Called to Compiègne

by Jonathan Michael O'Brien

228 pages, Paperback

Published August 2, 2024

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author retells the story of the sixteen Carmelite nuns who became martyrs of the French Revolution. Followed by a rare English translation of Sister Marie de l'Incarnaton's version of the Carmelite nuns story. Features more in-depth bios of each martyr from Sister Marie de l'Incarnaton's point of view as well as translated canticles, letters, and two sessions from Moniteur de l'epique. The author gives a background of events and history, describes each nun's personality and character and retells not only how it came to be that they were beheaded but how they chose to deal with their circumstances each step of the way from being separated to marching to meet their death. In the past, I found Catholic books to be very dry and detached, focusing on theology or so enthralled with a saint to the point that God is totally taken out of the equation. The saint becomes God-like. This author is not afraid to share his feelings. They are subtly put into the book without detracting from helping the reader sense who these nuns really were and what the country was really like for Catholic priests and nuns. The sisters show the modern reader a way to deal with terrorism and religious persecution. It is the author's very heart and soul that made it hard for me to put the book down. I love how God and God's word are not lost in the thick of it all. The way the nuns used their special gifts from God to glorify his name at their death is uplifting and inspiring. Do not skip the letters or sessions. The sessions were very eye-opening.