The Demands of Rome Her Own Story of Thirty-One Years as a Sister of Charity in the Order of the Sisters of Charity of Providence of the Roman Catholic Church

"The Demands of Rome" by Elizabeth Schoffen is a powerful memoir that unveils the author's three-decade journey as a Sister of Charity, exposing the harsh realities of convent life through a personal lens. The story begins with Schoffen's resolve to shed light on what she perceives as the restrictive and prison-like environment of the convent, contrasting it with outward displays of religious dedication. She recounts her early life, deeply rooted in Catholic traditions, which led to her joining the Sisterhood, before detailing her growing disappointment with the rigid structure and overwhelming expectations placed upon her. From her novitiate days to her battles against imposed ignorance and the subtle conditioning she and others endured, Schoffen's narrative serves as both a personal account and a call to understand the impact of such religious systems on individual liberty and societal principles.