When the walls came tumbling down - eBook E-Book

Marianne Jansson

• Herausgeber: Editora Esperança
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 300

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

"If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36)." Jesus Christ addresses his listeners with this marvellous promise. His message of the Gospel brings people into communion with God and frees them from the bondage of sin, guilt, fear, and despair. At the same time, he establishes the fellowship of believers and unites them by his Spirit and his love: "Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above (John Fawcett, 1782)." Therefore it is not surprising that people throughout the centuries have been attracted by communities marked by Christian faith, love, and hope. The expectation to believe, live, and serve together within a group of fellow Christians has inspired countless people to join these organizations, some of which have therefore grown to an amazing size. Obviously, these organizations – like all others – need a certain structure. For whatever reason, this structure is often strongly hierarchical, giving a lot of power to the leader(s). Due to the comprehensive spiritual setting of these organizations, the position (and decision) of the leadership is normally justified by spiritual arguments as well: The leader(s) have been intrusted by God with their responsibility for the group and therefore the members should respect them accordingly and obey their instructions. Unfortunately, there seems to be a tendency that such leadership breaks away from its biblical basis and turns into a kind of authoritarian rule substantiated by Bible verses. This means that the freedom of the Gospel and the rules of the structure often enter in conflict. If aberrations from the basis of faith in Jesus Christ are detected, they should be corrected. This presupposes, however, that the teachings and rules of these organizations are known and can be verified on the basis of the Bible. From the very beginning the Christians have been exhorted to check the preaching and teaching which they receive from their leaders, whether it matches with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The two authors of this book, Marianne and Riitta, have experienced the attraction of Christian fellowship within the Sisterhood of Mary in Darmstadt, Germany. Subsequently, they have lived and suffered the conflict between the spiritually and psychologically rigid structure of the organization and the freedom of the Gospel which they came to know. They describe their experiences of the time after "the walls had come tumbling down." And they undergo the arduous task to decipher the code of the spiritual system of the Sisterhood and assess it on the basis of the Biblical Gospel. It is my hope that their work might serve as an example to many Christians to become aware more clearly of the treasure of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And that this awareness enables them to listen to preaching and teaching more attentively, joining themselves with the people at Beroea who welcomed Paul's message very eagerly "examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so (Acts 17:11)." If in this way this book contributes to further Christian maturity, Riitta's and Marianne's painful pilgrimage would not have been in vain.

Leseprobe

Marianne Jansson and Riitta Lemmetyinen

When the Walls Came Tumbling Down

Two Sisters of Mary Discover the Freedom of the Gospel

Translation: Jeannie Dobney

Cover: Endrik Silva

Diagrammer: Kelly de Britto Pilarski

Copyright © 1997 Marianne Jansson and Riitta Lemmetyinen

Original title in German: Wenn Mauern fallen.

Translation to English language Copyright © Marianne Jansson and Riitta Lemmetyinen

1st electronic edition in english: 2019 Perussanoma Oy.

New electronic edition in English © 2022 Editora Evangélica Esperança.

ISBN 978-65-87285-85-6

Electronic edition translated to Portuguese, Spanish, German, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian and Danish.

International Cataloging-in-Publication Data (CIP)

Sueli Costa CRB-8/5213

Jansson, Marianne

When the Walls Came Tumbling Down: Two Sisters of Mary Discover the Freedom of the Gospel / Marianne Jansson, Riitta Lemmetyinen ; translation: Jeannie Dobney. –- New.Ed. -- Curitiba, PR BRAZIL: Editora Evangélica Esperança, 2022.

ISBN 978-65-87285-85-6

1. Women – christian life. 2. Religious experience. 3. Christianity. I. Lemmetyinen, Riitta. II. Dobney, Jeannie. III. Title.

CDD-248.2

Index for systematic catalog:

1. Christian life : Women 248.2

Biblical Quotations: World English Bible

All rights reserved.

Total and partial reproduction without permission of the publishers is prohibited.

Editora Evangélica Esperança

Rua Aviador Vicente Wolski, 353

CEP 82510-420 – Curitiba – PR. BRAZIL

Fone: [phone]

[email protected]

www.editoraesperanca.com.br

Contents

Introduction

Authors’ Preface

Return to the World How it all StartedFellowship in LightThe Sources of the ”Fellowship in Light”Times of Judgement Punishment Mystical Love for God The Sources of Mystical Love Asceticism Brotherly Love A Significant Letter A Birthday Does God Still Suffer?Take Up Your CrossPentecostCharismatic GiftsJesus’ Way: Our Way?The ShockBlank Cheque DedicationObedienceTraining as the Elite TroopsVisions of the FutureThe Ideal of SacrificeIn NorwayTravels in FinlandA New BranchThe Commentary on the Letter to the GalatiansOn the Way OutOur Dear Mother... The Trip to DarmstadtCivilians AgainAfter EffectsBack to CollegeDiscovering the OthersWhy Did it all Happen?

Appendix: Short Chronology of the Sisterhood of Mary

About the Authors

Introduction

"If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36).” Jesus Christ addresses his listeners with this marvellous promise. His message of the Gospel brings people into communion with God and frees them from the bondage of sin, guilt, fear, and despair. At the same time, he establishes the fellowship of believers and unites them by his Spirit and his love: „Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above (John Fawcett, 1782).” Therefore it is not surprising that people throughout the centuries have been attracted by communities marked by Christian faith, love, and hope. The expectation to believe, live, and serve together within a group of fellow Christians has inspired countless people to join these organizations, some of which have therefore grown to an amazing size.

Obviously, these organizations – like all others – need a certain structure. For whatever reason, this structure is often strongly hierarchical, giving a lot of power to the leader(s). Due to the comprehensive spiritual setting of these organizations, the position (and decision) of the leadership is normally justified by spiritual arguments as well: The leader(s) have been intrusted by God with their responsibility for the group and therefore the members should respect them accordingly and obey their instructions. Unfortunately, there seems to be a tendency that such leadership breaks away from its biblical basis and turns into a kind of authoritarian rule substantiated by Bible verses.

This means that the freedom of the Gospel and the rules of the structure often enter in conflict. If aberrations from the basis of faith in Jesus Christ are detected, they should be corrected. This presupposes, however, that the teachings and rules of these organizations are known and can be verified on the basis of the Bible. From the very beginning the Christians have been exhorted to check the preaching and teaching which they receive from their leaders, whether it matches with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The two authors of this book, Marianne and Riitta, have experienced the attraction of Christian fellowship within the Sisterhood of Mary in Darmstadt, Germany. Subsequently, they have lived and suffered the conflict between the spiritually and psychologically rigid structure of the organization and the freedom of the Gospel which they came to know. They describe their experiences of the time after “the walls had come tumbling down.” And they undergo the arduous task to decipher the code of the spiritual system of the Sisterhood and assess it on the basis of the Biblical Gospel.

It is my hope that their work might serve as an example to many Christians to become aware more clearly of the treasure of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And that this awareness enables them to listen to preaching and teaching more attentively, joining themselves with the people at Beroea who welcomed Paul’s message very eagerly “examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so (Acts 17:11).” If in this way this book contributes to further Christian maturity, Riitta’s and Marianne’s painful pilgrimage would not have been in vain.

Rev. Dr. Eberhard Hahn

Until 2018 apl. Professor for Systematic Theology

Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen-Nurnberg, Germany

Authors’ Preface

Marianne Jansson and Riitta Lemmetyinen

This book has two sources. On one hand it is based on our personal experiences as members of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary in Darmstadt, Germany – seventeen and nineteen years respectively. On the other hand it draws on the academic research we completed for a joint thesis submission. The thesis was part of a Master’s degree in Theology that was completed in German at the University of Helsinki, Finland, in 1995. It contained a thorough analysis of the theology and religious practices of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary.

Our book describes how we came to join the Sisterhood and what we experienced there, both positively and negatively. We also explain the events which led to our eventual leaving the Sisterhood and how we managed to integrate back into civilian life. Our individual contributions are indicated by our names. In addition, one other former member of the community contributed. Jeannie Dobney, who spent fourteen years in the Sisterhood, writes about “Obedience.”

Woven throughout our personal stories are excerpts from the basic teachings of the founder of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary, Mother Basilea Schlink. These teachings were presented by Mother Basilea in meetings with the Sisters. The messages were all taped and subsequently transcribed and sent to all of the international branches of the Sisterhood during the years 1977 - 1990.

In order to grasp the whole dimension of the Sisterhood of Mary, it is indispensable to understand the basic concepts presented in the teaching of Mother Basilea. Therefore, it forms much of the foundation of this work. All the quotations that we are using in this book are taken from the Master’s Thesis that the University of Helsinki has accepted as the requirement for the academic degree of “Magistra Theologiae.” The thesis was published in Germany by Peter Lang Publishing House.1 In this work we are also explaining the background of the various sources that we have used.2

After much consideration and years of personal experience in the Sisterhood, we are convinced that the teaching and practice of this order represents a regression to the views of pre-reformation Catholicism. The liberating message of the Gospel that was rediscovered by Martin Luther at the time of the Reformation has been badly distorted. Adding to this, there are unbiblical and fanatical beliefs and prophesies about the End Times and the Sisters’ role in the End Times. These revelations lead to irrational decisions and actions within the Sisterhood. We invite all readers to form their own opinion of the Sisterhood of Mary, using the sources presented here on one hand and the Word of God on the other.

Aside from examining the life and teaching of the Sisterhood of Mary in this book, our objective has been to express what it means to us to live according to the Gospel of Grace. Our hope and prayer in publishing this book is that the Good News of Jesus Christ will shine forth and bless many, especially those who have been personally affected and hurt by the practices we describe here.

1 Marianne Jansson & Riitta Lemmetyinen, “Christliche Existenz zwischen Evangelium und Gesetzlichkeit. Darstellung und Beurteilung von Lehre und Leben der ‚Evangelischen Marienschwesternschaft‘ in Darmstadt.“ Peter Lang GmbH, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 1997. („Freedom of the Gospel versus Law. A Survey and Critique of the Teachings and the Life of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary“– not available in English).

2 It should be noted that these unpublished transcripts contain Mother Basilea’s teachings which are presented as doctrines of salvation forming the Sisters’ beliefs. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been given as a revelation to all the world, making publicly known the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages (cf. Col 1:26-28). That is why the doctrine of an evangelical institution must correspond to the open nature of the Gospel.

1

Return to the World

Riitta Lemmetyinen

Slowly the iron gate slides open. One of the Sister of Mary stands behind the blindsin the reception office with her finger on a button controlling the smooth movement of the electric gate. Suddenly, we are free to go and must drive out.

We hesitate for a moment. We have passed in and out through this gate on countless occasions. Earlier, when we left for a speaking tour, Sisters gathered to say farewell and wave us off, but now we are alone in the cold of this March morning. Nobody is there to say goodbye.

Yesterday we had a long conversation with Mother Basilea, the superior of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary. In a letter to her we had expressed the deep inner turmoil that her teaching had created in us. We felt she had forsaken the Gospel of the grace of God and of the forgiveness of sin. We had hoped she would understand our concerns.

The gate behind is closed and locked. Our concerns too, had encountered a closed door. Seventeen and nineteen years as Sisters of Mary are now shut behind us just like the gate.

Whether we want or not, we must drive away. It is still early and the street is quiet and almost deserted. Gradually, the city of Darmstadt fades behind us. What now? Thoughts are spinning in our heads like the heavy wheels of the trucks on the highway. But our thoughts cannot be overtaken. They accompany us every step of the way as we return to Finland.

2

How it all Started

Riitta Lemmetyinen

Everyone is still asleep in the rooms which line the corridor. I can hear light footsteps and whispers. Suddenly someone begins to sing. Where am I? I wake up buried under a huge down duvet. Certainly not a typical Finnish bed. Opposite the bed there is a banner displaying a hand-written Bible verse. A vase of flowers adorns the table under the window.

My eyes explore the little basement room. There is a little white table next to the bed. In the corner stands a strange looking chair. How am I ever going to sit on it? The “seat” is so narrow, and even though it has nice leather upholstery, it must be very uncomfortable ... Unless perhaps, yes, that’s it: it is meant to kneel on, not to sit on. The bed has an old-fashioned iron frame. It is so high that I have to jump to get out of it. I’m sure the bed must have come from a hospital. I would never have chosen this furniture for my own home, but here everything is different. I remember now that here the furniture is second hand and donated. Gradually it’s all coming back to me. Now I am wide awake: I am in Germany with the Sisters of Mary. The flight yesterday from Helsinki to Frankfurt has taken me into another world. And the song I just heard? That must have been the Sisters singing.

The music has fulfilled its purpose in waking everyone and now the basement corridor is alive with movement. Doors open and close. I can hear water running somewhere and in the room next to mine there is a conversation going on in English. From another room I hear the sounds of a conversation in Norwegian. What had the Sister said yesterday? There was to be silence until breakfast so that everyone could read their Bible. But who is used to doing that? With considerable effort I manage to read a few verses from my Bible. It’s hard to concentrate though. My thoughts are all over the place.

Over the Christmas holidays I had read the Finnish translation of Realities, The Miracles of God Experienced Today, which tells the story of the Sisterhood and their little land of Canaan in Darmstadt. Then my parents got the idea that this would be an ideal place for me to learn German. As they bade me farewell, they were sure that this was a safe place to send me, even though I was only fourteen years old. They too had been very impressed by the book Realities. So now I’m here. My parents told me that I can come home if I’m not happy. That’s a comforting thought in the back of my mind.

There’s a knock at the door. “It’s time to go to Lauds,” somebody says in Finnish. “I’ll show you the way.” I’m glad that I’m not the only Finn here.

What on earth is “Lauds?” Where are we going? Helena takes me with her from the basement into the fresh air. We pass a heavy black iron gate surrounded by a beautiful garden with flower beds, bushes and trees. Helena explains: “That is the door to the Garden of Jesus’ Suffering with statues showing the suffering of Jesus. You’re not allowed to talk in there.”

We cross a little bridge and come to a lake. I wonder aloud if you can swim there when it gets hot.

Helena exclaims: “That’s impossible! It’s called the Sea of Galilee and is meant to remind you of the Bible. The little stream is called the Jordan. Jacob’s Well is over there. And that fountain is called the Fountain of Father’s Goodness. You may drink from it if you’re thirsty.”

“There’s the church! It is called Herald Chapel, but that’s not where we’re going now. That church is used for Sunday services and biblical plays. We’re on our way to the prayer service, ‘Lauds,’ held in the Motherhouse Chapel.”

People emerge from the building we are now passing. “That’s the guesthouse Jesus’ Joy. The Sisters are holding a retreat there for guests,” Helena continues.

A retreat? I don’t dare ask Helena any more questions. It’s all new to me and completely foreign to anything I’ve ever experienced before. I need an explanation for just about everything.

We pass by a wall. Helena says the Sisters live behind this wall. I try in vain to see over the top, but I’m far too short.

After ten minutes of walking we arrive at our goal: the Motherhouse Chapel which I had read about during my Christmas holidays. The Sisters built it with their own hands and experienced the most incredible things along the way. The machines broke down whenever Sisters had disagreements. It was the same with the weather. The rain deterring the building progress stopped as soon as the Sisters were reconciled. Another time they were short of bricks. A Sister sat opposite a man in the tram who asked about the building project. He was an architect and a couple of days later he suggested to the Darmstadt City Council that the Sisters be allowed to have the bricks from buildings the City Council was about to demolish. There turned out to be more bricks than were needed. Just like the miracle of the loaves and fishes, there were baskets full of left-overs.

We enter the dimly-lit chapel. Stained glass windows filter the light inside. A large crucifix hangs at the front. Helena and I sit in the right hand section where in fact all of the girls are sitting. The boys sit on the left – a rule strictly observed.

“Lord, open Thou my lips, that my voice may proclaim Thy praise.” I hear the Sisters singing behind me. Such a shame that they sit right at the back and I can’t see them. I will have to endure my curiosity. After the choir leader has sung each verse, the congregation responds. I turn the pages of the black book which was handed to me as I came in, trying to find the responses. It seems I am the only one who is lost. From the title page of the book I discover it is called the Divine Office and my German is good enough that I can tell it contains Psalms.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Almighty and Merciful God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Lauds has ended and the congregation rises to go. After half an hour we are outside once more.

On the way back to our rooms, someone explains to me that we have just taken part in one of the “Hours.” The Sisters have three or four such prayer times a day. Helena isn’t quite sure what Divine Office means, but she does know that it is a kind of Catholic prayer book.

Now it’s time for breakfast. There are many young women chattering and laughing around the table. Like me, they want to spend their summer holidays with the Sisters of Mary, either to share in the Sisters’ spiritual and practical life, to learn German, or just to take advantage of the opportunity to travel to another country.

“Riitta!” Somebody calls me and holds up a plastic serviette holder. “Here’s your name.” I also find a label with my name on the door of my room and a name tag on my bed. They really were expecting me here. Suddenly everyone around me laughs. What is going on? I don’t understand the reason for their amusement since I have studied German for only three years in school. However, I am still enjoying their company.

My first day in these new surroundings is a Sunday. I take my Finnish Bible to the church service. That way I will understand at least what the sermon is about. This time we are in the big church. As the church bells ring, the Sisters come in – so many of them! There is a different seating arrangement here. The Sisters sit in the pews in front of me. When they return to their seats from Holy Communion I study their faces. My astonishment grows as I realize how young they look! In fact many of them must be in their twenties. Somehow I hadn’t expected that.

In my religion class textbook I had seen pictures of nuns who wore long black robes and strange head-coverings: the only parts of them you could see completely were their eyes, nose and mouth. The habits here are different: a nice, long beige dress, black shoes and a veil like that of deaconesses.

After the church service we gather outside. One of the Sisters explains the schedule for the rest of the day. In the afternoon there will be a “Herald Play,” a biblical presentation entitled “Call at Midnight.” It is about the parable of the ten virgins and is presented entirely by the Sisters. We are reminded to be seated punctually since over a thousand guests are expected.

After several hours the grounds are in fact filled with visitors. There are no empty spots in the parking lot and the Herald Chapel is packed with people. Inside the Chapel Sisters are holding up posters asking people to observe silence before the performance begins, but they are having no effect. Softly in the background the organ begins to play “Wake, awake for night is flying...” The congregation joins in the hymn: “Midnight is the hour and the voice calls: Where are the wise virgins?”

Suddenly it is quiet. In anticipation the congregation focuses their attention on the steps in front of the chapel where the play is soon to begin. A slight, elderly figure steps up to the pulpit. This must be Mother Basilea, the Sisterhood’s superior. I recognize her from the picture on the back of the book Realities. One of the Sisters reaches her a glass of water, and then Mother Basilea begins to speak softly.

Helena whispers the translation for me: “The wedding is a symbol of the union of love which is the goal of all the paths along which God leads us. The foolish virgins are excluded from this joy. They were careless about oil for their lamps, oil being the symbol of love for Jesus.” The soft voice challenges the congregation to set their priorities correctly. Being a wise virgin means giving Jesus the first, the last and the best in our lives.

The lights are dimmed and the play begins. One scene after another unfolds. We experience the joy of the wise virgins when the Bridegroom wakes them up from sleep with his call. They have enough oil. Then we hear the desperate, heart-wrenching cries of those whose oil has run out. The foolish virgins rush to the door – but it is too late. They bang on the locked door.

“Lord, open it for us. Let us come in to the wedding.” The listeners hold their breath. “Don’t you really know us, Lord?” There is no response, not even a “No.” The darkness of the midnight hour engulfs five of the virgins in despair. It is too late.

I breathe a sigh of relief as the sanctuary is lit again. Fortunately, it was only a play! Nevertheless I still can’t forget the dramatization of the ten virgins. The biblical message through this modern medium has hit home.

That evening, I lie awake for a long time. Countless impressions run through my mind again like a movie: the young faces framed by white veils, the beautiful property with its gardens, churches, and other buildings, the black Divine Office, the crowds of people, the ten virgins, and the distressing end five of them faced. I was impressed by Mother Basilea and the message about the love for Jesus.

For the week, the Sisters divide us up for work: painting window frames, weeding, watering flowers, picking cherries, peeling potatoes in the kitchen, collating leaflets in the Publishing House. Maybe one of these tasks will take us to the other side of the wall? A Sister, however, explains: “The Motherhouse is cloistered.” “Cloister” is not a word which I had learnt in my German studies. I look it up in the dictionary and discover that a cloister is a place of seclusion for monks and nuns, a place not accessible to outsiders. I wonder if the Sisters’ parents are also excluded. That must be very hard for them.

I was assigned to work in the guesthouse kitchen. Before leaving to the day’s work, I go to my wardrobe and select a pair of jeans for the day. Yesterday for church, jeans didn’t seem appropriate, but they are just right as working clothes. I don’t feel quite myself when I’m not in jeans. As I leave the building, a Sister comes to meet me. Those jeans! Here in Canaan they must stay in the suitcase and instead of them I am given a skirt to wear at work. I look in the mirror and see that the skirt is loose-fitting and reaches below my knees. It looks so dowdy and I am relieved that no-one from my class at school is here to see me.

A kind Sister greets me at the kitchen door and announces that green beans and bananas are on today’s agenda. Boxes and boxes of bananas – not very fresh but still quite edible. “They were a gift, an answer to prayer,” explains the kitchen Sister. “The produce supplier brought them last night.” As I peel the bananas I think about Realities, The Miracles of God Experienced Today. I don’t seem to recall reading about bananas, but there was a story about sausages being donated in answer to prayer. I also remember reading about beans, Danish cheese, and fodder for the cows. So apparently the stories about answers to prayer are true.

Suddenly the Sister starts to sing. I wonder what she’s practicing for, but she explains she’s not practicing, she’s praying: “Singing is like three-fold prayer and this way we Sisters can pray while we work.” Most of the melodies are new to me; the only one I recognize is the song that woke me up on Sunday.

I wonder what she is praying for. Holding her apron full of green beans, she explains with a sad face that the harvest is in danger because of lack of rain. “Therefore, we Sisters must repent and pray much.”

There was a similar story in the book. That year there was too much rain instead of not enough. The Sisters thought the rain was the result of their sin and they repented. And the rain stopped. I wonder if the sunshine this fall is the Sister’s fault, but I don’t dare to ask.

At lunchtime, stories are shared with the other girls. Each describes their impressions of their new work places. “I made beds in the guest house with one of the Sisters. She was so exact that when she was finished there wasn’t a single crease anywhere. I’m never going to manage that,” tells an American helper grimacing.

“I swept floors and cleaned sinks,” someone else said. “I had to polish the sinks until the copper around the drains looked like gold. If my mother knew that I of all people was doing this, she’d be overjoyed that she had sent me here. I’m certainly not going to write home about it.”

As we share our experiences it seems the thing which astonishes us most is the punctuality and precision we encounter everywhere. The Sisters, however, emphasize that the way they keep their external lives in order is as much a testimony as their spiritual proclamation.

Only some of the Sisters actually worked with us. In the church service I saw so many of them. What are the others doing? How do you become a Sister of Mary? At night in my room with the help of my dictionary I attempt to find answers. A pile of books, all written by Mother Basilea, lies on the table.

The Sisterhood was founded in 1947. Seven young girls joined at its foundation. Now there are far more than one hundred. The leaders are two so-called “Mothers.” The other one is Mother Martyria, whom I haven’t seen yet. After the Sisters built the chapel and Motherhouse with their own hands, many other buildings were added to the property through the gifts of known and anonymous benefactors. The Sisters themselves are not paid for their work.

Retreats are held throughout the summer in the guesthouse. Festivals are celebrated to mark events in the liturgical calendar, and there are also the Herald Plays like the one I experienced. There was also a print-shop which must be within the cloister since none of us had been assigned to work there. The Sisters print Mother Basilea’s books and distribute them in Germany and other countries. In one book I read that the ministry of proclamation is their main task along with prayer. It’s no wonder that the kitchen Sister was singing so fervently. Their motto is to glorify God in whatever they do. That explains the perfectly made beds and the sparkling sinks.

What is it that moves a young woman to become a Sister of Mary? Mother Basilea writes that one receives a calling. A few years ago my church had sent a missionary to Taiwan and our pastor had spoken in his sermon about her calling. He said that it was her mission to go into a foreign land just like Abraham had done. So obviously you can also be called to join the Sisterhood. I decide to ask the kitchen Sister how she received her calling.

Gradually we get used to how things are done: the long skirts, the punctuality, and the set routine of Bible Studies, singing at work, and even the Divine Office. In addition to the “Youth Camp” which comprises girls of high school and college age, there are lots of daily visitors. Some guests come for a few hours to get acquainted with the community. Others stay for ten day retreats. At first my experience of the guests is restricted to my work with the huge quantity of bananas, green beans, or potatoes which are required, until one day a Sister tells us that we can join the guests for their morning and afternoon activities on that day.

In the meeting hall there are rows of wicker chairs and a large floral arrangement beside the podium. Faces are full of anticipation, the Bible Study is about to begin and Mother Basilea will be teaching. Now I experience the Order’s Superior again and this time much closer. She greets the guests with a radiant smile. Before she begins to speak, a Sister whispers something to her and she nods. The Sister places a shawl around her shoulders.

My thoughts roam until I finally prod myself to concentrate. The topic of Bible Study is once again the love for Jesus. How does she express it? Bridal love – a new concept for me. She speaks about the love for Jesus that is willing to sacrifice everything for him. A partial reflection of this can be found in the earthly love of bride and groom.

A deep love relationship with Jesus is formed through this kind of commitment. This love is a gift, given to us when we sincerely repent of our sins and are willing to make sacrifices. The essential calling of a Sister of Mary is to love Jesus and the guests also are encouraged to strive for this type of love for Jesus.

Mother Basilea is a convincing speaker. She relates her own experiences of loving Jesus, and tells us that during her life she has often had to repent of her sins. I doubt whether such a love is possible for me. At sixty a person may have many things to repent of but I’m only fourteen.

The purpose of the afternoon session, led by two of the Sisters, is to reflect on the morning’s Bible study. The chairs are arranged in a circle. In the middle, there is a bouquet of flowers surrounded by containers full of little flags, which flutter as the door opens. I do not know what it all means. Song sheets are passed around and then a leaflet with a sketch of a house. The guests take flags and they seem to know what to do with them. They sing enthusiastically and wave the flags.

The Sisters explain: “This is called the Battle of Faith. We fight the enemies which occupy the house of our hearts.”

The figures drawn on the leaflet illustrate various sins. To the right and left of the house door are “cardinal sins”, those which are the hardest for us to defeat. Each of us has our own particular sins, for example pride, greed, bossiness, or selfishness. If we fight these spiritual enemies faithfully for a quarter of an hour daily, praying and singing in faith, they are forced to leave our heart. It can take a long time, but it is possible because these spiritual enemies are only squatters.

Returning to the theme of the Bible Study, the Sisters continue, “These enemies, our sins, form barriers against bridal love. It is absolutely essential that we defeat them. To the extent that we take our sins seriously, repent of them and battle against them, love will be kindled in our hearts. These flags symbolize the way David raised a standard in the name of God and claimed victory: ‘... in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfill all thy petitions’ (Ps 20:63).”

After the meeting, the participants are given a flag to take with them and a booklet called The Mirror of Conscience and the Order of Confession. The Sisters encourage the guests to take advantage of the opportunity for confession during retreats. Confession will help to remove some of the barriers. Anyone who wants to have a time for confession or counselling with one of the Sisters should drop a note into the mail-box on the first floor of the guest house.

Having decided that confession is not for me, I put the booklet into my drawer. Maybe I’ll try the flag. Eventually my curiosity gets the better of me and I retrieve the booklet. I discover it contains the Ten Commandments and some questions about them. As I read I start to feel very uncomfortable. I realize that even though I’m only fourteen I have still broken some of these precepts. Confession? How can I surmount such a barrier? It is something I have never done.

One day I find myself standing in front of that mail-box hoping that no one is looking. I put in a note, clammy from my cold sweat. After I spoke to one of the Sisters I feel like I have been set free. I had never expected it, but I feel like I could leap about like a spring lamb.

One warm summer evening a few guests, including some Finns, gather outside. Apart from Compline (the evening office-prayer), there was nothing arranged for us this evening. We were explained that the Sisters had their own program for the evening, a “Fellowship in Light.” This is not something that is also on the guests’ agenda and so I wonder what the Sisters are doing. Nobody seems to know and the conversation moves on. Some of our group comment how impressed they have been by the teaching they have received over the last few days. “You seldom hear speakers emphasize loving God the way Mother Basilea does.” Everyone agrees that the kindness we encounter here feels very good.

Somebody remarks how the Sisters’ emphasis on reconciliation impresses her. Many Christians live in strife and division, but here it is important that a unity of love is achieved. Not even people who appear to be our enemies should be excluded. And the Sisters, even though there are so many of them, live in reconciliation with one another. One of the guests thinks he once heard that this was somehow linked to this “Fellowship in Light” which the Sisters have. That was where they asked one another for forgiveness whenever that was required.

After everyone else drifts away, the Finns remain talking. “What I can’t understand,” says one of them, “is how fifteen minutes a day of the ‘Battle of Faith’ can free me from my pride or selfishness. I know the Sisters say it works, but I’m not so sure. Maybe I’m just an especially difficult case?” Skepticism is written on his face.

Amongst the guests attending the summer retreats there were Sisters from other Motherhouses, some wearing blue dresses, others grey or black. This was quite foreign to my Finnish Lutheran heritage since even Finnish deaconesses don’t wear habits any more. It seemed, however, that all of these Sisters have a “calling.” Just like being called to be a missionary, one could be called to be a Sister. There seems to be little difference between the two. In both cases many sacrifices are required. The missionary sent to Taiwan by my home church had had to forsake her home and family, language, culture and much more that she knew and loved. It must be similar for those who join a sisterhood. It must be very hard for a young woman.

I observed the faces of the Sisters of Mary I met during my stay. Was there something in them betraying that the price was too high? In the fields outside, washing up dishes, or in the laundry, I felt like a spy trying to find out if some of the Sisters were unhappy. My scrutiny revealed nothing. Either they were all happy or I was not around at the right time to find out otherwise.