Posted on 06/09/2021 3:02:40 AM PDT by Libloather
A 92-year-old nun, who took a vow of silence, solitude and poverty, has died at the monastery where she lived for the past three decades - however the full story of Sister Mary Joseph's life is far from traditional.
Until she dedicated herself to a life of prayer she was known as Ann Russell Miller, a wealthy San Francisco socialite who hosted lavish parties, had season tickets to the opera and was the mother of ten children.
Born in 1928, Ann had dreams of becoming a nun, but she fell in love instead.
At 20, she married Richard Miller, who became vice president of Pacific Gas and Electric, a utility company.
"By age 27 she had five kids," her youngest son, Mark Miller, wrote in a series of tweets at the weekend. "She went on to have five more - a basketball team of each sex. Planned Parenthood she called it."
**SNIP**
On her 61st birthday Ann threw a party for 800 guests at the Hilton Hotel in San Francisco to say farewell to her friends and family. They ate expensive seafood, listened to live orchestral music and Ann is said to have worn a flower crown and had tied a helium balloon to herself which said "here I am" so people could find her to say their goodbyes.
She told her guests she had devoted her first 30 years of life to herself, the second 30 to her children and that the last third of her life would be dedicated to God. The next day she flew to Chicago to live at the monastery as Sister Mary Joseph.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Gave it all up.
How.
Found a way for someone to take care of her in her old age.
Is that what you got out of her story- that she was searching for a retirement home?
She is searching for the treasure buried in the field, that upon finding it, sells everything she owns to buy the field and enjoy.
My hat is off to her. I made that vow at age 50. The first half was for me, the second half for God. It’s a real experience to find and experience the bliss and peace that surpasses all understanding.
🙏
Lol. Not everyone appreciates a dry sense of humor.
One of her sons posted a long Twitter thread about her a few days ago. It was quite something. He didn’t seem resentful at all. Personally, I can’t imagine never seeing my grandchildren or great grandchildren- I don’t have any yet, but I anticipate them as my reward in life.
With 10 children do you think all that laundry had something to do with her decision?
In all seriousness, I’m glad she found her calling at whatever age.
If that was true she wouldn’t have lasted a day. Convent life back then was hard but the cloistered life is really hard. I’m just surprised that her order accepted her given her age when she entered.
Born in 1928 + 61 years makes the year she entered 1989.
Not really not that long ago.
Convent life was hard back in 1989.
They were losing converts for decades why wouldn’t they take her.
Or maybe you thought she entered in 1928.
Her age at entering is what surprised me especially for a cloistered order. It’s a hard life in many ways. However, I do applaud her.
Thank you for the post. Blessings to her.
And this reminds me of actress Dolores Hart. She abandoned Hollywood and an acting career at age 25 to become a nun.
“In 1963, Hart left Hollywood for good and became a nun. She entered the strictly cloistered Benedictine Regina Laudis Monastery in Bethlehem, Connecticut, of which she is the Reverend Mother (or prioress).” (IMDB.com Bio)
See also: https://abbeyofreginalaudis.org/community-mdh.html
I also recommend reading her autobiography — “The Ear of the Heart: An Actress’ Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows”
Unless the convent has hard physical labor to do.
More power to her.
I'm guessing there was a nice check from the wealthy lady to the order that influenced their decision making.
WOW! I think you may be right! Cloistered life is no picnic. She stayed. I applaud her.
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