Sister Teresa?s desire for religion was scandalous.
The nun?s tumultuous life is unveiled by established D.C. author Barbara Mujica in her book, “Sister Teresa.”
Mujica will read excerpts from the novel and discuss Sister Teresa, a popular Spanish saint, at the Enoch Pratt Free Library on Wednesday.
In the historical fiction, Teresa?s father sends her to a convent in the midst of an affair with her cousin to salvage their family name, Mujica said. At the 16th-century convent ? more like a sorority house than a cloister ? Teresa discovers an untapped fervor for a spiritual life.
Teresa, according to Mujica, is a resourceful woman who bucks all hierarchy to confront powerful men and jealous women, fight against sexual blackmail, establish 17 convents and reform an order of nuns. Her efforts, coinciding with the repressive Spanish Inquisition, are considered criminal.
Mujica?s award-winning background and teaching position at Georgetown University impressed Enoch Pratt?s program coordinator, Judy Cooper, who selected Mujica for the upcoming book talk.
“Barbara?s definitely someone we wanted to feature,” Cooper said.
If her previous discussions about Sister Teresa can predict the atmosphere at Enoch Pratt, Mujica expects the discussion to be lively.
“I get a lot of personal testimonies during the question-and-answer [period]; people tell me they feel like they know Sr. Teresa,” she said.
To understand her subject, Mujica “spent a long time with Teresa,” she said. “I taught a course on her for 10 years, and read all of her poetry, major and minor works, and personal, candid letters.”
The novel?s “eye-opening look at Sister Teresa ? a historical and much-loved figure ? is controversial,” said Jack Lamplough of The Overlook Press, which published Mujica?s novel. “[Mujica?s] treatment of the material is raising eyebrows not just among Catholics. It?s unusual and unique in that regard.”
Sister Teresa and Mujica?s retelling of her life “teach a spirituality that transcends rituals or external signs of religion,” Mujica said. “Buddhist, Protestants, Jewish, Catholics ? people of all faiths are attracted to her message. We really need to realize that we don?t have to be so tribal ? only identifying with our own group.”
IF YOU GO
Barbara Mujica
» Venue: Enoch Pratt Free Library?s Central Library
» Where: 400 Cathedral St., Baltimore
» When: 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Wednesday
» Information: 410-396-5430
