One Nun's Story: Then and Now

By Mary Jane Masterson

At the age of five, Mary Jane Masterson's destiny was foretold by a stranger. "That one," said the Brother of Holy Cross, pointing at Mary Jane as he sat comfortably in their living room with her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 158982475X
• ISBN13: 9781589824751
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: American Book Publishing Group
• Length: 301 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.8" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

Thank-you Sister .....

for sharing a very personal and spiritual journey. As a product of parochial education my world was challenged and shaped by nuns. I was awed by the habits, the strength of will and determination of the nuns to educate, and especially the compassion expressed towards growing children. I had always treasured my Catholic experience. I never realized, until reading One Nun's Story the personal sacrifice and tribulations the religious lived. The convent was always a mystery. Secrets were well guarded, unless your friend's sibling was a nun you might have a glimpse into the life of a nun. That is, until Sister Mary Jane Masterson decided to share her story. I've had the honor of meeting Sister Mary Jane, and to talk about my own discernment process into the religious. The Catholic Church will always have men and women who consecrate their life to God and Church. To them I give special prayers of thankfulness; what a special gift. Sister Mary Jane's vocation and testimony of that life in One Nun's Story, is a wonderful book to read and experience.

A wonderful and awe-inspiring story.

In reading this book, Sr. Mary Jane has taken me on her 60 year journey of religious life with her. I was a child of the seventies, so I never really saw the "old" life of a nun. With this book, Sister has given me a genuine feeling for what it must have been like to be so close to Christ, to have been able to give her life to him, and yes, to be so holy. Sister said that when she was identified as a nun, even completely out of habit or without an identifying veil or pin, she hoped it was because she looked so holy. Sister, it was. And you continue to be.....holy. May God bless Sister and continue to bless her and keep her here to bless the lives of those she touched, like mine. Thank you for this book.

Interesting look inside religious life

As someone who attended Catholic schools, I enjoyed reading Sister Mary Jane's book and have passed it on to several freinds. Her personal journey takes the reader through Pre Vatican II times up to the present day, detailing how she dealt with the sweeping changes it brought. I found the book to be both compelling and easy to read. Sister Mary Jane writes with a freedom of style that few people possess. After reading the book, I truly felt that I "knew" Sr. Mary Jane on some level. Living in Cleveland, I am pleased to say I did have the opportunity to meet this wonderful lady after reading her book and found her to be just as delightful in person!

Extremely interesting

I learned so much about the life of a nun, especially before Vatican II. Not being Catholic, I admire the commitment it takes to promise your life to God. I love the quick chapters making it fun to read when you don't have much time to read. Sister Mary Jane provides a great story and makes me feel good that there are people out there who love what the church has to offer to the world.

More than meets the eye.

I found looking into the life of a nun to be very interesting. Sister Mary Jane takes you from her childhood through 60 years of living her faith. And not everything is as it appears. Like the cover of her book, the more you look at it, the more you see: an adobe building, crosses, a shadow of a nun with her hands folded in prayer and her veil being lifted as if she is a bride (a bride of Christ), and a vague image of Christ on the Cross appearing in the gated doorway. Sister Mary Jane lets you know that her vocation is to serve God as a nun, but she also lets you know that she is just as human as everyone else. I'd have to say, she is a very special person.