Becoming a Religious Sister: Erik Erikson and Donald Winnicott in Dialogue

Patience Quayson explores what compels someone to answer the call to live a religious life in this book.

She undertook this study to fully understand the extent of the psychological imbalance or immaturity of individuals answering the call to the religious life. She highlights the psychological traits that can help young adults thrive when they decide to serve the Lord.

While such service can be incredibly rewarding, she does not gloss over the not-so-positive aspects of living in a convent that are so little talked about, which can bring sorrow to others. Poor interpersonal relationships between the leaders and the sisters, ineffective decision-making processes, and the arbitrary sending home of younger members are all addressed.

Anyone who decides to make serving the Lord their life's work must possess a certain level of maturity. The author explores what someone must ask themselves before embarking on a religious life, including looking at their past and making an honest assessment about their potential for growth.