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Stories and Jokes circulating during Vatican II

6 September 2012 | Adult Faith News

Submitted by Heather Lang

Book_ReviewIn the stories and jokes told as this solemn gathering unfolded, there was plenty of humour: many bishops stayed in convents and monasteries. In one of these places a bishop asked for a Capuccino. The server was away for ages. Finally the server returned with a Capuchin Friar.

2 English Anglican sisters came directly from the airport to the office of our lecturer, Fr Thomas Stransky, member of the Secretariate for Christina Unity. ‘Father’, they asked, ‘ in Rome what department should we use?’ The reply,’ sit down, sisters. You are in for a shock. Rome is not London, here there is no such thing as a queue. Just use whatever means to get you through to the room.’

The same Fr Stransky told us that the specially invited observers ( not catholic) of the Council and their wives were invited to a dinner at a Cistercian monastery. There were no dainty cucuмber sandwiches of Oscar Wilde’s play here. Instead, a whole pig was set before the diners.

A riddle was circulated: If Cardinal Ottoviani, Cardinal Siri and another conservative cardinal were on a raft in the middle of the sea, who would be saved? Answer: ‘ the Church’.

Cardinal Ottoviani got into a taxi. ‘Take me to the Council please’. The driver sped off, way past St Peters, ‘where are you going? I asked for the Council’. Driver: ‘ Oh, I thought you meant Trent’.
Contributed by Sister Mary Campion O.P.