Comments on: The Blues Brothers Movie http://anunslife.org/2006/07/26/blues-brothers/ Catholic Sisters and Nuns in Today's World Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:58:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2006/07/26/blues-brothers/#comment-5772 Sister Julie Sat, 12 Jul 2008 14:18:10 +0000 https://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/sister-mary-stigmata-in-the-blues-blues-brothers/#comment-5772 Hi Don, Thanks for writing and sharing your reflections. While characterizing a whole generation of religious is not possible, it is true that there were individual nuns who weren't happy, who might have had struggles with using authority, and who were frankly "mean spirited and spiteful." We are human and unfortunately we fail miserably sometimes at living the Gospel. I apologize that you were treated harshly. I think it's really cool that you never dismissed nuns based on your experience. Blessings, Don. Hi Don, Thanks for writing and sharing your reflections. While characterizing a whole generation of religious is not possible, it is true that there were individual nuns who weren’t happy, who might have had struggles with using authority, and who were frankly “mean spirited and spiteful.” We are human and unfortunately we fail miserably sometimes at living the Gospel. I apologize that you were treated harshly. I think it’s really cool that you never dismissed nuns based on your experience. Blessings, Don.

]]> By: Don http://anunslife.org/2006/07/26/blues-brothers/#comment-5748 Don Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:38:14 +0000 https://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/sister-mary-stigmata-in-the-blues-blues-brothers/#comment-5748 Stumbled across this site after looking up nun in Blues Bros. movie. The aberrant behavior noted above by nuns teaching in elementary and secondary schoools must have something to do with being in that environment. I witnessed and received a number of "corporal" punishments in my time. (As young as the 2nd grade!) The biggest offenders were mean spirited and spiteful. I actually don't recall having one nun teacher who I can say left a really positive impact on me in the first 8 years of school. Later in life I met and worked with some wonderful women of faith and none of them taught school. Maybe they felt frustrated back then because they played second fiddle to the priests and had to deal with kids whether they wanted to or not. I will say their discipline kept most in line and probably benefitted more than a few later in life but some of the incidents are still vivid in my memory after almost 40 years. Stumbled across this site after looking up nun in Blues Bros. movie. The aberrant behavior noted above by nuns teaching in elementary and secondary schoools must have something to do with being in that environment. I witnessed and received a number of “corporal” punishments in my time. (As young as the 2nd grade!) The biggest offenders were mean spirited and spiteful. I actually don’t recall having one nun teacher who I can say left a really positive impact on me in the first 8 years of school. Later in life I met and worked with some wonderful women of faith and none of them taught school. Maybe they felt frustrated back then because they played second fiddle to the priests and had to deal with kids whether they wanted to or not. I will say their discipline kept most in line and probably benefitted more than a few later in life but some of the incidents are still vivid in my memory after almost 40 years.

]]> By: Portrayals of Nuns in Film and Popular Culture « A Nun’s Life http://anunslife.org/2006/07/26/blues-brothers/#comment-175 Portrayals of Nuns in Film and Popular Culture « A Nun’s Life Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:47:26 +0000 https://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/sister-mary-stigmata-in-the-blues-blues-brothers/#comment-175 [...] for my own fascinating reviews on nuns in movies check out: The Nun and The Blues Brothers. You’ll also find all sorts of interesting things when you type “stereotype” into [...] [...] for my own fascinating reviews on nuns in movies check out: The Nun and The Blues Brothers. You’ll also find all sorts of interesting things when you type “stereotype” into [...]

]]> By: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2006/07/26/blues-brothers/#comment-173 Sister Julie Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:34:04 +0000 https://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/sister-mary-stigmata-in-the-blues-blues-brothers/#comment-173 During the second Vatican Council, the Church had called religious communities (women and men) to return to their charism and to experiment with ways of living their religious life so that they were more in tune with the modern world. This was a very good thing, however not all experiments were successful. In addition many in the Church began looking at Catholic theology to see what it meant in light of the second Vatican Council. Again, this was a good thing and stimulated much creative thinking, but it wasn't always easy to harmonize with the Church's tradition. All this has contributed to the new prejudice/stereotype about Sisters that you so aptly name "hippie/feminist nun". Are there some nuns who feel called to the priesthood or who are exploring different ways of doing theology? Sure. Does it mean that all nuns are therefore "man-haters or wannabe priests"? Absolutely not. This is a very bad distortion of who women religious are. I know you are pointing out the stereotype, but I must say, placing women religious a step above sadists is an insult to all women religious and to the Church we so dearly love. During the second Vatican Council, the Church had called religious communities (women and men) to return to their charism and to experiment with ways of living their religious life so that they were more in tune with the modern world. This was a very good thing, however not all experiments were successful. In addition many in the Church began looking at Catholic theology to see what it meant in light of the second Vatican Council. Again, this was a good thing and stimulated much creative thinking, but it wasn’t always easy to harmonize with the Church’s tradition. All this has contributed to the new prejudice/stereotype about Sisters that you so aptly name “hippie/feminist nun”. Are there some nuns who feel called to the priesthood or who are exploring different ways of doing theology? Sure. Does it mean that all nuns are therefore “man-haters or wannabe priests”? Absolutely not. This is a very bad distortion of who women religious are. I know you are pointing out the stereotype, but I must say, placing women religious a step above sadists is an insult to all women religious and to the Church we so dearly love.

]]> By: anon http://anunslife.org/2006/07/26/blues-brothers/#comment-174 anon Mon, 16 Apr 2007 07:17:00 +0000 https://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/sister-mary-stigmata-in-the-blues-blues-brothers/#comment-174 I think there's a new sort of prejudice nowadays - the hippie/feminist nun. At my (extremely conservative) Catholic college, a good number of the nuns wanted to be priests, there was one who would bake her own bread for Communion using ingredients like honey and oats that aren't approved, several nuns were vocally opposed to the Magisterium on important issues, etc. And at my (extremely liberal) Catholic high school, the nuns endorsed Mary as equal to the Trinity (I think this was called Mariology), allowed 'goddess' altars to be set up in the chapel, taught about contraception and abortion in sex ed, etc. I hear from a lot of my Catholic friends that nuns are mostly man-haters or wannabe priests. Definitely better than sadists, but far from ideal. I think there’s a new sort of prejudice nowadays – the hippie/feminist nun. At my (extremely conservative) Catholic college, a good number of the nuns wanted to be priests, there was one who would bake her own bread for Communion using ingredients like honey and oats that aren’t approved, several nuns were vocally opposed to the Magisterium on important issues, etc. And at my (extremely liberal) Catholic high school, the nuns endorsed Mary as equal to the Trinity (I think this was called Mariology), allowed ‘goddess’ altars to be set up in the chapel, taught about contraception and abortion in sex ed, etc. I hear from a lot of my Catholic friends that nuns are mostly man-haters or wannabe priests. Definitely better than sadists, but far from ideal.

]]> By: Jennifer http://anunslife.org/2006/07/26/blues-brothers/#comment-166 Jennifer Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:50:52 +0000 https://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/sister-mary-stigmata-in-the-blues-blues-brothers/#comment-166 This is all very interesting to me, because I did not grow up with any particular religion instilled upon me. Without having my own experiences around nuns, my perspective has been formed by other people's experiences and the way society portrays them. Usually I find that either they are portrayed as saints or sadistic, neither of which seems very realistic today. Just like all people in positions of power, some choose to abuse their power and some choose to help. I would very much like to hear stories from an every-day nun's life without all of the stereotypes. I think abuse was more accepted in the past than it is today, thank goodness, and hopefully it will continue to diminish in our society as our awareness grows. I have fantasized about becoming a nun before, but am afraid that the reality of conforming to any particular religion would not resonate with me. My spirituality feels so personal to me that I do not think I could ever label it. I do think of rules and regulations when I think of nuns. Many of the portrayals I have seen look very self abusive to me. I wonder if nuns are free to feel, if that makes any sense. Jen This is all very interesting to me, because I did not grow up with any particular religion instilled upon me. Without having my own experiences around nuns, my perspective has been formed by other people’s experiences and the way society portrays them. Usually I find that either they are portrayed as saints or sadistic, neither of which seems very realistic today. Just like all people in positions of power, some choose to abuse their power and some choose to help. I would very much like to hear stories from an every-day nun’s life without all of the stereotypes. I think abuse was more accepted in the past than it is today, thank goodness, and hopefully it will continue to diminish in our society as our awareness grows. I have fantasized about becoming a nun before, but am afraid that the reality of conforming to any particular religion would not resonate with me. My spirituality feels so personal to me that I do not think I could ever label it. I do think of rules and regulations when I think of nuns. Many of the portrayals I have seen look very self abusive to me. I wonder if nuns are free to feel, if that makes any sense.

Jen

]]> By: john http://anunslife.org/2006/07/26/blues-brothers/#comment-172 john Thu, 05 Apr 2007 01:33:10 +0000 https://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/sister-mary-stigmata-in-the-blues-blues-brothers/#comment-172 I was born in 1951 and taught by nuns and priests through 12th grade. I came from a poor family and did not have all the opportunities my peers were exposed to.Some nuns were indifferent but many were sadistic as they exposed and mocked my inadequacies.I left the church in my heart as a teenager because of the nuns and priests. I was born in 1951 and taught by nuns and priests through 12th grade. I came from a poor family and did not have all the opportunities my peers were exposed to.Some nuns were indifferent but many were sadistic as they exposed and mocked my inadequacies.I left the church in my heart as a teenager because of the nuns and priests.

]]> By: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2006/07/26/blues-brothers/#comment-168 Sister Julie Mon, 02 Apr 2007 19:01:52 +0000 https://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/sister-mary-stigmata-in-the-blues-blues-brothers/#comment-168 I'm so sorry that you experienced such abuse at the hands of your teachers. While people say that in those days that kind of treatment (not just by nuns) was "acceptable" I have also had people tell me how, when they were kids, they had thought that the Sisters would protect them instead of participating in such abuse. Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m so sorry that you experienced such abuse at the hands of your teachers. While people say that in those days that kind of treatment (not just by nuns) was “acceptable” I have also had people tell me how, when they were kids, they had thought that the Sisters would protect them instead of participating in such abuse. Thanks for sharing your experience.

]]> By: Barbara http://anunslife.org/2006/07/26/blues-brothers/#comment-169 Barbara Mon, 02 Apr 2007 18:27:09 +0000 https://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/sister-mary-stigmata-in-the-blues-blues-brothers/#comment-169 I am enjoying hearing what you have to say. I had twelve years of Catholic school, and of course, I have vivd memories of being hit by the [Sisters A] (grades 1-8) and [Sisters B] (grades 9-12) nuns who taught us. On a good day, we were hit only across the knuckles with a stick, or with a hand across the face; on bad days, we were grabbed by the hair, shoved into the blackboard, and occasionally, thrown across the room (I promise, I am not exaggerating). I was not a poorly behaved little girl; I simply could not do my math calculations quickly enough to suit my teachers. I tell you this because oddly enough, there were many nuns in my educational experience whom I loved and admired. I almost became a nun myself! Instead, I married, and today I teach English at a small college. So I suppose the nuns really did teach me something! I am enjoying hearing what you have to say. I had twelve years of Catholic school, and of course, I have vivd memories of being hit by the [Sisters A] (grades 1-8) and [Sisters B] (grades 9-12) nuns who taught us. On a good day, we were hit only across the knuckles with a stick, or with a hand across the face; on bad days, we were grabbed by the hair, shoved into the blackboard, and occasionally, thrown across the room (I promise, I am not exaggerating). I was not a poorly behaved little girl; I simply could not do my math calculations quickly enough to suit my teachers. I tell you this because oddly enough, there were many nuns in my educational experience whom I loved and admired. I almost became a nun myself! Instead, I married, and today I teach English at a small college. So I suppose the nuns really did teach me something!

]]> By: Michael Moran http://anunslife.org/2006/07/26/blues-brothers/#comment-167 Michael Moran Sun, 01 Apr 2007 04:57:07 +0000 https://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/sister-mary-stigmata-in-the-blues-blues-brothers/#comment-167 It is interesting to see how you reacted to the portrayal of a nun in the film "The Blues Brothers". Although the character of the Sister Mary Stigmata is clearly over the top, and intentionally so, I did not react to her as a negative stereotype so much as a clownishly overdone characterization of actual pre Vatican II nuns. I suspect our different perceptions result from the different times we grew up in. The nuns of my youth could be friendly, they could also be extremely strict, to the point of sadistic. It depended a great deal on the luck of the draw what nun you ended up with. I was punished in class for my congenital failure to pay attention by being required to hold my hand out palm up and not flinch while being smacked with a ruler. Flinching resulted in the punishment being repeated until I mustered the will power to remain still. That was a common punishment, I saw it inflicted frequently. As near as I can tell it was the standard punishment in those days. Yes, there were nice nuns who would never hurt a fly. But the cruel ones were the ones we all remember. It is interesting to see how you reacted to the portrayal of a nun in the film “The Blues Brothers”. Although the character of the Sister Mary Stigmata is clearly over the top, and intentionally so, I did not react to her as a negative stereotype so much as a clownishly overdone characterization of actual pre Vatican II nuns. I suspect our different perceptions result from the different times we grew up in.

The nuns of my youth could be friendly, they could also be extremely strict, to the point of sadistic. It depended a great deal on the luck of the draw what nun you ended up with. I was punished in class for my congenital failure to pay attention by being required to hold my hand out palm up and not flinch while being smacked with a ruler. Flinching resulted in the punishment being repeated until I mustered the will power to remain still. That was a common punishment, I saw it inflicted frequently. As near as I can tell it was the standard punishment in those days.

Yes, there were nice nuns who would never hurt a fly. But the cruel ones were the ones we all remember.

]]> By: Scotty http://anunslife.org/2006/07/26/blues-brothers/#comment-170 Scotty Sat, 31 Mar 2007 14:57:24 +0000 https://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/sister-mary-stigmata-in-the-blues-blues-brothers/#comment-170 You see sister, that even in the "mean" sister the point is happening. Much the same in the past . These boys go do good. Don't worry , all happens for the good of God's glory Peace Scotty You see sister, that even in the “mean” sister the point is happening. Much the same in the past . These boys go do good. Don’t worry , all happens for the good of God’s glory
Peace
Scotty

]]> By: Stereotypes about Nuns « A Nun’s Life http://anunslife.org/2006/07/26/blues-brothers/#comment-171 Stereotypes about Nuns « A Nun’s Life Wed, 28 Mar 2007 11:44:13 +0000 https://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/sister-mary-stigmata-in-the-blues-blues-brothers/#comment-171 [...] P.S. Click here for one of my first posts about nun stereotypes. [...] [...] P.S. Click here for one of my first posts about nun stereotypes. [...]

]]>