I have a LOT of conflicted feelings about the Catholic Church (as a culturally Catholic person who is Irish American, went to Catholic schools and currently works at one!) but I will say - I think you would really dig the documentary on Discovery+ called Rebel Hearts. It's about the Immaculate Heart sisters, many of whom left the order post Vatican II after quite a bit of disagreement with the Cardinal in LA at the time. I'm biased because I'm an Immaculate Heart alumna but those women were seriously badass and I am so inspired by them.
I have to say, I am with you on the nun fascination and I grew up Catholic. Years ago, when I was on vacation in Rome, I started counting the different types of nuns I saw in one day!
Not necessarily about nuns but "Dissolution" by Matthew Shardlake is a fictional account of the dissolution of the monasteries in England in the 1530s. It's the start of a mystery series that I love. And "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco is a classic. Monastic life is interesting at any time period!
Haha, I know, I didn't mention THE most popular movie about nuns! For some reason it doesn't loom large in my memory (I feel like I only saw it in bits and pieces as a kid), so clearly I need to rewatch it.
Hello! Person with a theology degree running here to comment! My favorite nun book is Sinner by Sierra Simone. It's seriously amazing - who knew inspirational erotica was a thing? I'm convinced she has a theology degree because that book knows what it's doing re: Sean Bell and his faith. And it's not about nuns, but in Beautiful World Where Are You by Sally Rooney there's a character, Simon, who's Catholic, which the other characters find completely strange, and there's some interesting reflections on it. I can't think of any romance books (that aren't not inspirational-type) with Catholic characters. When I think of inspirational-type of romance books I think conservative evangelical Protestantism, but since I haven't read any I couldn't say for sure. I love the representation of different faiths in romance now - Jewish (how much do we all love the rabbi Ethan in Rosie Danan's The Intimacy Experiment!!), Muslim, Hindu, and more but I do wish we'd see some social-justice liberal type of Catholicism or Protestantism. Like, how about a romance between a female pastor who meets a person (man or woman!) at a protest march? I've had several female pastors at churches I've attended over the years, and the current bishop of the church I attend is female. And my kid's youth group here in Seattle is about 90% LGBTQIA+ kids. I think there's more variations of Christianity in books by BlPOC authors - like Honey and Spice by Bobu Babaloa. Anyway, I could ramble on about this topic forever. Thanks!
Coming back to acknowledge that the Church, in general, has been horrific in their treatment of LGBTQIA+ people, and while I'm so glad my non-binary kid is having a different experience than that with our church in Seattle, I recognize the extreme harm being done right now with legislation to prosecute families with trans kids, often led or backed by conservative churches.
Okay, I need to read Sinner...you aren't the only one to recommend it!
Also, I already wanted to read Honey and Spice just because I think Bolu Babalola is so cool, but I didn't even know what it was about so now I'm extra excited to check it out!
If you want to get a feel for what Catholic mass really feels like, watch the first few episodes of Midnight Mass. Yes, this is a horror story, but it's not too bad and as a person raised Catholic, this was the first time mass looked like what I actually experienced instead of some Hollywood-ized BS.
Thank you for these! I, too, am pretty fascinated by nuns and Catholicism (a lot of viewing Heaven Help Us as a kid?). While some of these were on my radar, not all of them were, but are now sitting at the proverbial center of it. A recently read favorite is The Corner That Held Them, by Sylvia Townsend Warner. It totally shouldn't work - it's long and meandering! There's no plot! The character list is huge and people just wonder in and out of the narrative! - but I found it completely engrossing and compelling.
Whenever I think of someone obsessed with the Catholic Church, I always think of Winona Ryder's character in Mermaids! All the books you recommended sound fantastic, and I agree with you 100% on Fleabag and the fact that there does seem something so comforting about having the rituals and community of a church! As a deeply secular person, I find myself drawn to those things also. (The only time I tried going to church, when I was in middle school and a friend lured me to one on the premise of free pizza after youth group, I mostly just got REAL competitive about memorizing Bible verses. Like you, make me memorize shit and I'm in! That's my gateway! Give me a pointless rote memorization challenge and room temperature pizza and you got me for two, maybe three more visits! Then ask me to come up to the stage and take Jesus into my heart and you've lost me again.)
It's been FOREVER since I've seen Mermaids and all I remember is Cher being obsessed with appetizers. A great movie.
I was always afraid I'd be called up on to do something publicly in church. Kind of like when you see Rocky Horror for the first time and they make you go up on stage? Like, no thanks. Church doesn't even have a guy in a gold speedo.
So enjoyed this essay (thank you Annie B Jones for linking to it on Insta). I love your version of Nora Ephron’s line. I was raised Catholic--two of my Irish aunts are nuns and my teachers were all nuns. As one of nine kids, I was so attracted to their lives of structure and order.
I left the Church because of its treatment of women in general, protection of child predators and exclusion of LGBTQ+. I often have to remind myself that I miss the church that exists in my imagination, not the one I left.
There is a brilliant Irish novel by Kate O’Brien called The Land of Spices that is so good and complicated. The main character is a nun. Showing the darker side of religious power, Small Things Like These is the best novella ever, imo. Movie-wise: The Lillies of the Valley; The Bells of St Mary; Doubt; and my favorite, Heaven Knows, Mr. Jones.
I have a LOT of conflicted feelings about the Catholic Church (as a culturally Catholic person who is Irish American, went to Catholic schools and currently works at one!) but I will say - I think you would really dig the documentary on Discovery+ called Rebel Hearts. It's about the Immaculate Heart sisters, many of whom left the order post Vatican II after quite a bit of disagreement with the Cardinal in LA at the time. I'm biased because I'm an Immaculate Heart alumna but those women were seriously badass and I am so inspired by them.
Oh, great! We get Discovery+ so I will definitely watch it. It sounds very much like something I'd love.
I have to say, I am with you on the nun fascination and I grew up Catholic. Years ago, when I was on vacation in Rome, I started counting the different types of nuns I saw in one day!
Not necessarily about nuns but "Dissolution" by Matthew Shardlake is a fictional account of the dissolution of the monasteries in England in the 1530s. It's the start of a mystery series that I love. And "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco is a classic. Monastic life is interesting at any time period!
You didn't even mention Sister Act!
Haha, I know, I didn't mention THE most popular movie about nuns! For some reason it doesn't loom large in my memory (I feel like I only saw it in bits and pieces as a kid), so clearly I need to rewatch it.
Hello! Person with a theology degree running here to comment! My favorite nun book is Sinner by Sierra Simone. It's seriously amazing - who knew inspirational erotica was a thing? I'm convinced she has a theology degree because that book knows what it's doing re: Sean Bell and his faith. And it's not about nuns, but in Beautiful World Where Are You by Sally Rooney there's a character, Simon, who's Catholic, which the other characters find completely strange, and there's some interesting reflections on it. I can't think of any romance books (that aren't not inspirational-type) with Catholic characters. When I think of inspirational-type of romance books I think conservative evangelical Protestantism, but since I haven't read any I couldn't say for sure. I love the representation of different faiths in romance now - Jewish (how much do we all love the rabbi Ethan in Rosie Danan's The Intimacy Experiment!!), Muslim, Hindu, and more but I do wish we'd see some social-justice liberal type of Catholicism or Protestantism. Like, how about a romance between a female pastor who meets a person (man or woman!) at a protest march? I've had several female pastors at churches I've attended over the years, and the current bishop of the church I attend is female. And my kid's youth group here in Seattle is about 90% LGBTQIA+ kids. I think there's more variations of Christianity in books by BlPOC authors - like Honey and Spice by Bobu Babaloa. Anyway, I could ramble on about this topic forever. Thanks!
Coming back to acknowledge that the Church, in general, has been horrific in their treatment of LGBTQIA+ people, and while I'm so glad my non-binary kid is having a different experience than that with our church in Seattle, I recognize the extreme harm being done right now with legislation to prosecute families with trans kids, often led or backed by conservative churches.
Okay, I need to read Sinner...you aren't the only one to recommend it!
Also, I already wanted to read Honey and Spice just because I think Bolu Babalola is so cool, but I didn't even know what it was about so now I'm extra excited to check it out!
If you want to get a feel for what Catholic mass really feels like, watch the first few episodes of Midnight Mass. Yes, this is a horror story, but it's not too bad and as a person raised Catholic, this was the first time mass looked like what I actually experienced instead of some Hollywood-ized BS.
Thank you for these! I, too, am pretty fascinated by nuns and Catholicism (a lot of viewing Heaven Help Us as a kid?). While some of these were on my radar, not all of them were, but are now sitting at the proverbial center of it. A recently read favorite is The Corner That Held Them, by Sylvia Townsend Warner. It totally shouldn't work - it's long and meandering! There's no plot! The character list is huge and people just wonder in and out of the narrative! - but I found it completely engrossing and compelling.
Whenever I think of someone obsessed with the Catholic Church, I always think of Winona Ryder's character in Mermaids! All the books you recommended sound fantastic, and I agree with you 100% on Fleabag and the fact that there does seem something so comforting about having the rituals and community of a church! As a deeply secular person, I find myself drawn to those things also. (The only time I tried going to church, when I was in middle school and a friend lured me to one on the premise of free pizza after youth group, I mostly just got REAL competitive about memorizing Bible verses. Like you, make me memorize shit and I'm in! That's my gateway! Give me a pointless rote memorization challenge and room temperature pizza and you got me for two, maybe three more visits! Then ask me to come up to the stage and take Jesus into my heart and you've lost me again.)
It's been FOREVER since I've seen Mermaids and all I remember is Cher being obsessed with appetizers. A great movie.
I was always afraid I'd be called up on to do something publicly in church. Kind of like when you see Rocky Horror for the first time and they make you go up on stage? Like, no thanks. Church doesn't even have a guy in a gold speedo.
the nun that taught my CCD class made THE BEST popcorn. I've been chasing this popcorn (and my sweet little kid belief in God) my whole life.
Childhood food memories are so strong and so hard to recreate!
So enjoyed this essay (thank you Annie B Jones for linking to it on Insta). I love your version of Nora Ephron’s line. I was raised Catholic--two of my Irish aunts are nuns and my teachers were all nuns. As one of nine kids, I was so attracted to their lives of structure and order.
I left the Church because of its treatment of women in general, protection of child predators and exclusion of LGBTQ+. I often have to remind myself that I miss the church that exists in my imagination, not the one I left.
There is a brilliant Irish novel by Kate O’Brien called The Land of Spices that is so good and complicated. The main character is a nun. Showing the darker side of religious power, Small Things Like These is the best novella ever, imo. Movie-wise: The Lillies of the Valley; The Bells of St Mary; Doubt; and my favorite, Heaven Knows, Mr. Jones.
Oh, I forgot how much I love Small Things Like These (I guess that's a much less romantic view of nuns, haha). Thank you for the recommendations!!