Dedicated to God: An Oral History of Cloistered Nuns

273 Pages·2014·2.5 MB·English

by  Abbie Reese

Dedicated to God
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Dedicated

to God
An Oral History of Cloistered Nuns
ABBIE REESE
1
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1
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Published in the United States of America by
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© Abbie Reese 2014
All photographs copyright Abbie Reese 2008–2013
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
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Catalogue record is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN 978–0–19–994793–5

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
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For Evan, Gabriel, and Eve
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Contents

Preface x i
INTRODUCTION 1
Called: Sister Mary Monica 15
Part 1: The Call
27
1 COMMUNITY LIFE 29
Called: Sister Maria Deo Gratias 53
2 THE CLAUSTROPHOBIC NUN 65
Called: Sister Mary Michael 77
Part 2: The Life
93
3 MONASTIC LIVING IN A THROWAWAY CULTURE 95
Called: Sister Mary Joseph 109
4 LITTLE HOUSE, BIG HEART 121
Called: Sister Mary Clara 133
5 MOTHERS OF SOULS 139
Called: Sister Joan Marie 155
6 THE SUFFERING SERVANTS 159
Part 3: The Threats
177
7 IDEALISM AND REALITY 179
Called: Sister Ann Marie 191
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viii | CONTENTS
8 ERASED FROM THE LANDSCAPE 203
Called: Sister Mary Veronica 225
EPILOGUE 229
Acknowledgments 235
Appendix: Interviewees 2 37
Notes 239
Further Reading 241
Index 2 43

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