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.

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.

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?

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

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.

A couple days after Christmas, my family drove down to Nashville for a four-day visit.

"The Sisters should have a tree with a classic, formal look," said Sr. Joy. I stifled a sigh. It was classic, alright. And boring.

“What does it mean?” Sister Lucia climbed up beside me. “It means you don’t have to worry, Sister. God is taking care of everything."

I’d never spent Thanksgiving in a convent full of Sisters, all of whom seemed more excited about the St. Cecilia antiphons than the turkey.

The weekend before Halloween, a sign went up on the novitiate whiteboard: Meet outside the Oratory tonight for the “Secret Secret”.

“Taco night,” whispered Sr. Marisa, “and that means toppings.”

During my first few outdoor recreations, I felt a little nervous. Was this going to be a repeat of my sixth grade gym class?

"Serving coffee to the Sisters is like the eighth work of mercy," the novices liked to joke. After a few invigorating sips, I had to agree.

The morning bell broke the convent's silence with bold, inescapable tones. Ding-ding, ding-ding, ding-ding, ding-ding…

"Don't think without Him." For a place that was so physically peaceful and quiet, I was astonished by all the noise inside my head.

The reality that my family was about to go home and I was going to stay here, permanently, made everything else seem trivial in comparison.

I took a deep breath. This was it. I was leaving my old life behind, and entering the cloister.