Title: You Are a New Creation
Author: Maureen Schuler
Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing
ISBN: 978-1098018672
Genre: Religion/Memoir
Pages: 61
Reviewed by: Ella Vincent
Hollywood Book Reviews
You Are a New Creation is a fascinating look at a nun’s religious and personal discovery. Maureen Schuler has written an unforgettable book about her life as a nun. This book tells the story of Schuler’s life as a nun with the Passionist nuns. She details the challenging tasks she had to perform as a novice nun. Schuler also writes about the joy she found teaching students as well.
However, Schuler’s life changes forever after she has a sexual encounter with an older nun. The ensuing aftermath of that encounter led to her being ostracized by her religious community. In addition to her betrayal from her community, the encounter also leads her to struggle with her sexuality. Even though Schuler is presented with numerous challenges in her life, she finds faith in words from God to St. Catherine of Siena: “There is another thing you must do to attain this union and purity: You must never pass judgment in human terms on anything you see or hear from anyone at all, whether it concerns you or someone else. You must consider only my will for them and you.”
Schuler’s writing is confessional and heartbreakingly honest. When she writes about her betrayal by the nun that seduced her, readers will empathize with her wounded emotions. More remarkable is her ability to forgive after being shunned so publicly. Schuler’s belief in forgiveness clearly comes from her resilient faith in God. Her writing about her renewal of her faith through her academic work and reading of Scripture also add depth to You Are a New Creation.
You Are a New Creation tells the story of Schuler’s family history in Ohio as well. The beginning of the text details how her family immigrated to Ohio from Austria and Germany. Schuler also documents how her Catholic faith was passed down to her and how that faith guided her. The pictures of her family throughout the book add a personal touch to her memoir.
You Are a New Creation would be best for readers who want to learn more about the Catholic faith or want to delve more into faith if they’re religious. Readers who like books about nuns’ personal lives such as Unveiledby Cheryl L. Reed will also like this book as well. Even readers who aren’t religious will be inspired by Schuler’s forgiveness and perseverance through traumatic experiences.
You Are a New Creation shows how Schuler believes that God’s grace helped her grow as a nun. Readers will be intrigued by this memoir of a life of service to a higher power.