Customer Reviews

The Way We Were: A Story of Conversion and Renewal

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was in religious life (the convent) for 15 years and lived through the time covered in Sr. Joan's book. Although I was in a different order her analysis spoke for our experience as well. I held this book close to my heart because it was like a personal revelation. This is an excellent book for Catholics to read if they truly wish to understand their immediate past.

What an honest look at what happening in Religious Life today. Brave lady and understandable fan of the book, "The Intellectual Life".
But in the first part in Sister's retelling of what caused the collapse of the old form of convent living she completely ignored the reasons for which the exes left. She says some where that the novices left hardly knowing why. She doesn't show any curiosity about this even though it was the cause of the state the nuns are in now. Perhaps if she did ask she might find some answers that will be helpful. Are the nuns angry at the exes or are they afraid of them and their tales?

I just finished "The Way We Were." What an insightful and hopeful look at religious life. There is much for the entire church to learn from women religious in their struggle to follow the call to renewal of Vatican II. As a male religious I could relate to some of their experiences, others were helpful in allowing me to better understand the perspective of women. It is a great read for both religious and laity. Perhaps the folks at the Vatican could learn a bit about religious life if they read it.

Sr. Joan is one of the best spiritual writers' out today - her honestly and love come thru in everything she writes and this book is no exception