Cloister Garden

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

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.

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!

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.

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?