Cloister Garden

A few were printed, but most were handmade and addressed to “Sister Mary Inez”. Sister Mary Inez. That’s me. That’s my new name.

“Sister Mary Joan, what do you desire?” Mother Superior asked me before all the community. “The mercy of God and yours..."

When the nine-day retreat was over, Sister Lucia, Sister Natalie, and I went on a walk around the Motherhouse. It was nice being with the...

During the third week of July, the other postulants and I attended a nine-day silent retreat in preparation for our novice year. The...

I soon had my chance to follow in Sister Peter’s swift footsteps. On the 4th of July, Sister and I competed in a speed-walking relay race.

Until someone looked me in the eyes, listened to my story, and understood me…I would never get better. I would never be healed.

This spring, I have stepped back from writing new posts so that I can finish my convent memoir.

Before I left, I wanted the home visit to be longer. How many friends and family members could I see within a span of 120 hours?

Oh Lord, I need to talk to someone! As a postulant, I usually found the convent’s silence difficult. Today, it seemed impossible.

This morning, before getting out of bed, I picked up my daily Missal and went through the Ash Wednesday readings and liturgical prayers....

My brain was hurting again, but in a good way. I was making some brand new wrinkles in it, re-training it to think positively about myself.

That's the source, I realized. The psychological reason for my back pain!

On Good Friday it all pressed close to me, pressing like the Crown of Thorns around the Lord’s tender face. He was suffering today, for me.

Happy Feast of Saint Agnes! One year ago today, my dear friend Lisa first posted a poem I'd written, Monastery in My Heart, on this site.

Deep down I knew there must be more to this wound than met the eye. There had to be, or why hadn’t it gotten better after 12 long years?

During Lent, Sister Anna gave me permission to put on a play for the postulants.

Why Lord? I demanded. Why did You give me gifts that I can’t use?

Sister Anna's Challenge During my next conference with Sister Anna, we talked about solutions for my back pain, including possible...

I didn’t feel the sun’s warmth. My back pain had overwhelmed every other sensation, any other thought. “Please,” I asked her. “I need help.

You need to rest, Sister. Five a.m. comes way too soon around here. But try as I might, sleep eluded me.