Calling all Catholics

If I have any Catholic readers who have any memories of Vatican II – or any stories to tell of their parents who experienced Vatican II – I would LOVE to hear these stories. It’s for one of the projects I am working on. Basically, I am looking for personal reflections and anecdotes about that period of transition in the Catholic Church, and would love to hear personal stories about it – either pro or con, I don’t care. What I am NOT interested in is glorified op-ed columns where you tell me your opinion on whether or not Vatical II was a good idea. Opinions are fine – but I really am interested in the anecdotes. Like: “my mother still went to confession once a week” or “I loved how we didn’t have to kneel so much anymore” That’s what I’m really after.

Any help any of you Catholics can give would be greatly appreciated.

This entry was posted in Miscellania. Bookmark the permalink.

7 Responses to Calling all Catholics

  1. Big Dan says:

    I have done some extensive study of Vatican Deux in seminary, but I remain a Baptist, so of course I have very few personal stories.

    I do remember an anecdote about a priest who invited a rabbi friend to a church function. When they passed out the meal, the rabbi took everything but ham.

    “When are you going to forget about that silly, ancient rule, my friend?” the priest asked publically.

    “At your wedding reception, my friend,” was the reply.

  2. Laura(southernxyl) says:

    Is that when they stopped doing mass in Latin? My MIL stopped going to church then. Although there are churches in town that still do the Latin mass, and she still doesn’t go, so there’s probably more to it.

  3. Mike says:

    I don’t know anything about Vatican II, but I have a Pope story. The people in the story are “related” to me. I have no idea how I am related to either of them because my mother and father come from huge families. It is so big nobody bothers to keep track of it and everyone becomes you cousin, uncle or aunt.

    Anyway, my mothers “cousin” Kitty was going to Italy.(I don’t know what year but John Paul was Pope) One of my fathers cousins or uncles lives at the Vatican so he set it up so she (kitty) could meet the pope. She was in line to meet John Paul and when it was her turn she walked up to him. The pope stuck his hand out(for her to kiss) and she thought he was reaching out to shake hands. She gave the pope a hearty handshake and went about her business. (I think it would have been a better story if she gave him a high-five, oh-well.)

  4. Michael Doherty says:

    My father was the archetypical first generation Brooklyn Irish-Catholic tough guy. He worked building tunnels as a kid, joined the army for a hitch at age 17, and upon his return became a NYC police officer. He always had total disdain for Vatican II (I was three or four when it was instituted) because it did away with the Latin mass.

    Vatican II inserted a symbolic “Sign of Peace” into the Liturgy, where everyone turned to his neighbors and shook hands, saying “Peace be with you.” From the day the changes were instituted until the day of his death, my father refused to shake anybody’s hand during this part of the service. Not even those of his wife or children. Before he died, I got up enough courage and asked him why. “I don’t go to Mass to make friends.”

    You can’t make this stuff up.

  5. red says:

    Michael – hahaha! Gorgeous! That’s just what I’m talking about – and I thank you so much for sharing that. :)

  6. Kevin says:

    I don’t have a personal anecdote, but if you’re interested, you might check out the Australian miniseries “Brides of Christ”: http://imdb.com/title/tt0101053/ . It’s fictional, but I know more than a few people have commented that it gives a fairly realistic (if liberal) depiction of life as a Catholic nun in the 60s. In at least one of the episodes, they’re dealing with the expectations and fallout of Vatican II.

    Even if it doesn’t help with your project, it’s still well worth watching. (Plus, you can see what helped launch the careers of a young Naomi Watts and Russell Crowe.)

  7. Missy says:

    I was born in 1964 and don’t really remember the Latin Mass, but I think our parish was a bit hybrid in that they still did some of the chants in Latin for a few years. I guess I thought it was all English, and I must have been two or three at the time, but I thought they were saying “Carry in the Lysol, Christi has the Lysol, Carry in the Lysol” instead of “Kyrie eliason.” Another one I thought they were saying was “My father can beat your father in dominos.” What’s that from? The consecration I think…

Comments are closed.