At 3.40pm the bell rings and we begin to make our way to the Chapter House, taking seats in a circle around the room, with our Abbess, Sr Anna, at the desk at the head. She offers us a short conference to encourage us through Lent, then begins the distribution of Lent books.

If I chose for myself I would choose the Gospel of John. The Abbess gives herself the Letter to the Romans. She must want something to chew over, reading Romans, St Paul’s longest letter, can be quite a challenge. Sr Josephine, the Prioress, is given the Gospel of John. I knew that she was choosing that for herself. Others have chosen non-Scriptural books… Someone else is given the Gospel of Matthew – of the four Gospels probably the one I find hardest. Hopefully not for me. We are approaching my end of the community now. Someone else has the Gospel of John – so I know it’s unlikely to be given to a third person (ie me). Sr Stephen immediately precedes me in community – she is given the Gospel of Luke. I wouldn’t mind that….

Sr Anna is looking around for me, about to call my name. I tense my legs ready to rise up and bow to acknowledge the gift of the book, as is customary.

‘Sr Therese, The Letter to the Romans.’

So that is it. Not an easy read, but I have studied a lot of St Paul in the autumn term so it is good to stay with him for lectio, and there are some wonderful passages, too. Without opening the book, the one that springs to mind is in Chapter Eight:

“Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.”

Sr Therese