The Nun's Story

1

"He that shall lose his life for me

shall find it.

"If thou wilt be perfect...

"go sell what thou hast

and give to the poor...

"and come follow me. "

Each sister shall understand

that on entering the convent...

she has made the sacrifice

of her life to God.

Well, are we off?

-Whenever you're ready, Father.

-Let's not wait for that.

Your hat's on crooked.

I tried to put it on without a mirror

to get used to....

There.

Marie didn't want to say goodbye.

And I'd rather not see Louise.

She'll be so upset and....

There's no chance. I'll wait outside.

Now, Louise, I left some things upstairs

for you and Marie.

Divide the dresses, but you keep

the blue ones because blue is your color.

Take good care of Father.

And don't let him

do too many operations in one day.

Why do you have to go, anyway?

Pierre.

Come along, Gaby,

I ordered the table for 1 :00.

I wish you all as happy as I am.

Gaby, I can see you poor,

I can see you chaste.

But I cannot see you, a strong-willed girl,

obedient to those bells.

In the Congo, Father,

they'll be calling me to work I love.

You may never get to the Congo.

You certainly can never ask for it.

You know that, don't you?

Your personal wishes cease to exist

when you enter that door.

Maybe it would be easier

if I went in alone, Father.

You're not an orphan.

Or going without your father's consent.

Please remember this, Gaby.

Remember, if you ever decide

this is not right for you...

there is no sense of failure

in coming back home.

Sister William.

-Dr. Van der Mal?

-Yes?

My name's Pascin.

You operated on me five years ago.

-Oh, yes. Left lung, wasn't it?

-No, the right.

-May I present my daughter, Simone?

-And my daughter, Gabrielle.

A great day.

-Dr. Van der Mal?

-Sister.

I am Sister Margarita,

Mistress of Postulants.

Welcome.

Of course you know Sister William

from the hospital.

Sister William and I

have shared many an anxious hour.

Sister William says Gabrielle

will be a truly great nurse.

I know you are largely responsible for that.

-I'll miss her in my laboratory.

-We'll put her to good use in ours.

Real spirit, I think.

Well, we call it stubbornness.

You may, too, after a few weeks.

We'll be going in shortly.

-Good afternoon, Doctor.

-Good afternoon, Sister.

I suppose Sister Margarita

is what they call a living rule.

What's that?

They say if the holy rule of a convent

were destroyed...

it could be recaptured by studying

the behavior of such a perfect nun.

-Doctor.

-Sister.

The dowry, I think, Father.

Oh, yes, of course.

Thank you, Doctor.

Goodbye, Father. I'll miss you.

I'll do my best.

I want you to be proud of me.

I don't want to be proud of you.

I want you to be happy.

I am happy.

Gabrielle, your number is 1,072.

Thank you, Sister.

You are blessed to have this number.

It belonged to Sister Marie Polycarpe.

She was a nursing sister in the Congo.

When you have your things, you will

form two columns and face the door.

From now on, your place in line...

is determined by your age

in this community.

The first admitted is the oldest.

That is Yvonne Duval.

Here.

Yvonne Duval. Henrietta de la Croix.

Simone Pascin. Cecile de Planer.

Gabrielle Van der Mal.

Helen de Rode.

Your hands must learn to stay still.

And out of sight.

Except when they're needed

for nursing or prayer.

I'm so glad you're here, Sister William.

When you go through that door,

I'm not here.

For the six months

that you're a postulant...

and the year as a novice...

we may not speak to each other

except in matters of work.

I didn't know.

Do not fret about your veils.

You will soon learn to dress

without mirrors.

As you will learn tomorrow

when we start studying the Holy Rule...

which governs our life

here in the community...

one of the first conditions

is the rule of silence.

Exterior and interior silence.

We observe the Grand Silence

from after chapel at night...

until after chapel in the morning.

We will go now into chapel

for evening prayers.

Dear children, you will have five days

of instruction and preparation...

before you are formally admitted

as postulants by the Superior General.

We constantly strive toward perfection

by inner silence.

The ultimate goal of this silence...

is to make possible

constant conversation with God.

Therefore, we do not talk loudly...

nor do we engage

in useless conversations.

We close doors quietly.

Whenever possible,

we use a kind of sign language.

This means,

"May I have permission to speak?"

This means, "Excuse me."

Shall we try it?

We do this to attract a sister's attention.

Just the sleeve.

We never touch another sister, of course.

We use signs, particularly during meals.

We, of course,

never ask for things for ourselves.

Each sister is alert to the needs

of her fellow sisters.

In walking, dear children,

we never saunter...

as though we had no place to go.

Nor do we hurry.

When we walk

through halls and corridors...

we practice humility

by walking close to the walls.

Now.

Tomorrow, in the chapter hall...

the Superior General will admit you

formally into the congregation.

And you will begin

your six months?terms as postulants.

The Reverend Mother Emmanuel

represents Christ among us.

And as such she is loved

and obeyed by us.

What do you ask, my children?

To be admitted into this congregation.

Arise in the name of God.

Dear children, it is not easy to be a nun.

It is not a life of refuge from the world.

It is a life of sacrifice.

In a way, it is a life against nature.

It is a never-ending struggle

for self-perfection.

Some of you will have

more trouble than others.

Poverty, chastity, and obedience

are extremely difficult.

Each of us here can assure you of that.

The sacrifices that are required

of us are bearable...

only if we make them with love.

Just as in the world

we can do impossible things...

with a glad heart for a loved one...

so it is with us.

We can endure greater sacrifice...

because the object of our love

is our Lord Jesus Christ.

In order to come into closer union

with our Lord...

you will be submitted

to exercises and tests...

which are designed

to root out your faults...

curb your passions...

and prepare you

for acquiring the virtues and grace.

If you question

these exercises in humility...

these steps towards a closer union

with our crucified Lord...

you do not belong with us.

Cloistered life is made up

of an infinity of small things.

You must try to live the Holy Rule

not day by day...

but minute by minute...

in a state of constant alertness

against imperfections.

The perfect nun is one who,

for the love of God...

is obedient in all things unto death.

Remember, dear children,

you can very easily cheat us, your sisters.

But you can never cheat yourself. Or God.

The postulant will learn

strict obedience to the bell...

which is the voice of God.

Stopping whatever she is doing instantly...

when it calls to other duty or devotions.

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