I am fascinated with a newly published letter that Madonna (the artist and performer) wrote when she was twenty years old. The letter (courtesy of the website Letters of Note) is addressed to film director Stephen Lewicki as a sort of “résumé” for the lead role in his film A Certain Sacrifice. She mentions how she wanted to be a movie star or a nun, and how, after trying things out, she decided to pursue a music career.
… and, after a bunch of interesting stuff about her life, the letter concludes …
Initially I was a bit miffed that Madonna compared being a nun to a disease, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the comparison represents a fine bit of discernment. Madonna recognized that trying out life as a nun led her to “dis-ease”, that is, a lack of ease in her own life, a feeling of being “not at peace” or “out of sync”.
Thank God Madonna did recognize that “dis-ease” because she was then able to open herself up to another calling as a singer-songwriter, actor, and entrepreneur! She is hands down one of the greatest artists of our time. Granted, I would gladly take Madonna as one of my nuns, but I am nonetheless delighted that she followed her calling and gifted the world with her art.
How do you negotiate the sense of “ease” and “dis-ease” in your own life?
What insight started percolating as you read Madonna’s words and thought about her life calling?
Archived Comments
- November 14, 2011 at 6:43 pm
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If Madonna had become a nun, imagine what Christian rock music might sound like! How about these titles! “Like a Consecrated Virgin.” “This Used to be My Convent.” “Rosaries Are a Nun’s Best Friend.”
- November 14, 2011 at 8:06 pm
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SMX
- November 14, 2011 at 10:16 pm
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What is percolating for me is the disparity between my field of vision (as in, narrow) and yours (much more expansive), Sister Julie, as you thought your way through this blog. You are an exemplar in this respect – you look for the good and you find it!
- November 16, 2011 at 7:58 pm
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hi i was just asked the questions of “do nuns have to be virgins when they take their final vows?” and I thought yes, being a catholic and a catholic school kid, I believed what my mom told us 30 years ago. The young women had to be pure. that only if the young woman had been assaulted through no fault of her own, could she enter the nun-hood. Now I read that even women who had children at one point, and had been married, can become nuns? can you explain that to me so that I am better informed for my friends next questions? also do nuns have to give up any trusts funds or inheritance when they become nuns?
- November 22, 2011 at 11:49 am
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St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Jane Frances de Chantal were both widows before founding their respective communities (one active apostolic Sisters, one cloistered nuns). There are probably more examples but those come to mind immediately.
Sister Hildegard would be a better resource on this, but I think it used to be relatively common for noblewomen to ‘retire’ to monasteries in their widowhood (although they might not have been considered full choir nuns, I’m not sure).
