How I Met Dehey

 Or, probably more accurately, how I found the book. 

I was in my late teens, attending practical nursing school in Louisville, KY. I had planned to found my own congregation of religious Sisters who ministered to priests.  They would pretty much hang out at the convent and pray when not out ministering. The habit would have been royal blue, with black veil, and a royal blue scapular with gold host and chalice surrounded by a red crown of thorns. Belt and rosary would round-out the ensemble. 

Due to some issues, I was asked to redo the clinical portion of Medical-Surgical nursing. The experience was like having a part-time job, and I loved it. In the in-between time, I went to the library, which was half a block from the dining hall. (Our vocational college had an arrangement with a downtown college that had a dorm and dining facilities). I looked up religious life, and found the Dehey tome. 

The first thing I noticed was the almost sweet odor the book was giving off. The year was 1982, and the book had been published in 1930.  There was evidence of light use. 

There were so many pictures in the book!  However, I couldn't get focused on the text. (I didn't know that I have Autism Spectrum Disorder with severe, inattentive Attention Deficit Disorder).  So I enjoyed the smorgasbord of photos.  I was particularly taken with the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament sisters, whose habit had the crown of thorns, and the Albany, NY, convent of the Sacred Heart. 

Eventually, I did get some focus, and read the shorter profiles. I also made lots of photocopies of the foundresses and some of the convents/motherhouses. 

My college career would eventually take me to an internationally famous labor college down in the southern portion of the state. I had intended to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing there. After my Freshman year, I transferred labor positions to the bookstore, and ordered Dehey twice through Inter-Library Loan (ILL) at the library. 

I didn't graduate with a BSN. I did, however, graduate with a B.A. English. I changed majors after suffering burn-out, and taking a five month leave-of-absence. 

Long story short, I had to wait for Mel Waller and his St Athanasius Press to reprint the book. I was able to find both original editions via eBay, though, without paying more than $100 for either one, after the reprint.  God is good!

Curiosity has led me to develop this blog. With the Vocations crisis, I wanted to see who was left.  The Dehey Tour was originally meant to be a website with actual tours listed. I may eventually get there. As the nuns say, "We shall see."

Blessings, Gemma