19. Novice

Apart from being Matron of Mary Vale, Sister Ann was also Shirley’s spiritual mentor in the convent of the Sisters of Holy Mary. Under her tender care Shirley had been guided through her postulancy period by the older nun, who had monitored her reading of the scriptures and her understanding of the rules of the religious office she yearned to join. In that capacity she had been invited one grey misty November morning into the Reverend Mother’s study in the silence of the convent to discuss Shirley’s imminent future. Recalling Shirley’s wild impatience some months ago when she had first approached the Reverend Mother for permission to join her order, Sister Ann said with an indulgent smile, ‘The dear child was so full of passion she would have taken her final vows right there and then.’

The Reverend Mother returned her smile. ‘Shirley’s learnt patience during her postulancy; she’s also learnt the routine of the convent from the inside, and she’s been obedient to our daily timetable.’

‘She’s been so generous with her time,’ Sister Ann said with a ring of pride in her voice. ‘Insisting on cleaning the wards – it’s her best time for prayer, she always says – and she’s been a God-send in the kitchen, helping Sister Mary Paul, who is getting on in years.’

‘I’ve had to insist from time to time that Shirley devotes herself to reading, prayer and getting to know our Sisters, as well as to scrubbing floors and baking bread,’ the Reverend Mother chuckled.

‘She has fully embraced all of that,’ Sister Ann assured her superior.

‘So now we need to talk to Shirley about the next stage of her training: becoming a novice in our order and living like a professed Sister,’ the Reverend Mother continued. ‘The timetable is fuller than she’s used to, and she’ll be introduced to more spiritual duties, particularly those that involve her taking part in Divine Offices.’

Sister Ann’s eyes welled with tears. ‘Shirley is a deeply spiritual young woman; I know she will embrace those duties with love and dedication to Our Lord. I have no doubt that she’ll treat all with loving kindness and be a peacemaker, just like she is now,’ she said confidently.

‘She’ll wear the white veil of a novice over our order’s habit and will have the title “Sister”,’ Reverend Mother continued. ‘And she can change her name if she wishes. At the end of two years, if Shirley feels ready and our order are in agreement, she could request to make her final vows.’

‘This will be a testing time for her vocation,’ Sister Ann commented.

‘If it becomes too stressful, Shirley knows that at this novitiate stage she is free to leave at any time,’ the Reverend Mother pointed out.

Knowing Shirley’s overwhelming desire to dedicate herself to God, Sister Ann shook her head. ‘With respect, Reverend Mother, I believe that’s highly unlikely. I’ve never known anybody more committed to becoming a nun than Shirley is.’

Sister Ann waited for a suitable moment to arise when she could speak in private with Shirley about the Reverend Mother’s decision. On a chilly morning, as the sun struggled to pierce through the banks of clouds that loomed over the Irish Sea, Sister Ann spotted Shirley reading her prayer book on a bench in Mary Vale’s garden. The gardener, sweeping up the leaves that were presently banked high around the edges of the lawn, greeted her gloomily. ‘Morning, Matron,’ he muttered darkly. ‘If there’s anything good to be said about a day when the Germans have done their worst.’

Sister Ann nodded in sympathy with him: the nation had woken up to the terrible news that Coventry and its beautiful cathedral had been destroyed by a Luftwaffe raid consisting of over one hundred bombers.

‘It is dreadful news indeed,’ she agreed.

‘The Boche are trying to take the heart out of the nation,’ the gardener growled. ‘Burning and wrecking our beautiful cities and ancient monuments. Let’s hope the RAF give ’em back as good as we got,’ he added angrily.

Sister Ann, who couldn’t go along with his vengeful thoughts, simply made the sign of the Cross.

‘God help the poor souls who suffered,’ she answered fervently.

‘Amen to that, Sister,’ the gardener said, and he went on his way.

Shirley laid aside her prayer book when Sister Ann sat down on the bench beside her.

‘Good morning, Sister,’ Shirley said fondly, and kissed her friend on the cheek.

‘I have news for you, Shirley,’ Sister Ann started. ‘The Reverend Mother thinks the time has come for you to take your novice’s vows.’

Shirley’s eyes opened wide in delight. ‘Oh, thank God!’ she exclaimed, then, completely overcome with emotion, she threw her arms around Sister Ann’s neck and wept. Struggling to control herself, Shirley wiped away her tears and stared incredulously into her mentor’s beaming face. ‘Who would ever have thought this blessing would come to me?’

‘It is God’s will, dear,’ Sister Ann answered simply. ‘He called you to do His will.’

Shirley, looking flushed and emotional, could only whisper, ‘But am I worthy enough, Sister?’

‘Yes, child,’ her friend answered firmly. ‘You are more than ready to begin the next part of your spiritual journey.’

Shirley went into retreat several days before taking the veil; and, as she prayed in silence for God’s guidance, Sister Mary Paul began to completely overdo things in the kitchen. Helped by anyone who could spare an hour, the old nun cooked up pies and cakes for the guests and religious Sisters who would attend the meal after the ceremony. Meanwhile, in the convent, the mistress of robes completed Shirley’s new habit and veil. On the night before the ceremony Sister Ann cut Shirley’s chin-length mousy-brown hair; then, after helping her into her new habit, she showed her how to pin the veil to her head. The reflection of Shirley’s pale face in the small mirror hanging on the convent wall showed an expression of sheer joy.

‘I look like you, Sister Ann!’ she exclaimed.

The older nun smiled proudly. ‘Yes, Shirley,’ she agreed. ‘You look like a proper nun at last.’

The following morning Father Ben adorned the convent altar as for a solemn feast: dozens of candles in polished brass candlesticks flickered and glowed, their light reflected in the life-sized brass crucifix placed in the middle of the altar, now draped in starched white linen and adorned with a richly embroidered golden mantle. While the nuns sang harmonious Latin chants, the new novice was led into the chapel by Sister Ann. When she knelt at the prie-dieu holding a candle to her calm, peaceful face, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Pungent incense, swung from a smoking thurible by a solemn-faced altar boy, floated up into the carved rafters of the chapel, which resounded to Shirley’s sweet voice as she made her formal vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. After the ceremony the Sisters of the order of which Shirley was now firmly a member led her through a metal grille into the privacy of a dark cloister, where they reverently dressed Shirley in her new robe. Carrying a veil and a wreath of white roses, the young novice was led back into the chapel, where she knelt before a smiling Reverend Mother. The nun covered Shirley’s head with the veil and secured the wreath of roses. With tears streaming down her face, Shirley stood to embrace her superior, while Father Ben prayed softly.

‘By the symbolic shedding of clothes and dressing yourself in Jesus Christ you thereby lay aside the life of a lay person.’

Father Ben completed the moving service with the naming ceremony. ‘Sister Theresa,’ he said to Shirley, who smiled with joy at the sound of her new religious name, ‘you no longer bear your father’s name.’

Ada exchanged a knowing look with Sister Ann: they both knew exactly what the other was thinking. Shirley, now Sister Theresa, would be overjoyed to have severed all links with her father and the brutal life she had endured with him. Safe in the bosom of her Sisters, with the attribution of a new name symbolizing her new life, Shirley felt herself filled with blessings she never imagined herself worthy of.

It was a squash in Mary Vale’s dining room: what with all the residents, the nuns and the visitors, the room was loud with chatter and laughter, and after the long ceremony everybody was desperately hungry and longing for cups of hot tea. Shirley had to be banned from the kitchen and from rushing around serving out cakes and egg-and-cress sandwiches.

‘This is your day, Sister Theresa,’ Sister Mary Paul exclaimed, as she added another cake to Shirley’s plate. ‘It’s our turn to serve you.’

After the solemnity of the ceremony Shirley felt spiritually overwhelmed; now surrounded by so many kind, smiling, familiar faces, she felt emotionally overwhelmed too. It was almost a relief when the residents and the visitors said their farewells and she was left alone with her Sisters, who escorted her back to the chapel. Shirley was finally left alone to her own prayers and thoughts. It was well over an hour later that Sister Ann found her still kneeling at the prie-dieu, with her eyes closed and her hands crossed before her.

‘Dearest,’ she said in a whisper, ‘it’s been a long day; you must get some rest,’ she urged.

Shirley’s eyelids fluttered open, and when she turned to her friend Sister Ann smothered a gasp when she saw in Shirley’s wide-open eyes the depths of her love and joy.

‘This is the happiest day of my life,’ the new Sister Theresa announced. She stood and walked back to the convent hand in hand with her mentor.