Life in a convent — dream or nightmare? - video Dailymotion

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No money, no partner and no flexibility in the daily routine: many people couldn't imagine living in a convent. But Sister Helena sees it as a little slice of heaven.

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00:01Could you imagine living in a convent or a monastery?

00:04In obedience, chastity and poverty.

00:09I'm Sister Helena and I'll show you my life in the convent.

00:16Behind the walls of this Catholic convent in Auerbach, Bavaria,

00:21Sister Helena begins her day at 4.45am.

00:24Before breakfast, the community gathers in the convent church for silent contemplation, followed by mass.

00:34When you first come here as a nun, you think so much routine, and the days always look the same.

00:41But I'd say life as a nun is anything but dreary and boring.

00:46I don't think I could imagine living a more exciting life.

00:50Sister Helena was baptized Anke Bosse.

00:54She grew up as an only child in a rural part of Baden-Württemberg.

00:58She enjoyed making music as a little girl.

01:01As a teenager, she loved traveling and got involved in her church as an acolyte.

01:05After graduating from school, she studied psychology.

01:09On an exchange semester in England, she got to know a Catholic community

01:13and began questioning her relationship with God.

01:15I actually saw the light and realized I was somehow hungry for faith.

01:22And at the same time, I realized I had to change my own life if I really wanted to follow this one.

01:30On a visit to Auerbach, she listened to the priest's sermon in the abbey church, and then she made her decision.

01:36It hit me like a bolt of lightning, and from that moment I knew that life in the convent was for me.

01:45Sister Helena works outside the convent as a psychologist counseling parents on child-rearing matters.

01:53I do earn some money, but not for myself. My pay goes straight to the convent.

02:03She does get some pocket money for her saints' day, or visits to her parents.

02:08Sister Helena pledged herself to a life in poverty when she entered the convent.

02:13She forgoes any and all luxury.

02:19Here we are in one of our guest rooms.

02:22It's much the same as our rooms in the dormitory.

02:26A bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and of course obligatory for us, a cross in the rooms.

02:34They don't have much else.

02:35The private area of the nuns, called the Kloister, is closed to the public.

02:42Fewer and fewer women are entering Germany's convents.

02:45Currently, they count about 10,000 nuns.

02:48But unlike most of the other orders, the one in Auerbach has no shortage of novices.

02:53Ten of the sisters are younger than 30.

02:55Even with the praise and worship song as part of an otherwise strict daily prayer routine,

03:13there's room for improvisation.

03:15And in sports, too, they can wear sneakers under their habits.

03:19I like to join in once I've worked up the willpower to go to the sports sessions.

03:23But unfortunately, that doesn't happen that often.

03:31Sister Helena only gets in touch with her parents and other family members once every two weeks.

03:37She can speak to them privately over the reception desk telephone for about 30 minutes.

03:46Good morning!

03:48Surprise!

03:49Along with her vows of poverty and obedience, Sister Helena has placed herself to a life of chastity.

03:58I don't have any desire to be sexually active in any way.

04:04Of course, you have the longing for physical closeness of some kind, for a hug or whatever.

04:10That's part of being human.

04:12But I wouldn't say it occupies my thoughts on a daily basis.

04:21Sister Helena has one more year on her three-year profession or vows to the order.

04:28Then she can decide whether to leave the community or pledge herself as a nun for life.

04:33The eternal profession means that we're married to Jesus for eternity.

04:41By then, we've had so much time to prepare for it.

04:45And now comes the time to pronounce the final yes.

04:48It's just pure joy when I think of it.

04:50It's just joy when I think of it.

04:51It's just joy when I think of it.

04:52It's just joy when I think of it.

Life in a convent — dream or nightmare?

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