Cloisters, dearest, I have known this community for a year. I invited them to speak to my classes last year, and I am amazed by their spirituality. First, they were founded in 1790, at the height of the French Revolution (gee, thanks for destroying much of Christendom, Voltaire, you bloody idiot). They did not use religious names; they did not use religious titles (Dame, Sister, Mother); they did not use religious garb; they did not require living in common as a prerequisite to life in community; they accepted that one’s secular occupation, through the vow of obedience, could be one’s apostolate, or, in more modern terms, ministry. Guess what? All of the above still apply, thanks to the Jesuit, Ignatian, rule. Formation is done thoroughly, but not necessarily in a canonically erected novitiate. Not necessarily in, but still through, a canonically erected novitiate. I have had the pleasure of meeting Miss JP and Miss GD, and they really turned my students on to religious life. Theirs is a religious life that is flexible and vibrant-totally in contrast to the other sister representing another community which I had also invited to my classroom-sadly, this community had been one of the founders of Canada-dead, and going nowhere. I can hardly wait for the convent visitation in the U.S. later on this year and next-some of the rationalism and relativism of the 60s will be burned away- hopefully, some of the real radicals (as in corrupted, not as in reformers) will be dismissed from religious life. Amen.
In short, these Sisters without habit, common life, common prayer, common apostolate-are the exception that proves the rule. And, their fidelity outlasted the Communists behind the iron curtain.
