Details Of The Day To Day Life In Religious Orders

[Nunsense]

[quote name='InPersonaChriste' timestamp='1306379586' post='2246062']
Is A nun's story fictional?
[/quote]


Here's an excerpt from wikipedia
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nun"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nun's_Story[/url]
Hulme wrote the book based partly upon the experiences of her friend, [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Louise_Habets"][color="#0645ad"]Marie Louise Habets[/color][/url] of the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisters_of_Charity_of_Jesus_and_Mary"][color="#0645ad"]Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary[/color][/url], a [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium"][color="#0645ad"]Belgian[/color][/url] nurse and an ex-[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nun"][color="#0645ad"]nun[/color][/url] (it is often erroneously stated that the book was based upon Hulme's own experiences). The lead character of the book, Sister Luke (real name Gabrielle Van Der Mal), finds her faith tested in [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa"][color="#0645ad"]Africa[/color][/url] where she finds herself at odds with headstrong Dr. Fortunati, operator of a remote [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Congo"][color="#0645ad"]Congo[/color][/url] hospital, with whom she gradually builds respect, and again during [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II"][color="#0645ad"]World War II[/color][/url], when she is ordered not to take sides. Ultimately, Sister Luke is forced to decide whether to remain in the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convent"][color="#0645ad"]convent[/color][/url] or return to the outside world.

Gabrielle/Sister Luke is stretched between her desire to be faithful to the rule of her congregation and her desire to be a nurse. As a nun she must remove all vestiges of "Gabrielle Van Der Mal" and sublimate herself into the devoted bride of Christ. As a nun there is no room for her personal desires and aspirations. Ultimately, the conflict between her devotion to the Church and the nursing profession, juxtaposed with her passionate Belgian patriotism and her love of her father (killed by Nazi fighter planes while treating wounded) bring her to an impasse, which serves as the dénouement of the novel.

[Antigonos]

[quote name='InPersonaChriste' timestamp='1306379586' post='2246062']
Is A nun's story fictional?
[/quote]


Yes and no. From what I understand, the experiences of formation are accurately portrayed, but the crises Sr. Luke experienced were only similar to the time Marie Louise Habets was a Sister of Charity of Jesus and Mary. Undoubtedly she and her partner, Katherine Hulme, changed much in order to make the story more dramatic, but in the main it portrays many aspects of convent life of the time as it was.

[jkaands]

[quote name='Antigonos' timestamp='1306386395' post='2246105']
Yes and no. From what I understand, the experiences of formation are accurately portrayed, but the crises Sr. Luke experienced were only similar to the time Marie Louise Habets was a Sister of Charity of Jesus and Mary. Undoubtedly she and her partner, Katherine Hulme, changed much in order to make the story more dramatic, but in the main it portrays many aspects of convent life of the time as it was.
[/quote]

I was thinking that perhaps she combined many dramatic episodes experienced by others. There are some real humdingers-- in the book, anyway.

[Totally Franciscan]

When I first saw The Nun's Story, it was right after I left my congregation. I remember thinking that although it was a true representation of many aspects of religious life, the one thing missing during her formation was JOY! I consider joy the hallmark of the Franciscan Order. No doubt most, if not all, congregations now realize the importance of joy in being a bride of Christ.