Flores de sangre

by Mary Judith Ress

In 1969, Sister Meg Carney is fresh out of the Novitiate and sent as a missionary to Chile-just in time to witness the overthrow of the socialist government of Salvador Allende. In the aftermath of the brutal military coup, the priest she works with is murdered and she herself is the target of surveillance. Burned out, grieving over the loss of her compaero, Alfredo, and no longer the young nun who had set out so enthusiastically to bring God's word to the Chilean people six years earlier, Meg accepts an invitation from her Mother Superior to work in El Salvador where she will join Theo, her best pal from Novitiate days, and her former Novice Mistress "Queen Mum." Smugly feeling she is now a savvy missionary, Meg is soon set straight by Theo who tells her an entirely different revolution is taking place in El Salvador. Fed by Biblical refl ection rather than by Marxist analysis, Meg is soon caught up in events that bring revolutionary forces to a head. As Meg-a woman burdened by her vow of chastity-struggles with her religious vocation to serve the poor, she somehow manages to fi nd love and peace in the rawness of life.

225 pages, Paperback

First published February 24, 2010

Reviews

[Lucy Montecino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confession, the author is a friend, and I really admire her for having written a novel. The theme and setting, activists in Latin America in the 70's and 80's is so hard to write about because the times and our approach today is so different that the past seems so distant and the way things were then almost a fantasy. Reading the book reminded me so much of the way we were.

[Charmaine Pauls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood Flowers is the incredibly moving tale of three Catholic nuns, Meg, Molly and Theo, and the paths they chose and lived during the turbulent political times of the 70’s and 80’s in Chile and El Salvador. Not only does the story bring to light the horrifying events of the struggle for equality and freedom, but also universal questions regarding life purpose, death, belonging, love, sexuality, the need for approval, and religious dogma.

The story flows smoothly with a good pace and engaging narration, mostly told from the protagonist, Meg’s point of view. Toward the end we also have a glimpse into Molly’s mind, when an unforeseen twist is revealed. The characters are beautifully flawed with spiritual struggles that are easy to identify and sympathize with. The answers they find to their most haunting questions bring a measure of peace to a realistic end that doesn’t lack in hope or truth.

This is not only the story of one woman and her beloved Sisters’ struggle, but a metaphor for the human plight on a global level. The historical facts are drizzled throughout the story, soaked up by a compelling plot that left me yearning for more about Meg, Molly and Theo, and the countries they belonged to without belonging. These eternal travelers discovered that healing is ongoing, that not all questions have answers, and that not having all the answers is fine, too. Like the blood flowers (or cotton bush) of El Salvador, the story will bloom in your heart and sprout roots in your soul.

I highly recommend the read to anyone interested in history, theology, spiritualism, politics, psychology, ideology, dispelling ignorance, and a generally good read that will not leave you unmoved. Having walked 278 pages with Meg, I, too, like her friends, feel privileged to know her. I give the story five, bright, shiny stars, with the names of the players who filled the pages embedded on each and hung from an immortal and unforgettable story tree.