The original 1985 edition of Children of the Poor Clares was the first book to expose the reality of the treatment of children placed in church care in Ireland's post-independence horrendous industrial school system. Giving an intimate picture, covering over four decades, of life in one of these institutions, it documented the gross physical and emotional abuse, neglect, malnourishment, exploitation, lack of proper education, deprivation, and humiliation that scarred the children for life. It further identified the collusion of the state and its own lawbreaking that enabled the abuse in its vast apparatus of incarceration of impoverished children. This revised updated edition gives chilling details of revelations that have since become public and of the state's ultimate responsibility for what took place.

The original 1985 edition of Children of the Poor Clares was the first book to expose the reality of the treatment of children placed in church care in Irelands post-independence horrendous industrial school system. Giving an intimate picture, covering over four decades, of life in one of these institutions, it documented the gross physical and emotional abuse, neglect, malnourishment, exploitation, lack of proper education, deprivation, and humiliation that scarred the children for life. It further identified the collusion of the state and its own lawbreaking that enabled the abuse in its vast apparatus of incarceration of impoverished children. This revised updated edition gives chilling details of revelations that have since become public and of the states ultimate responsibility for what took place.

"Clare is a wealthy noblewoman with a handsome fiancé, but all she wants is to belong totally to Jesus. Her friend Francis preaches about giving up everything to follow Jesus, but Clare's father wants her get married and stop causing trouble. Will Clare risk everything to follow Christ, or will she give in to her family's wishes?"--Back cover.

'An inspiring book of simple spirituality' Galway Advertiser Originally published a decade ago, the number one bestseller Calm the Soul: A Book of Simple Wisdom and Prayer was written by the Poor Clares, Galway with the intention of showing us how prayer and moments of quiet contemplation can help us find solace and calm in today's busy world. Now, this specially updated edition brings the original reflections on familiar prayers such as the Our Father, Hail Mary and the Rosary, and prayers for special intentions such as depression and self-esteem, together with new material on issues such as anxiety and social media and a section on some of the sisters' favourite saints. This timeless book of spirituality presents simple ways we can introduce more prayer to our days and, in doing so, live with more peace and happiness.

ÊCan life really be "merry" inside a Poor Clare cloister? This happy book reveals the challenges, cares and joys of that cloistered life from an "insiders" view. The poet's cry, "O world, I cannot hold you close enough!" is the heart's cry of the enclosed contemplative. No one who has not lived in a cloister can fully understand just how intertwined are the lives of cloistered nuns. Their hearts may be wide as the universe and bottomless as eternity, but the practical details of their living are boxed up into the small area within the enclosure walls. Cloistered nuns rub souls as well as elbows all their lives, and if they do not step out of themselves to get a true perspective, they can become small-souled and petty and remain immature children all their lives long. But, as Mother Mary Francis points out, they also have "as great a right to be merry as any lady in the world." Nor is merriment all. "Hidden away from the glare and noise of worldly living," Mother Mary Francis writes, "we are enclosed in the womb of holy Church. I walk down the cloisters, and my heart moves to a single tune: Lord, it is good, so good to be here!"

Inspired by St. Francis and his ideal of holy poverty Clare left everything to follow Christ. This decision meant conflict with her family and an uncertain future but Clare never wavered. Her small group of followers took root and the new foundation