Changing Habits

by V.V. Harrison

Book Overview

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385248490
• ISBN13: 9780385248495
• Release Date: October 1988
• Publisher: Doubleday Books
• Length: 254 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Memoir Convent School Life

"Changing Habits" A Memoir of the Society of the Sacred Heart" was written in 1988 by V V Harrison. In this vivid memoir and compelling history, the author takes us into the exclusive world of the Society of the Sacred Heart with both the humor and the understanding of one who has been there. Through the recollections of her own days at Eden Hall, she paints a picture of life behind the iron gates; of graceful "penguin-like" nuns on ice skates ~~ fluted white bonnets bobbing in unison; of stony rules of silence; and of young women's fervent prayers that had nothing to do with being holy! She also reveals the rich, intellectually demanding and fascinating traditions that have carried the Society through its unique history from 1800 to the present. Founded in the midst of the violent French Revolution, the Society of the Sacred Heart spread to six continents by 1908 and became one of the most prestigious religious congregations of nuns in the Catholic Church. Superbly educating daughters of both the wealthy and the poor to go into the world with "a man's mind and a woman's heart", the Sacred Heart has graduated such disparate women as Vivien Leigh, Maureen O'Sullivan, Yoko Ono, Susan Saint James, Michiko Shoda (Crown Princess of Japan) and the Kennedy women. But when the edicts of Vatican II threw open the doors of the Catholic Church to the 20th century, they sowed seeds of disorder throughout the Society. The call for renewal, to become attuned to the world of today, turned the congregation upside down. Lives that had been restrained by the rule of cloister and the monastic traditions of the past were not easily adaptable to the freedom of the new edicts. The nuns suffered an unplanned- for defection from their ranks and many of their well-known and exclusive academies were forced to close. In 1988, more than 20 years after having shed their traditional habits and adjusting to the new ways of the Church, the modern Sisters have re-evaluated and rebuilt the very foundations of their lives. "Changing Habits" is an interesting journey from the traditional "Convent of the Sacred Heart School" that the author attended,to the modern experience of both students and nuns today. Gone are the nuns in their beautiful traditional religious habits ~~ long gone are the days when they were known as "Mothers" in those beautiful mansion schools that educated the wealthy elite. There are several great photos from the author's days at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, and of the Madames of the Sacred Heart in their elegant Traditional habits to the modified habits of the 60's to no habits at all today. Also included are pictures of other Mansions used as Convent schools around the world. "Changing Habits" is the story of how the absolute strictures of one religious congregation of nuns dissolved and dramatically affected a worldwide community of 7,000 nuns on five continents ~~ as well as the many generations of women whose lives these nuns had t

Changing Habits: A Memoir of the society of the Sacred heart

It was a way of seeing thru the eyes of a Child of the Sacred Heart. Being a male I would never be able to experience what it would be like to attend a Convent of the Sacred Heart School. Beautiful mansions around the world that serve as boarding schools. V.V. brings life to the Society of the Sacred Heart, the nuns who educated the elite women in society to become leaders of justice and human rights. Its an interesting journey she takes you on from the traditional "Convent of the Sacred Heart school" that she attended,to the modern experience of both students and Sisters today, which has updated it self to the point of no traditons, as in the early days. Gone are the nuns in the beautiful habit, now you dont know if your talking to a nun or a lay person. They seldom use their honored title of Sister, and long gone are the days when they were known as "Mothers" in these beautiful mansion schools that educated the wealthy elite. Very interesting journey for any former Catholic school child or those interested in what a bording school experience- run by nuns was like. Great pictures from her days at Torresdale, Pa Convent of the Sacred Heart, and of the Mothers of the Sacred Heart in the elegant Traditional habit to the modified habit of the 60's to no habits. Pictures of other Mansions used as Convent schools around the world like the famous New York City school. The book takes the reader from the origins of the order by foundress St. Madeline Sophie Barat to the coming of America.