Questions concerning Victorian convents

[indri]

Assume, for the sake of it, that I know very little about organised religion. All my memories of Sunday school involve colouring in Joseph's coat.

So how long would one spend in a convent before one could take holy orders? What might the preparation involve? Could anyone point me towards a URL or book on life in mid-Victorian nunneries? My google skills seem to be failing me tonight and I want to get back to the writing.

Comments

[makd.livejournal.com]

In a previous incarnation, I studied for the convent. Granted, it was (typically for me) a different type of Order, but, the process was similar to that of other Orders.

Usually, it's one year as a Postulant, 5 years (It can be as little as two, depending on the Order) as a novice, then, at the close of the period of the novitiate, one declares Holy Orders in an elaborate ceremony.

Of course, I was a pre-postulant - which means that both they/I were considering Postulancy, but I recall The Process fairly well. That was in 1964. Don't know what has/hasn't changed, since, as I said, it was in a previous incarnation. Not that person anymore.

[indri]

So Dru would would have been in the convent for years after her family's death before Angelus killed her. That suggests three possibilities.

1. Angelus spent several years tormenting her.
2. Angelus killed her family, left her alone for some time and then came back to kill her.
3. Angel was wrong about her being there long enough to take holy orders.

it was in a previous incarnation. Not that person anymore

I'll admit to being surprised :) Mind you, another friend of mine trained to be a priest for a while before giving it up to become an sf writer.

[makd.livejournal.com]

Another possibility? The ME writing staff didn't know The Process. ;-)

[indri]

Sadly, given other ME historical gaffes, this is the most likely scenario. But one perseveres :)

[malkingrey.livejournal.com]

Stranger things have happened. I know of one small parochial elementary school in Westchester County, New York, that produced three unrelated science fiction writers within roughly a six-year span.

[http://users.livejournal.com/peasant_/]

:: bounces up and down with excitement ::

Yes! Yes!

I've always assumed it took him years to torment her properly (but not too many given his short attention span). I've always wanted to read a fic which really considers the tormenting in mental terms, not just the puppy-nailing ones, and by George if you are writing that fic then I can't think of anyone better qualified! Write! Write!

(Is this the one you want me to beta? :: bounces some more ::)

[indri]

Aaaaaah!

It's supposed to be a quick post-NFA piece with flashbacks. And then I stupidly thought about it too hard. Or, you know, just a little.

I'm sending you an email about this to pick your brains a bit and have a bit of discussion. I considered posting it here, but then I'd spoil my entire reading audience for the story and not just my beta.