Can't speak much to Italy, but my family's Catholic and my mother grew up in a very Catholic family in NY during the '60s. In her case, she went to a Catholic school (one of her older sisters did get expelled for behavior and had to attend the public high school). I think my dad spent some time there too before going to the public school (he immigrated from Central America) because he also remembers getting rapped on the knuckles with a ruler by the nuns. Mom remembers them checking to make sure that her skirts reached below her knees, which she regularly brought up whenever my sisters and I were having issues with public school dress codes (her comparison was not out of approval, btw).
Attending Mass on Sundays was a must, and at the time it would have been in Latin. Girls were expected to cover their heads, and Mom remembers sometimes having to do so with a handkerchief. This appears to have been repealed in 1983, and a quick Google search indicates that continuing the practice is controversial. But at the time, it's possible your character would have been denied Eucharist if her head was not covered. St. Peter's Basilica has an official dress code that can help.
Depending on when in the '60s this happens, you might be dealing with the succession of a Pope, which can lead to massive upheavals in church practices and politics (much like happened between Benedict XVI stepping down and Francis taking over). John XIII died in 1963 and remains very highly respected. That Wikipedia article notes that he spoke to youth on their level when visiting a reform school, officially apologized for the Church's history of antisemitism and worked toward reconciliation with Jews, and offered to mediate between Kennedy and Khrushchev during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Paul VI was elected next and made a lot of reforms, including getting rid of a lot of the pomp and circumstance, including the papal tiara, which caused fuss with traditionalists. He was the first Pope to leave Italy since the 1800s, elevated the role of Mary in the Church, condemned birth control, and conducted outreach to Protestant, Orthodox, and Coptic Churches. Mass changed big time, including the direction the priest stands while blessing the Eucharist.
So...without going too nitty-gritty into things that would probably embarrass my family, I would recommend looking at that period, and particularly Paul VI's reforms, to get an idea of what "not so religious vs. very religious" would look like. Someone who's "not so religious" might have felt more welcome under Paul's reforms, while someone "very religious" might have been aghast at the changes.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2024-04-29 03:13 am (UTC)Attending Mass on Sundays was a must, and at the time it would have been in Latin. Girls were expected to cover their heads, and Mom remembers sometimes having to do so with a handkerchief. This appears to have been repealed in 1983, and a quick Google search indicates that continuing the practice is controversial. But at the time, it's possible your character would have been denied Eucharist if her head was not covered. St. Peter's Basilica has an official dress code that can help.
Depending on when in the '60s this happens, you might be dealing with the succession of a Pope, which can lead to massive upheavals in church practices and politics (much like happened between Benedict XVI stepping down and Francis taking over). John XIII died in 1963 and remains very highly respected. That Wikipedia article notes that he spoke to youth on their level when visiting a reform school, officially apologized for the Church's history of antisemitism and worked toward reconciliation with Jews, and offered to mediate between Kennedy and Khrushchev during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Paul VI was elected next and made a lot of reforms, including getting rid of a lot of the pomp and circumstance, including the papal tiara, which caused fuss with traditionalists. He was the first Pope to leave Italy since the 1800s, elevated the role of Mary in the Church, condemned birth control, and conducted outreach to Protestant, Orthodox, and Coptic Churches. Mass changed big time, including the direction the priest stands while blessing the Eucharist.
So...without going too nitty-gritty into things that would probably embarrass my family, I would recommend looking at that period, and particularly Paul VI's reforms, to get an idea of what "not so religious vs. very religious" would look like. Someone who's "not so religious" might have felt more welcome under Paul's reforms, while someone "very religious" might have been aghast at the changes.