Authors:

Maria Monk Quotes

I really believed that the priests were acquainted with my thoughts; and often stood in great awe of them. They often told me they had power to strike me dead at any moment.

Maria Monk, Theodore Dwight, John Jay Slocum, William K. Hoyte (1836). “Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk: As Exhibited in a Narrative of Her Sufferings During a Residence of Five Years as a Novice, and Two Years as a Black Nun, in the Hotel Dieu Nunnery at Montreal”, p.80, New York : Howe & Bates

We were constantly hearing it repeated, that we must never again look upon ourselves as our own; but must remember, that we were solemnly and irrevocably devoted to God.

Maria Monk (1851). “The Character of a Convent: Displayed in the Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk ; Being a Narrative of Her Sufferings During a Residence of Five Years as a Novice and Two Years as a Black Nun in the Hotel Dieu Nunnery at Montreal ; to which is Added Confirmatory Notes and Affidavits Whereby Maria Monk's Disclosures are Most Fully Proved, and the Hideous Nature of the Conventual System are Exposed”, p.39

Priests, she insisted, could not sin. It was a thing impossible. Everything that they did, and wished, was of course right. She hoped I would see the reasonableness and duty of the oaths I was to take, and be faithful to them.

Maria Monk (1851). “The Character of a Convent: Displayed in the Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk ; Being a Narrative of Her Sufferings During a Residence of Five Years as a Novice and Two Years as a Black Nun in the Hotel Dieu Nunnery at Montreal ; to which is Added Confirmatory Notes and Affidavits Whereby Maria Monk's Disclosures are Most Fully Proved, and the Hideous Nature of the Conventual System are Exposed”, p.26

I have hardly detained the reader long enough on the subject, to give him a just impression of the stress laid on confession. It is one of the great points to which our attention was constantly directed.

Maria Monk, Theodore Dwight, John Jay Slocum, William K. Hoyte (1836). “Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk: As Exhibited in a Narrative of Her Sufferings During a Residence of Five Years as a Novice, and Two Years as a Black Nun, in the Hotel Dieu Nunnery at Montreal”, p.78, New York : Howe & Bates

My parents were both from Scotland, but had been resident in Lower Canada some time before their marriage, which took place in Montreal; and in that city I spent most of my life.

Maria Monk, Theodore Dwight, John Jay Slocum, William K. Hoyte (1836). “Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk: As Exhibited in a Narrative of Her Sufferings During a Residence of Five Years as a Novice, and Two Years as a Black Nun, in the Hotel Dieu Nunnery at Montreal”, p.9, New York : Howe & Bates

Standing near the door, we dipped our fingers in the holy water, crossed and blessed ourselves, and proceeded up to the sleeping-room, in the usual order, two by two.

Maria MONK, William MONK (pseud?.), Rev. J. J. SLOCUM (1837). “Awful Disclosures ... Second edition, revised by the Rev. J. J. Slocum”, p.60

Some of the priests from the Seminary were in the nunnery every day and night, and often several at a time.

Maria MONK (1836). “Awful Disclosures ... of the Hotel Dieu Nunnery of Montreal. Revised with an appendix, etc”, p.148

Others too would occasionally entertain and privately express such doubts; though we all had been most solemnly warned by the cruel murder of Saint Francis.

Maria MONK, William MONK (pseud?.), Rev. J. J. SLOCUM (1837). “Awful Disclosures ... Second edition, revised by the Rev. J. J. Slocum”, p.153

I often remembered also that I had been told, that we shall have as many devils biting us, if we go to hell, as we have unconfessed sins on our consciences.

Maria Monk, Theodore Dwight, John Jay Slocum, William K. Hoyte (1836). “Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk: As Exhibited in a Narrative of Her Sufferings During a Residence of Five Years as a Novice, and Two Years as a Black Nun, in the Hotel Dieu Nunnery at Montreal”, p.42, New York : Howe & Bates

So far as I know, there were no pains taken to preserve secrecy on this subject; that is, I saw no attempt made to keep any of the inmates of the Convent in ignorance of the murder of children.

Maria Monk (1837). “Awful disclosures of Maria Monk, a narrative of her sufferings in the Hotel Dieu nunnery at Montreal”, p.156

I have, I think, afforded every opportunity that could be reasonably expected, to judge of my credibility.

Maria Monk (1837). “Awful disclosures of Maria Monk, a narrative of her sufferings in the Hotel Dieu nunnery at Montreal”, p.5

A number of girls of my acquaintance went to school to the nuns of the Congregational Nunnery, or Sisters of Charity, as they are sometimes called.

Maria Monk, Theodore Dwight, John Jay Slocum, William K. Hoyte (1836). “Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk: As Exhibited in a Narrative of Her Sufferings During a Residence of Five Years as a Novice, and Two Years as a Black Nun, in the Hotel Dieu Nunnery at Montreal”, p.10, New York : Howe & Bates

The manufacture of wax candles was another important branch of business in the nunnery.

Maria MONK (1836). “Awful Disclosures ... of the Hotel Dieu Nunnery of Montreal. Revised with an appendix, etc”, p.87

All around me insisted that my doubts proved only my own ignorance and sinfulness; that they knew by experience they would soon give place to true knowledge, and an advance in religion; and I felt something like indecision.

Maria Monk (1851). “The Character of a Convent: Displayed in the Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk ; Being a Narrative of Her Sufferings During a Residence of Five Years as a Novice and Two Years as a Black Nun in the Hotel Dieu Nunnery at Montreal ; to which is Added Confirmatory Notes and Affidavits Whereby Maria Monk's Disclosures are Most Fully Proved, and the Hideous Nature of the Conventual System are Exposed”, p.27

The Bishop, as I have remarked, was not very dignified on all occasions, and sometimes acted in such a manner as would not have appeared well in public.

Maria MONK, William MONK (pseud?.), Rev. J. J. SLOCUM (1837). “Awful Disclosures ... Second edition, revised by the Rev. J. J. Slocum”, p.137

Unfortunately, I was not wise enough to listen to her advice, and hastily married. In a few weeks, I had occasion to repent of the step I had taken, as the report proved true - a report which I thought justified, and indeed required, our separation.

Maria Monk, Theodore Dwight, John Jay Slocum, William K. Hoyte (1836). “Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk: As Exhibited in a Narrative of Her Sufferings During a Residence of Five Years as a Novice, and Two Years as a Black Nun, in the Hotel Dieu Nunnery at Montreal”, p.35, New York : Howe & Bates