At the convent, all of the postulants and the novices have what is called a Novice Mistress. The Novice Mistress is, as her title states, the mistress of novices. In other words, the Novice Mistress is the nun who helps the new-comers to adjust to their new way of life. My Novice Mistress was amazing. In a sense, I saw her as my guardian angel. When I started praying the Liturgy of the Hours with the sisters, she helped me know what page to turn to. She taught me the different ways to kneel, how to walk in procession, how to clean properly, and even how to eat properly! She helped with the communication between me and my family according to the Poor Clare life. She would talk to me privately about any troubles or concerns. She taught me how to do the laundry, the ironing, the dishwashing, and every little thing, from how to properly address Mother Abbess to how to eat bread without wasting a crumb. I was to call her "Dear Mistress," which sounds strange to the modern tongue. It took me a little while to adjust to the old fashioned title. While at the convent, I learned that Dear Mistress had pancreatic cancer. She was ever positive and hopeful despite her illness. But she certainly suffered. I left the convent in the spring of 2015. Dear Mistress passed away this spring of 2020 from her cancer. Her Poor Clare sisters say that she died in peace and happiness. I know we have a saint in heaven. I will always remember her and her devotion to the Blessed Virgin. I'll remember the love of Christ that she showed me and the smiles that we shared. I'll remember her concern for me, which was like that of a spiritual mother. I invite anyone who may be discerning religious life to ask my Novice Mistress, Sr. Christiana, to pray for you. I think she'll continue her good works of helping the new nuns in heaven just as she did on earth.
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AuthorJacqueline St. Clare: I spent six months in a cloistered convent, and now I'm a college student! Archives
April 2021
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