Life in a convent – Silence, a path to fall silent

“A bed, a chair, a washbasin”… However, the convent spokeswoman reassures us, “don’t worry, we no longer live in the Middle Ages. On the contrary, the nuns are real experts when it comes to using WhatsApp”, she says with a smile while typing a sms on her mobile phone.

The convent is called the “Monasterio de la Purísima Concep­ción” and its nuns are Agustinas Hermanas del Amparo, (Au­gustinian Sisters). The history of this order begins around the middle of the XIV century, when a group of women from Pollença decided to establish a contemplative community. The women went as far as the Puig de Pollença also known as Puig de Maria. In this place, with the help of the townspeople they built their first convent.

Around the middle of the XVI century, the Council of Trent decreed that all monasteries located in rural areas should move into the cities and establish their residences there. As a conse­quence of the papal order the nuns came to Palma around1560, and in1576 the nuns set up their permanent residence in a XIV century house known as “La casa del Brollador” or “La casa de la fuente”, ceded to them by a benefactor. As time went by and in keeping with their needs, the nuns acquired land and adja­cent properties and the monastery became progressively larger. The building of the cloisters began in1581 and the construction of the Church was finalised in1681. It is decorated with frescos, paintings and sculptures by Valencian and Catalonian artists.

For the first time, the real estate agency, First Mallorca was allowed behind the walls to visit this mediaeval site. Once inside, the visitor beholds a Garden of Eden right in the middle of Palma. The cloisters border an exquisitely cared for garden as well as a small, beautiful orchard to which the nuns’ rooms, their living quarters, the chapterhouse and the entrance to the church are connected. The visitor feels transported in time. The reigning silence is only broken by the Mother Superior as she kindly responds to each of our questions.

What is the history of the silver walnut? The abbess of the Monastery of Santa Margarita wished to have a wooden fig­ure of Christ made for her convent so she asked one of the neighbours to give her the walnut tree in her possession. The neighbour refused to sell her the tree because she made a living from selling the walnuts. The following year, the tree produced only one walnut. The tree’s owner taken aback saw this as a divine sign and decided to make a gift of the walnut tree to the convent. The legend says that when the wood carvers started to work on it, they discovered within a wooden figure of Christ and inside the walnut a small sculpture of Christ on the cross. For this reason it was de­cided that the walnut should be coated in silver and hung to be venerated beside the wooden figure of Christ in the convent.

 How many nuns live in the convent? Eight, four of whom need specialist care.

What is daily life like in the convent? After rising, prayer begins and Laudes is said, then breakfast after which everyone goes about their daily obligations. At 12.00 the prayer of the Angelus is said, lunchtime is at 13.00 and at 17.00 Vespers, the Rosary and the Eucharist are said. At 20.00 dinner and community life takes place.

What are this congregation’s rules? The rules are based on the three vows of chastity, poverty and obedience to which work and prayer are joined.

 What mis­sionary tasks does the Congregation pursue? The congregation Augustinas Hermanas del Amparo (Augustin­ian Sisters) work in teaching and social work. They currently have missions in Peru, Honduras and Nicaragua where they devote their time to schools, nursery schools, health care, meals for the poor and the care of women. In Spain, the Con­gregation is involved in social work, private Catholic schools and boarding schools which the State and foundations par­tially finance.

We listen attentively to the Mother Superior and enjoy the prevailing silence. Then we accompany her to see other gems of the convent, the idyllic fruit garden, the little chap­el and the Church. After more than an hour, we bid farewell to this beautiful place of silence and reflexion that can only be visited by prior appointment.