Poverty, Chastity and Change : Lives of Contemporary American Nuns

New York, NY: Twayne Publishers, 1996. Hard Cover. Fine/Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. A collection of fifty oral history interviews with American Catholic religious women, this book offers an inside look at how these women not only survived but actually embraced the changes that came to every aspect of their lives during the last forty years. The women speak honestly and eloquently of prayer, ministry, and personal relationships. A focus is placed on the impact of Vatican II from the 1960s to the 1990s. Interviews vary in length from a paragraph to several pages; most have a brief introduction identifying religious community, age, and current activity. Three women chose anonymity, and several are former sisters. Forty religious communities are represented. The interviewees are positive and realistic about their life choices; chastity was not a major issue for most. Sister-advocates for the poor, attorneys, doctors, teachers, and artists, all reflect upon their experience of church today and hopes for the future. Their stories of love and generosity serve as impressive evidence that new forms of mission and commitment are already emerging for the new millennium. This unique collection is recommended for religious and women's studies collections. 323 pages..