Case XXXIV: Forcing a Person to Enter the Convent

Case.—Mrs. M. was entrusted with the care of two nieces who had as an inheritance the sum of ten thousand dollars. She was very fond of the younger niece, who was attractive and much sought by suitors. She had no affection for the older, who was not attractive, though good and gentle, and unsought in marriage. Mrs. M. finally concluded that the best place for her elder niece Alice was a convent. This scheme did not meet with Alice’s favor and thereafter the homely relative was subjected to petty annoyances, which in time became persecution and made her life unbearable in the home of her aunt. After a few years of patient suffering, no longer able to bear such ill-treatment, she decided to enter the convent, hoping to have there a happier life than she had so far enjoyed. In this she was disappointed. Hence in the course of a few years she returned to the world. Meanwhile her sister had married and received what remained of the money of Alice, which the married sister now refuses to return, leaving Alice penniless and without a home.

Question.—What should be done?

Solution.—The aunt in question has certainly proved herself an unjust steward. She has a very grave account to settle with the Just Judge. She undertook to be a mother to the orphans and failed miserably. She sinned gravely by her schemes to force her gentle, though homely, niece to enter the religious life against the inclinations and wishes of the girl. She no doubt consoled herself with the conclusion that she was doing great good to the luckless girl, unsought in the world, by compelling her to accept the religious life—forcing her to accept the “better part.” In reality she was doing her ward a positive injury in driving her to act against her will, to take up the burdens of a life for which she had no fitness. The lack of the qualities needed for the successful and peaceful life in the convent could have but one result. Alice found herself even more unhappy in her new life than in the old one. She could not but feel that she was not doing God’s Will and was in consequence running the risk of endangering her soul’s eternal welfare. Therefore she gave up the convent life. For this she is to be praised.

Secondly, the worldly-minded aunt, for this is what she was, sinned against justice by the constant harassing to which she subjected a young girl, who was unable to protect or defend herself in her circumstances. She made the life of her niece unbearable, and although the vexations were in themselves petty, yet by reason of the relations between the two and the utter friendlessness and dependence of the girl, they became relatively grave. A girl’s life for the most part is spent at home and she has a strict claim to proper treatment. A violation of this right may be a grave injustice and in the present case does constitute a serious fracture of the virtue of justice, since it forced the girl in question to leave what should have been her home, and compelled her to seek refuge in a convent where she was absolutely out of place. The liberty of Alice was interfered with in the choice of a vocation. This, indeed, is a serious matter. The Church demands positive freedom for all on this important point and to secure it she has placed heavy penalties on all who break so weighty a law. If the convent in question were one where solemn vows were taken, then this faithless aunt would incur the sentence of excommunication as inflicted by the Council of Trent. Now as to the conduct of the sister of Alice, we must say it is indefensible. She has no right to the money —never had any right to it; she sins in keeping it, and, of course, is bound to restitution. She sins again in not helping her sister who is penniless and homeless. She cannot be absolved until she does her duty by the maltreated and defrauded Alice.