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Cay Gibson
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We've enjoyed her art books and television series but I hadn't really looked into the "person" of Sr. Wendy Beckett. I began reading the new book Sister Wendy on Prayer and she reminds me very much of a person living the Rules of St. Benedict.
I'm intrigued.
Can anyone tell me anything more about Sister Wendy Beckett?
You get a sense of her character here and here.
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Cay Gibson
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JennGM
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Cay Gibson wrote:
We've enjoyed her art books and television series but I hadn't really looked into the "person" of Sr. Wendy Beckett. I began reading the new book Sister Wendy on Prayer and she reminds me very much of a person living the Rules of St. Benedict.
I'm intrigued.
Can anyone tell me anything more about Sister Wendy Beckett?
You get a sense of her character here and here.
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Interesting. What makes you think it's the Rule of St. Benedict? I would say she leans toward the Carmelite spirituality, just because she's living under their protection.
Wiki's description had a quick mention of her living in a cloistered convent before she had to leave because of health. But the Notre Dame sisters are teachers, not cloistered, so that was a bit confusing. Was it a different order?
Controversy swirls around her, as some think she shouldn't be able to call herself "Sister" or wear a habit if she's only living as a consecrated virgin with private vows. And others don't like her because she touches on paintings that are a little risque or unclothed. IMHO, it's a little harsh, and I find her delightful.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Cay Gibson
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JennGM wrote:
Interesting. What makes you think it's the Rule of St. Benedict? |
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Jenn,
I might be confusing her outward observances with her spiritual ones. I'm still reading through Radical Hospitality (and loving it) and she seems to have embraced this form of hospitality toward outsiders though she would prefer to live in seclusion. No sure I'm making sense...
True, I think her prayer life is completely Carmelite.
JennGM wrote:
| Wiki's description had a quick mention of her living in a cloistered convent before she had to leave because of health. But the Notre Dame sisters are teachers, not cloistered, so that was a bit confusing. Was it a different order? |
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This quote explains it:
"Then in 1946, aged 16, she returned to the UK, to join the Sisters of Notre Dame. 'I was an extremely stupid child. I hadn't realised that I wanted to be a praying nun and so it never dawned on me that if you join a teaching order you're going to have to teach.'"
She has a delightful sense of humor. 
From one of the above articles:
"She became Reverend Mother while holding down a lecturing position at the University of Witwatersrand. But then illness struck and recurred again and again. "The doctor said that in his opinion, 'she is dying of a broken heart'. It wasn't that I wanted to pray more but that I needed to pray more. So the order very sweetly told me 'Do what you need to do'." Her request that her vows be commuted to those of a consecrated virgin was granted. She is therefore no longer a Notre Dame sister, nor is she a Carmelite nun, but a consecrated virgin under the protection of the Carmelites."
JennGM wrote:
| Controversy swirls around her... |
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That's what I'm trying to clue into. Seems that way but I agree with you, Jenn...she's delightful. I guess I'm a little geeky about trying to understand why people act and react the way they do.
Reading her personal quotes, she speaks with Benedictine charity (even when others speak ill of her). I guess that's what I'm trying to say. And she really does try to direct all the attention toward God and away from herself.
Seems all good things and people come under controversy at some point.
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Cay Gibson
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JennGM
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Cay Gibson wrote:
JennGM wrote:
| Wiki's description had a quick mention of her living in a cloistered convent before she had to leave because of health. But the Notre Dame sisters are teachers, not cloistered, so that was a bit confusing. Was it a different order? |
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This quote explains it:
"Then in 1946, aged 16, she returned to the UK, to join the Sisters of Notre Dame. 'I was an extremely stupid child. I hadn't realised that I wanted to be a praying nun and so it never dawned on me that if you join a teaching order you're going to have to teach.'"
She has a delightful sense of humor. |
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I meant this quote, which came AFTER her joining the teaching sisters of Notre Dame
[quote]Outside of her academic studies, she lived in a convent that maintained a strict code of silence.[/url]
So there was an interim place that I can't make out what order or where.
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JennGM
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Cay Gibson wrote:
JennGM wrote:
| Controversy swirls around her... |
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That's what I'm trying to clue into. Seems that way but I agree with you, Jenn...she's delightful. I guess I'm a little geeky about trying to understand why people act and react the way they do.
Reading her personal quotes, she speaks with Benedictine charity (even when others speak ill of her). I guess that's what I'm trying to say. And she really does try to direct all the attention toward God and away from herself.
Seems all good things and people come under controversy at some point. |
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I think some people can't think outside of the box. If it's not the traditional way, then it can't fit or be right. That's all I can read through the controversy.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Cay Gibson
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JennGM wrote:
| So there was an interim place that I can't make out what order or where. |
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Hmmmm  Interesting.
If you find the cloister, please let me know.
I know of one young consecrated virgin in our area. Her family is a good Catholic hsing family. I'll never forget when Kayleigh came home from their house one day and asked, "What is that anyway." But she lives and dresses like we all do and, other than her prayer life and service to her family, doesn't live at all the cloistered life Sr. Wendy lives.
I can understand why some orders would object to her wearing a habit and using "Sister" if she's not one but I think her following God's call in her life is admirable...if not traditional.
I assume consecrated singles can live, work, and dress anyway they want?
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Cay Gibson
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Cay Gibson
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JennGM wrote:
I think some people can't think outside of the box. If it's not the traditional way, then it can't fit or be right. That's all I can read through the controversy. |
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I was typing when you posted, Jenn.  Very good answer to my pondering.
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Matilda
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We have a consecrated virgin at our church and she wears what could be called a habit though not of a particular order. She is also called Sister Claire just because it is easier for people to call her that as she definitely looks the part. She is under obedience to the Bishop and can choose to wear specific dress or not. It sounds rather snippy to me that some would argue with her being called "Sister".
Anyway, here is more information to peruse about consecratrd virgins.
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Mary G
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What always gets some folks I know upset is they can't tell if she's Roman Catholic, Anglican or Christian ... doesn't bother me a bit as I too find her delightful and her videos on paintings are wonderful, imho. I really liked her Pains of Glass where she talks about the stained glass windows at Chapel of King's College in Cambridge -- it's funny as the curator of the chapel gets gently corrected by Sr. Wendy all the time!
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Mary G wrote:
| What always gets some folks I know upset is they can't tell if she's Roman Catholic, Anglican or Christian ... doesn't bother me a bit as I too find her delightful and her videos on paintings are wonderful, imho. |
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I forgot about that. Her insights are so rich and deep. They reflect her prayerful attitude. I don't think anything but deep contemplation could see what she sees in art.
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Sister Wendy Beckett
