up her rules, and everything w clearly black and white- No Gray areas. Mass on Sunday, no exceptions; confessions on Saturday, don’t miss it; no meat on Friday, ever; and the rest was Mom being Mom. You just listened. I don’t know how she did it. We have no drug addiction, alcoholics, lawless brothers (I am the only girl), etc. Our faith in our God is still strong. Or all of us are still Catholic, but we all are a family of faith. And as a family, we are truly blessed. And our grandparents’ nine children have over 130 living descendants, mostly Catholics at last count. I will have to get an update from my cousin who keeps tabs on everything and everyone. BTW, Have you ever eaten at Buca do Bepo and checked out the decor that is so ItalianCatholic? The walls have parochial school photos of kids in uniforms, nuns, priests, etc. And Italian Catholic celebrities too. It’s the part of growing up Catholic that I remember most. Wow. Check out the Pope’s table too. Love the show. I am so glad that your topics are fun. And the doctrine that you talk about is truth. It helps me work to be stronger in my faith walk. Keep up the great work. I will be praying for you.

[@0612freedom]

Are you in Minnesota? My son’s grooms dinner was at Bucca. Just the best!

[@retaparasram5439]

I love your show and this episode brought back lots of memories I went to Catholic school also and we were coached by our godfather every Sunday he comes to the house to take us to church the best memories we know how to use the rosary at a very young age right after communion. Yes I keep all pictures and prayer cards I also have a collection of blessed rosaries and I use all of them one is in every room of my house and holy water, I carry a Rosary every where one in my car also. I love your show keep on doing this show I love it thank you very much love from Canada 🇨🇦🙏🙏✝️

[@leonoranorman8273]

You guys are great! You crack me up ! I remember bagels on a Sunday ... after going to Mass at Blessed Sacrament in Cypress Hills Bklyn , NY we would go down to Fulton St and buy bagels in the local deli! But then again , down that street was Crescent Bakery and you could get donuts or a crumb cake 😉

[@justintrefney1083]

The number one thing I remember as a Catholic is every time I got hurt my mom saying "offer it up"

[@debbiemoore1041]

Just came across this from 3 years ago, but growing up as a Euclid Catholic, the conversation about Biagio's was awesome! The only place I know that had orange juice donuts!

[@HoldYourBreat4]

You guys had me rolling on this one🤣 thank you guys! You always bring a smile to my face

[@rachelwalsh5352]

there were 2 things i remember from growing up catholic. The first was when we received our first reconciliation and our teachers had us lined up and when we went it we would go behind the curtain and slightly change our voice so the priest wouldn't recognise us, but because he had to give us our bible's, we were already in alphabetical order so he new exactly who it was. So we thought we had gotten away without being recognised, but then he thanked us by name. The second was coming home from mass on Sunday's and having to do 'Sunday school' with my family. My dad would get out the chalk board and would go over the Gospel of the day and send us off and we would have to re-read it and come up with our own "homily" or explanation of understanding. ANOTHER GREAT EPISODE, LOVE THIS TALK SHOW

[@marleew6455]

I grew up in an old Catholic Church/school in the 80-90’s, and was in an adult & child choir called schola, we sang in Latin and every mass was 1.5-2 hours long, not to mention 2 hour long practices every Thursday night for Sunday mass!-that was ROUGH to sit still and behave as a child & I thought everyone did this, but now as an adult, I feel SO BLESSED and lucky to have had those experiences I did. All of my favorite memories of my childhood are around going to this old small catholic school. I had several teachers who were nuns that still wore habit, they were all in their 80’s. I never understood how special that was, until I grew up and realize how much everything has changed. Haha-about the bathroom during mass that was unheard of, and now I’m that mom that says “go Before Mass!!” Also you do NOT rest your butt on the pew when you’re kneeling, you kneel straight up! But again i now realize I’m the crazy one bc of my upbringing. also did do snacks when my kids were little but that was definitely not a thing when I was a kid!

[@elainerevis4526]

Twelve years of Catholic education here and I thank God for every minute of it. Without it, my soul would still be lost. The blessed nuns were a major part of my belief in God's mercy. My prayers for them and the good fathers who have given their lives to God

[@moni9045]

Christmas Eve midnight mass. Loved it growing up!

[@rlriehn85]

Were any of you altar boys? I have several good stories. One time the other boy threw up everywhere in the middle of the canon. One older priest dropped the censer and caught the carpet on fire. My grandmother was probably the holiest woman I knew and still know. We went to Easter Vigil with her one year. She was whisper yelling at my grandpa because she was afraid he was going to get wax from his candle on his new suit jacket. She wasn't paying attention and she accidentally caught the missalette on fire. It was made of newspaper stuff. It went up instantly! She was beating it across the pew; smoke and ashes are everywhere. My sister and I had to hold our hands over our mouths to keep from laughing out loud. The whole time the priest is up there singing the Exultant. We laughed through all seven readings!

[@GuruRasaVonWerder]

Y0u guys are a hoot, good guys! Funny!

[@lynbrown4054]

We received ours at the rail and it was so special

[@DominicNJ73]

We never had donuts in my parish when I was a kid but I still behaved because the school principal, Sr. Robert, was at every mass and if you goofed off or misbehaved you'd hear about it the next day at school when she saw you and heaven forbid you missed mass, it was like getting called in front of the Inquisition to answer why you weren't at mass. On the folksy masses of the 80s, I LOVED those masses, still do. The high energy of the folk masses always spoke to me more than the dark, dreary, droning of the more somber type masses (except for exposition and benediction, that is perhaps my favorite of the more traditional rituals).

[@lynnise6778]

Grew up and still live in the Bronx, NY. The parish feast celebrations games and lots of food. Also the plays the youth group did. The movie and craft Saturdays in the basement of the church. St Joan of Arch Church. Late 70’s to early 90’s. What a great parish. Our choir at the youth mass was the best!

[@prettyflower9]

I am a sinner, love and redeemed by God! Great episode! ❤✝️🙏🏼

[@sineadmaire1729]

I grew up in 70s/80s in Ireland. Our small town had an old church before my time which was replaced by a modern one in the 70s. My grandmother and her ilk had all gotten pieces of the old church, accounting for the life sized Jesus in our back room. The modern church was very artistic and minimal, all about light and space. I loved it and I made my first confession and communion there. The only down side was a strict nun, Sister Imelda, who had me terrified of getting communion wrong. She drilled us so often I was a nervous wreck. I used to still get anxiety attacks getting closer to the priest to receive right up to age of 40. One Sunday shortly after my communion, with Sister Imelda looking on, I got so nervous that when I got to the priest I ran straight past him without receiving and went back to my pew shaking. I felt sick and awful and in BIG TROUBLE. As we were leaving the church a neighbour lady in a fake fur coat came up behind me and gave me the biggest bear hug I ever got in my life. I remember snuggling into it and the awful feeling draining out of me. Now looking back I like to believe God sent her and her hug to a distraught 8 year old. Thank God He's more merciful than Sister Imelda.

[@angelinaurquidi8011]

AAAAAAAH! The memories.....Love the show. God Bless.

[@annagattellari85]

I love your show .An Italian Australian .prey for Ukraine 🙏🙏🇮🇹🇺🇸🇺🇦

[@rise357]

During Lent, from Holy Thursday to Holy Saturday noon, we were not allowed to watch tv or listen to any music. Midnight Mass every year. I remember my mom giving us the evil eye if we talked during Mass & even pinched us when we tried to act up.

[@kirkeberding304]

This was such a funny show. I remember taking my 5 year old son, who attended Kindergarten at a local Catholic School, to Panera Bread for dinner one night. After dinner, came the big cookie for dessert. He took the cookie, raised it above his head with both hands and said “Body of Christ” then snapped that thing in half. All I could do was laugh. What a memory!

[@deborahkilgore3040]

Oh my gosh laughing so hard watching this! I went to catholic school in the 60’s. I loved the May processions and the songs!

[@CynthiaAllenStrawberry]

I usually listen but I came here to see the re-enactment of the ball whizzing by the priests face! 🤣 love you guys

[@ellenwoltcheck2741]

My First Communion was so different from yours. We still had the communion rail with the white cloth under which we had to keep our hands & communion on the tongue

[@seraphim256]

When I was growing up in the very early 90's our parish for Christmas Eve would have someone dress as Santa Claus and he would carry the baby Jesus to the Manger at the front of the Church and then kneel in prayer for a minute before leaving. Was a really good way for parents to teach their children that Jesus is the reason for the season.

[@mariacampbell1004]

Every week my son tries to keep the penny 😂 I have to get his wrist and shake his hand to get him to let go. Then he hides his wicked giggle under 2 hands 🙊😂 I’m sure everyone in our wee church is waiting for it now! Haha

[@susm4080]

Love your show! I cannot relate with the donuts. Every church I've been to has churros instead. The anticipation of getting a churro after church kept me quiet. Sometimes!

[@elsazamarripa2624]

Thank you for sharing all those memories. ❤

[@lemonadelulu]

i remember being so excited for first communion my brother and grandma started counting how many times i said i was excited

[@lynbrown4054]

Making my first Holy Communion with my school class.

[@alimaloney218]

Oh wow!! I miss donuts after mass!! We haven’t had that in ages!! The donkey story made me laugh. I grew up in a large Irish-American family, I think we sat in the same pew every week for YEARS!! Midnight mass on Christmas was always my favorite. My Grandma Maloney gave me a HUGE statue of Mary for my First Communion, it was given to her on her First Communion. I have it on display in my home still to this day.

[@williampocobello5905]

In the sixties my dad was an usher and I always sat in the back and had the job to open the doors at the end of Mass.

[@albertoascari2542]

Like you said the Catholic Grandmother or Mother is a big resource of faith . My wifes Mother now a Grandmother many time over has guided the whole family in the faith. We get Statues of Mary, Prayer Cards, Rosaries especially from Pilgrimages such as Medjugorge. She's routed me in faith for 23 years. I would and do carry in my wallet prayer cards and fill my house with Prayer Cards, Crucifixs from Many Countries, Prayer Cars of the Saints. I have done the pilgrimage detours while on holiday in Europe we went to Rome, Loretto, Assisi and a lot more.A few years ago I made my first real Pilgramage to Medjugorge and Wow what an experience ! Catholic Mothers and Grandmothers hold the faith for families, thank god for them. I know many younger people carrying that mantle of faith for the younger generation, the young elders can carry that faith for the new generations

[@nadersart6147]

My grandma used to have a pack of green rosarys so every time there's any feast holy communion . Baptism.....she would always give them away so that's my childhood catholic memorie

[@matthewyoder93]

Catholic grade school going to church every Friday in school . My first holy communion in 1982 my confirmation in 1988 the nuns the incense in church hearing the bells ringing when the priest held up the sacred host . Catholic Churches being so beautiful.

[@NewNostalgia]

I loved Little Italy when I was growing up, but never was able to visit the area until in my late teens.

[@hydiereyes4238]

I was born and raised a Catholic and in the place we lived in- there were only 2 masses celebrated every Sunday morning and we MUST attend to either of those. I can vividly remember how my parents would tell us not to be wearing jeans but dress or blouse and skirt. It was a delight to be putting coins in the basket as a child. We also strictly observed the Lenten season- on a Friday we cannot take shower😮 during my first communion we kids were so anxious and was made to believe that when the “Hostia” sticks to the roof of your tongue that you’re a big sinner😢 It is nearly 2 weeks since I came across this channel and definitely loving it. Thank you, thank you, thank you🙏🏼

[@bunnymomjulie6719]

I never had donuts after church. Of course we always went to evening church. LOL! My mom always said you couldn't eat an hour before or after communion...so I'm confused. We would go out to dinner afterwards, though, which would work out to about an hour. I remember our Monsignor had a beautiful chalice. He had his mother's engagement diamond set into it. My friend said he would always yell at the boys that they better not ever drop his chalice. They thought he was so mean. I totally agree with him! He probably hated giving over something so precious to random kids! My favorite days were Corpus Christi when they crowned the Portuguese queen and princess, and also the May crowning at CCD! My mom always gave me roses from her garden to bring. I also loved every time the K of C would come out with their capes and hats and plumes and swords. So very cool!

[@brigidmartin]

That is such fun so many happy memories of summer holidays as a child on Achill Island Up Mayo

[@LKLD_Grandma]

We played church during Christmas time with my cousins growing up.

[@francescaderimini4422]

My Grandfather taught me how to do The Sign of the Cross in Slovenian!

[@lois2997]

You guys are hilarious, just recently subscribed. Binge watching your videos

[@TyroneBeiron]

Not sure if this counts... but there were many TV series which featured Irish American Catholic life such as 'The Fitzpatricks' (1977-1978) and it also depicted scenes which captured what urban or sub-urban Catholic life was like... so even though one like myself may have grown up Catholic in Singapore 🇸🇬, there were may parallels... sibling issues, First Holy Communion, catechism classes and having your first crushes there... but this is a US Talk show, so it's fun to reflect how international audiences have shared and unique experiences too.

[@lois2997]

My brother and I played mass with bread and grape juice. Totally forgot about that until you reminded me

[@agnieszkabattrick2460]

I used to be an alter server in a Polish church in Canada. The priest there was very much like Father Rich and shared a birthday with me. Every time that we had a blessing with holy water, I would hold the holy water and the priest would deliberately swing back super far to soak me behind him. My hair, glasses and the upper shoulders of my alter server robe would be DRENCHED. It because a game for us to see how much he could soak me.

[@rosiegirl2485]

I remember my beautiful white dress and my veil that made me feel beautiful! I knew what was happening was really important...but I have to admit...I didn't understand...I was only in 2nd grade. I remember the little white purse, with the white rosary beads, and the little white bible, and scapular! It was a set that all of us girls got! Its not like that now...parents can buy these things...though not given as a whole from the church! Kids today don't even know what scapulars are...which is sad!

[@perlagonzalez122]

As a kid I sang in the choir and did proclaimed the psalms for mass but when it came to the Christmas play, I always dreamed of playing Mary but never got to do it. obviously because I already had the job of singing for the mass but i was always so jealous of the girls who got chosen lol

[@stephaniemc9948]

I was chosen by the teacher to be Mary for something, I think it had something to do with the May crowing or maybe it was a pageant for one of the apparitions. I turned it down because I was very shy back then…she got angry with me. 😧