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MADE HOLY: IRISH WOMEN RELIGIOUS AT HOME AND ABROAD

By YVONNE MCKENNA

Book Description

Through the voices of more than thirty Irish nuns, this compelling exploration reveals the profound spiritual journeys that led women to embrace religious life both within Ireland and across distant lands. Drawing from intimate oral testimonies, the work illuminates how these women understood their calling and shaped their identities within the context of faith.

The book examines the complex motivations that drew Irish women to religious communities during a time when their opportunities in secular society remained severely limited. These personal accounts serve as windows into broader patterns of migration and social transformation, revealing how spiritual commitment became both a response to societal constraints and a pathway to meaningful purpose.

Beyond individual stories of devotion, this study uncovers neglected chapters of Irish cultural history, exploring how gender, faith, and migration intersected in the lives of women religious. The testimonies provide fresh perspectives on Irish womanhood and challenge conventional narratives about diaspora and belonging.

Through careful analysis of these firsthand accounts, readers encounter authentic voices that have long remained in the shadows of historical discourse. The work demonstrates how religious life offered Irish women opportunities for agency, education, and service that extended far beyond Ireland's borders.

This interdisciplinary approach offers valuable insights for anyone interested in understanding how spiritual calling intersects with cultural identity, gender roles, and the search for meaningful life purpose across different societies and historical periods.