Amen The Autobiography of a Nun

On 31 August 2008 Sister Jesme left the Congregation of Mother of Carmel. The authorities repeated attempts to have her declared insane she says left her no other option. This book a first of its kind in India is an outpouring of her experiences as a nun for thirty-three years. Spirited and fun-loving from a good family deeply-rooted in Catholicism Jesme was drawn to religious life at seventeen after a Retreat at junior college. As a nun seven years later she felt distressed at the many ills growing inside the convent and being forced to remain silent about them. There was corruption by way of donations for college seats sexual relations between some priests and nuns and between nuns class distinctions whereby the cheduthies or poorer and less-educated sisters did menial jobs and a wide gap between comforts and facilities enjoyed by the priests and nuns. Jesme was permitted to complete her doctorate in English Literature to pursue her passion for literature cinema and teaching college students. She exposed them to classic films believing that aesthetics enhances spirituality. But these joys were clouded by the troubles she faced. Searing sincere and sensitive Amen is a plea for a reformation of the Church and comes at a time of its growing concern about nuns and priests. It affirms Jesme’s unbroken spirit and faith in Jesus and the Church living like a nun but outside the Four Walls of the convent. About the Author Born in 1956 in Thrissur Kerala Meamy Raphael later Sister Jesme was the fourth child of her parents. She completed her school and college education in Thrissur and Palakkad. In June 1974 she started her religious training but with special sanction was permitted to continue higher studies for M. Phil. and Ph.D on a merit scholarship of the Government of India. Since 1980 she has been teaching by turns at two Catholic colleges in Thrissur she was Vice-Principal at one and Principal at the other for three years each. Jesme left the Congregation of Mother of Carmel in August 2008 while applying for voluntary retirement from service in the college.