Of Bells and Cells: The World of Monks, Friars, Sisters and Nuns
by M. Cristina Borges
This little book beautifully describes religious orders for young children. It begins with a discussion of vocations in general and the call for everyone to be a saint, a theme that recurs throughout the book. Then it describes the specific call to be a religious and the process of entering and professing at a monastery or convent.
But all the outward actions are really only aids to the important work that the religious does inwardly, inside the soul--the long process, which lasts a liftetime, of "dying to self," that is, of not paying so much attention to ourselves, so as to growing the love of God and of neighbor.
The reader learns words like postulant, novitiate, horarium, and habit, as well as Latin phrases like alter Christus. Quotes from Scripture and encyclicals appear throughout.
A double page spread shows men and women religious in full habits with explanations of the clothing. It includes many of the orders a young Catholic will find in readings of saints and history: Benedictine, Franciscan, Dominican, and Carmelite, so they will be familiar with them when they come across them later. It also includes Redemptorist and Carthusian (for the men) and Missionaries of Charity and Conceptionists (for women). An appendix includes descriptions of these orders in more detail.
Then the book describes the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
One of the most important parts describes what religious men and women do, where it tells of a daily schedule of praying and working.
When they leave the chapel, they continue praying in the silence of their hearts, always having God in their minds and hearts while they scrub, build, or plough, or cook, or study, or teach, or care for the poor and needy.
The author explains the difference between contemplative and active orders.
But whether they are contemplative or active, all religious imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, doing simple things very well for the love of Jesus, with prayer and thanksgiving always humming in their hearts and minds.
Finally, there's a section on the priesthood.
The illustrations are lovely. They show religious men and women in their habits, living their lives - praying, eating, serving. There were a few pages with very light coloring in places. On pages 14-15, for example, it is a little difficult to read the English translation under the chant.
This book was recommended by a fellow moderator in the Mater Amabilis Facebook group. You could read it aloud, but it's written to young readers and reading it independently allows a young reader to contemplate the illustrations more slowly. I intend to assign it to my Level 2 student (fourth grade) this year. He could read it in one sitting, but I will assign just a few pages at a time to encourage him to slow down and enjoy it, as much as he is able.
I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased this book new. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.
