Fighting Nun

by Margherita Marchione

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0845348760
• ISBN13: 9780845348765
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: Cornwall Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Religious Sisters Filippini

"THE FIGHTING NUN: MY STORY" is the autobiography of Sister Margherita Marchione, mpf, Ph.D. Sister has written the story of her life with humor, serious philosophical thought, interesting anecdotes, and more. The author is a Professor Emerita of Italian language and literature at Fairleigh Dickinson University and is the author of many books. She is also a nun ~~ a member of the Italian religious congregation known as the Religious Teachers Filippini. Sister Marchione's life has been intensely lived ~~ complemented by worldwide experiences with popes and royality, presidents and Nobel Prize winners, and internationally known artists and writers. Her teaching and administrative positions include more than 50 years of experience at the high school, college and university levels. The first five chapters of "THE FIGHTING NUN: MY STORY" presents Sister Marchione's life from early childhood through her achievement of a Ph.D. This part of the book shows Sister Marchione's serious religious convictions. She committed herself to joining The Religious Teachers Filippini at the tender age of 13! Her struggles with homesickness are testament to her devotion to the religious life. And, since there does not seem to be much written about the Religious Teachers Filippini, it gives the reader a look inside this congregation and its beautiful Mother House ~~ Villa Walsh. The anecdotes of her college and graduate studies are interesting and demonstrate what is possible if one is determined enough. Chapters six and seven are an introduction to contemporary Italian literature and history. These chapters are effective introductions to the literary achievements of modern Italian literature, philosophy, and political thought. In other words, these chapters are very informative. The anecdotes regarding Giuseppe Prezzolini introduce readers to a thoughtful man who was an important figure in modern Italian literature and thought. Prezzolini's close relationship to Popes, Sister Marchione, and other Catholics is interesting in that he did not share their religious convictions in any obvious way. Yet he was very close to Sister Marchione and appreciated her work in publishing his literature and promoting Italian culture. Chapter eight shows Sister Marchione's diverse interests. She did outstanding study in exposing the work and thought of Philip Mazzei ~~ a man who influenced such figures in early national U.S. History such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Her books on Mazzei's work are impressive and these works would be useful to anyone interested in U.S.History. This is an informative chapter. Chapters nine and ten recall anecdotes of Sister Marchione's students as well as the numerous awards she has received. These chapters are not self-serving comments but rather an indication of how a devout Catholic nun can accomplish so much when motivated by religious conviction. Her audiences with Popes also indicate how esteemed this little nun was in the highest

An American Success Story of a Devout Catholic Nun

Sister Marchione, Ph.D. wrote an interesting autobiography that has humor, serious philosophical thought, interesting anecdotes, etc. This book combines devout Catholicism, sheer determinination, and heroism that should attract any reader of residual common sense. Those who enjoy "The American Success Story" would find Sister Marchione's THE FIGHTING NUN well worth reading. The first five chapters give a precis of Sister Marchione's life from early childhood through her achievement of a Ph.D. This part of the book shows Sister Marchione's serious religious convictions. Sister Marchione committed herself to joining The Religious Teachers Filippini at the tender age of 13. This writer does not know of anyone who entered the religious life in modern history at such a young age. To say that Sister Marchione was serious is an understatement. Her own priest, who should have perhaps known better, did not take her commitment seriously. Sister Marchione's struggles with homesickness are testament to her devotion to the religious life. The anecdotes of her college and graduate studies are interesting and demonstrate what is possible if one is determined enough. Chapters six and seven are an introduction to contemporary Italian literature and history. These chapters are effective introductions to the literary achievements of modern Italian literature, philosophy, and political thought. In other words, these chapters are very informative. The anecdotes regarding Giuseppe Prezzolini introduce readers to a thoughtful man who was an important figure in modern Italian literature and thought. Prezzolini's close relationship to Popes, Sister Marchione, and other Catholics is interesting in that he did not share their religious convictions in any obvious way. Yet he was very close to Sister Marchione and appreciated her work in publishing his literature and promoting Italian culture. Chapter eight shows Sister Marchione's diverse interests. Sister Marchione did outstanding work in exposing the work and thought of Philip Mazzei who influenced such figures in early national U.S. History such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Sister Marchione's books on Mazzei's work is impressive, and these books would be useful to anyone interested in U.S.History. Rev. Edmund Opitz, who is not Catholic, was quite impressed with this work and favorably reviewed Sister Marchione's work regarding Mazzei, Jeffoerson, etc. This is an informative chapter. Chapters nine and ten should be read in tandem. These chapters recall the anecdotes of Sister Marchione's students as well as the numerous awards she received. These chapters are not selfserving comments but rather an indication of how a devout Catholic nun can accomplish so much when motivated by religious conviction. Her audiences with Popes also indicate how esteemed this little nun was in the highest circles of The Roman Catholic Church. Sister Marchione's defense of Pope Pius XII is worth the price of the