Amen by Sister Jesme
Sister Jesme, ( name made from, “Jesus and Me” she says ). Served as a nun in the CMC congregation for about 33 years. On August 31st, 2008, she decided to leave the congregation and life there. If you are saying “that’s crazy”, read this ; she has PhD in English Literature, and was principal for two colleges in Kerala, 3 years each.
Oh, I see a big WHY on your face now. The same “why” that made me buy the book and finish reading it the next day (178 pages, it was not tough).
This book is not a complete autobiography, since it tells only her life inside the convent and why she left that place. And I felt that the book was written in “hurry” since the language was not “polished” enough for someone with great knowledge in English literature.
So, again, why did she leave ? There are many reasons, and most of the times I felt, ” If I was in her position, I would have left the place right then and there”. But when she finally decided to leave, the authorities were trying to give her Psychiatric treatment saying she has gone insane. ( Remember the movie Changeling ? ) What did she do ? she raised voice against them doing illegal things in college run by them where she was Principal.
There were things like homosexual advances from a fellow nun, “special love” between many nuns, I don’t even feel like writing about it here.
If your curiosity goes beyond homosexual activities among nuns, and that kind of stuff, there are some serious points that Sister Jesme wants us to start thinking about. Basically, Nuns are human beings too, or, they are women too. There is no point in considering them inferior to Priests. They also require little bit of freedom, some financial security, etc etc.
If you are not from Kerala, you probably may not know about Sr. Abhya (found dead in a well in her convent) murder case, and Sr. Anupama Mary (found hanged in her convent room). Read about these incidents too, if you are serious about this issue.
Women’s commission in Kerala recently suggested a new law, so that no girl will be allowed to join a convent to be a nun, before she is 18 years of age. But it never happened, thanks to protests from many corners, including the Church. This book will bring more supporters to that concept.
At least, I believe in that now. Because, if you, at some point, feel that you made a wrong decision, or, you find yourself in something similar to what Sr. Jesme has described, it will be tough to go back, and if you do, the family and society will treat you like you are a convict escaped from prison.
This was not a book review, and I don’t think this book needs one. But let me just say, that this is a “must read”
Related Reading : review at dancewithshadows.com
I know that I didn’t write this post well, I am upset after reading the book. I too have friends and relatives, as nuns, and Priests, Is this the kind of life that are going through ?
Related Reading
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
I support a law that prevents any girl from becoming a nun before she is 18. This is so sad, I have heard about it earlier, but this moved me. Will definitely read the book.
Hope you will share your thoughts about the book with your readers after reading it .. you have a good audience where this book’s message should go.
I had a post on this… Nuns and priests too are human beings and those who are pushed into the convent in the name of ‘neercha’ or whatever,by family ,cannot get the essence of it and may move out of way.. I won’t blame it on them..if they don’t like being a nun or priest,let them come out of it and lead a normal life..But sadly,or society and its so alled moral police doesn’t allow it….
yes, that’s why I said, society will look at you like a convict escaped from prison, and yes, this kind of life is not different from that of a convict ….
Dinu,i need your help…
I have a post “My fav posts”… I want to make it a new page,under my header..What should i do? Copy/paste? Will i get the exisitng comments?
Thanks
Yes, create a new page, and link to all your favorite posts from there
Done!!!
I can see that .. good work
Thank you so much for the introduction to this book. Will definitely read it
In Jainism, we have “DIKSHA” where a person leaves “sansaar” something like becoming a nun. There was also a suggestion for the kids not be given diksha, but it never materialised, courtesy community (society) or whatever you call them!!
and these kids are not allowed to come back to normal life again ?
A very moving post indeed. I’ve not read about such traits on nuns and priests. The thought of you being upset after reading the book, I am unsure of reading the book myself
yea, I was upset thinking about my relatives and friends who are nuns and priests …
I always believe there are better things to do in life than confine yourself to some religious organisation and spout knowledge. Maybe its to do with the innumerable excesses that i have come to read and know about the church in general.
Its exactly why i never donate any money to church or any religious organisation. Its a bloody waste of money which could be put to some better use by feeding some hungry soul or clothing them or funding someone’s education.
do you agree with the notion that religion is a personal matter, a the connection between you and your God, without any intermediary ?
yup, religion for me is nothing but a column in a govt form to fill. God is something that is personal between me and himself. No intermediary.
Nothing pisses me off as much as organised religion.
hmm .. you expressed your thought very well
There are many families where a female child is chosen to do God’s work and forcibly sent for God’s work.
I guess forcing someone to chose that life is very bad.
yes, I think 50% of people who join there, do so because of family pressure, or someone else wanted them to …
Good job!!
What is new here?
Women getting raped?
Women thinking that when they become nun they can live in peace and then realising that they have to kiss the tongue out of a priest ?
Women being subjected to torture?
Oh the Nun factor? is that new?
I dont think so .
time immeorable women have been raped and subjected to torture by not only priests but also by non priests.
So its not going to make any difference if this nun writes a book or not.
The only way out is all religions should be washed away from the face of the earth . And as long as there is lust on planet earth men and women cannot escape . so dont become a nun or a priest or a sadhu or a fakir.
Take a chill pill and freak out. shed religious be good.
Again its proved that the so called women empowerment and liberalization is a farce….there is a much better book by Sarah Joseph that explains the plight of nuns ‘Othappu’.Why cant the nuns be given equal rights as the priests?just because they are women?and whats the role of the nuns in the church?pleasing the priests sexually?so they are the brides of Jesus or the mistresses of the f***ing priests?