Unearthing the Contents of My First Communion Purse

U is for Unearth — to dig up out of or as if out of the earth. Read all “Blogging from A to Z” posts here.

May 13, 1984.

On that day in history, “Oliver!” closes at the Mark Hellinger Theater in New York City after 17 performances, Amy Alcott wins the LPGA United Virginia Bank Golf Classic, and Johan Cruyffs played in his last competitive match. Wait, who? You know Johan, the famous Dutch footballer …

May 13, 1984, also the date I made my First Holy Communion. To be honest, I don’t remember much about the day other than my white, knee-high socks and the tulips in full bloom. Seriously? I don’t even remember the moment when the priest said, “The Body of Christ,” and I received the Eucharist for the first time? Nope. Guess that underscores the importance of photography and memorabilia to stir recollection of such important life events.

One such memorabilia item I’ve saved is the lovely little white purse my parents gifted to me for my First Holy Communion. It’s been stowed away in my memory chest for years, and my daughter Lucy recently found it and explored what was tucked inside. All just simple items, but because they found a place inside my First Communion purse, they hold sacred value and maybe even one day will be considered cherished family heirlooms

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Let’s set the stage and give you a glimpse into then almost eight-year-old Lisa Underhill’s world. Here I am sporting those awesome white knee-high socks with my First Communion purse in hand, standing in the backyard of my parents’ home. I believe May 13, 1984, was also Mother’s Day. Tulips and Mother’s Day seem to go well together here in Iowa. My parents loved gardening and were very good at it, too. I’m glad this photograph also includes the tulips as they bring back many memories our family made around gardening.

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It makes me happy to unearth the contents tucked inside for all these years. Inside we discovered a Marian Children’s Mass Book by Sister Mary Theola, published by The Regina Press; a Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel; beautiful white and silver antique-like rosary beads; and two how-to-pray the Rosary pamphlets published in 1976, the year I was born.



Do you wear a scapular? I don’t have a strong devotion (read, no devotion). As stated on the Sisters of Carmel website, true devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary consists in three things: veneration, confidence, and love. Wearing a scapular or holding it in the hand while praying is a reminder that we can tell Mary every moment of the day that we honor and love her and trust in her protection.
“A prayer offered while holding the Scapular is as perfect as a prayer can be. It is especially in time of temptation that we need the powerful intercession of God’s Mother. The evil spirit is utterly powerless when the wearer of a scapular faces temptation, calling upon the Holy Virgin in this silent devotion.”

Given that, I should probably unearth this scapular for good and keep it within an arm’s reach.

I’m looking forward to praying the Rosary with my children using these beads. Notice the instruction guide doesn’t include the Luminous Mysteries, the mysteries of light, given Pope John Paul II added them in 2002 during the Year of the Rosary.

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The illustrations inside the Children Mass Book provide a snapshot into the Catholic culture at the time of my First Communion. Obviously white knee-high socks were the cool thing to wear. Good to know I was fashionable once in my life.

And it also appears guitars were fashionable to “wear” to Mass, too. 1984 — was that the height of the “folk Mass” craze?

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A First Holy Communion certificate — proof it really happened! And look at my mom’s handwriting. Isn’t it neat?

Oh, and if you want to send me a belated First Communion gift, please don’t use the address in the picture below. It  literally doesn’t exist anymore. Long story … maybe I’ll find a way to work that topic into a future blog post?

So there you have the contents of my First Communion purse. What sacred memorabilia do you have stowed away?

The {pretty, happy, funny, real}series is hosted at the beautiful blog Like Mother, Like Daughter. Head on over and check out the great blog posts shared there.