Tuesday, October 20, 2026

It is the 20th of October 2026. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

 

It used to be that smooching in the movies (among other things) was heavily regulated. The Hays Code ruled, “They should not be introduced when not essential to the plot.” And “Excessive and lustful kissing, lustful embraces, suggestive postures and gestures, are not to be shown.” The rule of thumb was that a kiss should only last three seconds.

So, imagine the shock in 1957’s “Loving You” when there was a kiss that lasted not only 15 seconds, but was the first on-screen initiated kiss by none other than Elvis Presley.

So, whom did he kiss, and what on earth could any of this have to do with Church History and this Christian History Almanac?

She was born Dolores Hicks, better known as Dolores Hart, on this, the 20th of October in 1932 to Bert and Harriet Hicks. She was an only child, and her upbringing was rocky- her parents divorced amidst addiction issues- her father left for Hollywood, and for some time she lived with her grandparents in Chicago. There in Chicago, the closest school was Catholic, and so Dolores went. She noticed that the kids who took communion got sweet rolls and chocolate milk afterward. She asked a sister if she too could partake, was told what it entailed, and marked her own “conversion” at about 10 years old.

She also spent time with her grandfather who worked as a projectionist at a movie theatre- that and the knowledge that her father worked in Hollywood lead her out to the West Coast. She attended both a Catholic girls' high school in Los Angeles as well as Marymount College. Dolores Hicks would become Dolores Hart when she was discovered by producer Hall Wallis. She starred in Loving You with Elvis in 1957- the oft-told anecdote is that both needed makeup for the passionate kiss- but especially on their ears as they blushed in their embrace.

She would go on to star in Wild is the Wind with Anthony Quinn, Elvis (again) in 1958’s King Creole, and then on Broadway in “The Pleasure of His Company” starring with George Peppard (whom you might know as the A-Team’s cigar-chomping Hannibal).

She received a Tony Nomination for her Broadway role but was beginning to burn out. A friend suggested she visit Regina Laudis- a monastery in Connecticut. She would make repeated visits but returned to Hollywood to star in 1960’s “Where the Boys Are” and then, ironically, in 1961’s “Francis of Assisi” where she played the role of Claire of Assisi.

That role led her to Italy, where she would meet Pope John XXIII and begin seriously considering a change of vocation. Despite her engagement to architect Don Robinson, she decided to enter the Regina Laudis Benedictine Monastery in 1963 at the age of 24. Her autobiography “The Ear of the Heart: An Actress' Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows” detailed her initial rocky beginnings- from the scorn from many of her acting friends to the shock of communal life and her lifelong inability to master Latin.

She was initially called “Sister Judith,” but on account of her mother's wishes, changed it to Sister Dolores (she had once changed her last name for Hollywood; did she need to change her first name for God?). She would work in the Monastery as a coffin maker as well as in the laundry and eventually the dean of education.

In 2001, she would become prioress and would serve as “Mother Dolores” until 2015. It was during this time that she also began to develop a painful peripheral neuropathy and became, by permission from the sisters, a public advocate.

This would lead to the rather stunning comeback of the one-time onscreen Elvis smoocher-turned nun as she walked the red carpet at the 2012 Academy Awards. She had retained her membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and was described as the only nun on its roster. She was present on account of a film made about her, “God is the Bigger Elvis,” which was nominated for Best Short Documentary.

Mother Dolores, despite her condition, would serve as prioress until her jubilee in 2016. She is still in the religious habit- we wish her, Dolores Hicks, Dolores Hart, Sister Dolores, a very happy 88th birthday today.

 

The Last word for today comes from the daily lectionary and Psalm 98 from my favorite English translation of the Psalms- the RSV

O sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!

His right hand and his holy arm
 have gotten him victory.

2 The Lord has made known his victory,
 he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.

3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
 to the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen
 the victory of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
 break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
 with the lyre and the sound of melody!

6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
 make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

 

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 20th of October 2026 brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man who loves it when a plan comes together… he is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man married to BA- not Barracus; she’s Beth Anne… I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.