People’s History: Word Clouds

A year ago, Call To Action sent out an invitation for our elders to reflect on their memories of Vatican II through four basic questions. We received 116 responses. They were about hope, uncertainty, and grief in equal measure. 

With a random selection of the forms received, our summer intern Emma Calkins curated the artistic word clouds below. The larger the word in the word cloud, the more frequently it was used to answer the question. 

This week, we encourage you, our community, to reflect on the themes shared by our network of elders. In what way is the Spirit of Vatican II still speaking among us today? How can we, the people of God, most honestly embody church for and with one another? How many of our longings might be in unison? Where might we be hurting? Where might we find healing?

First, what are your earliest memories of the Catholic Church?  How are they different from the Church you know today?

Second, did you have any hopes for the Second Vatican Council as it was in session?  Did those hopes come to pass?

Third, when did you first start to see Vatican II reforms implemented?  What did you think of those changes at the time?

Fourth and finally, what reforms are you still waiting for?  What, if anything, would you like to see from a “Vatican III?”

All word clouds combined:

What among these word clouds revealed responses you would expect and what surprised you?

I am particularly caught by the words “language” and “rules.” In such a sacred transformation, what we say and how we explain what is before us, matters. Language matters. Similarly, in reimagining how we are in sacred community with one another, our “rules,” our responsibilities, our promises to one another, matter!

I love the ambiguity of these word clouds — how they blur context, calling us to think critically and creatively about what is being expressed. Perhaps I have more questions than before.

One thing that is clear? The elders who offered their reflections are still longing for women priests, LGBTQ acceptance, and to be Church. Amen.