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	July 2003				Cecilia - an ex-nun's extraordinary journey. Cecilia Inglis
		Cecilia - an ex-nun's extraordinary journey reviewed by Jean Hopwood
			It is a rare privilege to be given the story of a life which encompasses so much both of a social and deeply personal nature, giving insights into family and religious life, covering 66 years. Cecilia Inglis was nurtured in a loving Irish-Catholic family, the youngest of seven children, who daily absorbed through regular prayers and instruction the foundations of their faith, reinforced by schooling and church attendance. Shaped by tensions Early in life she developed deep devotion to Mary, and a yearning to love and care for others as Jesus did. Her childlike faith developed into a feeling of vocation and she became a postulant at the age of 17. The few doubts she had were suppressed by the fear of what might happen if she denied her vocation. This book shows the evolution of a soul being shaped by tensions between hereditary and environmental forces and the law, and the fullness of life Jesus came to offer us all. We can trace the grace and love of God guiding and sustaining Cecilia through the years, years in which she struggled to hold on to her vision of service to others, in spite of loneliness, missing the closeness of her family, and increasing physical exhaustion. A lesser soul She found encouragement as her gifts of teaching developed and were used in the wider community, especially with young people and other women. Despite all this, after considerable success, including an honours degree at university, the stress culminated in a complete breakdown after family bereavements during which she suffered even greater distress because she was unable to extend the care she longed to give. A lesser soul would have given up completely, but after years of 'treatment' which left her feeling 'dead', she continued in the order, having learned that just 'to be herself' was all she could manage. This was crucial to her future. Freedom Vatican II caused a gradual change of direction and Cecilia was able to work with other churches, gaining insights into her own spirituality, and finding opportunities to share deeply about her past pain, resulting in spiritual and emotional healing. She developed her own skills in these areas, and was again able to find deep satisfaction in sharing in retreats and seeing others helped and healed. Granted a year's live-in sabbatical with 56 other nuns from Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere exposed them to 'the world' in ways which opened their eyes in amazement. Such freedom! As years passed, Cecilia realised her own deep needs were not being met. Seeking a life partner in a relationship in which she could love and be loved, she left the order and began a search which used her natural gifts and abilities to the full. This brought Cecilia to the end of one quest, and the beginning of a happy and fulfilling life.