March 1836 Stonebrook Mill, Chester, England

“Mama!”

The child’s voice was thin and reedy in the night air.

“Mama!”

The cry came again, plaintive, frightened. Light flared as a lamp was lit.

“Sssssh, little one, what is it?”

“Bad dream Mama!” “Bad men and big doggie!” “Grandmas!”

Each statement was interspersed with sobs as the little girl was lifted onto her mother’s lap.

“Ssssssssh, Rose, it’s just a dream, my sweet. Ssssssh.”

The child’s sobs faded as she was rocked in the comfort of her mother’s arms

* * *

June, 1844 Stonebrook Mill, Chester

“Good morning Rose.”

“Is it Mother?” the girl spoke listlessly.

“Another dream Rose?”

“Yes Mother.” The girl sighed. “Every June it is the same, night after night, why is that? “Why do these dreams plague me so?” the girl put her head in her hands as she sat at the oaken kitchen table.

“What was it this time?” Asked her mother.

“The horse Mama, it was the horse, racing across the fields, sparks flying where its feet hit the ground. Men running from it falling down being hit by the hooves!” The girl shuddered as she recalled her dream.

“Then the women came again, three of them as usual, old and stone faced, but their eyes are warm. Who are they Mama? Why do I see them? Oh I wish it would stop!” She put her head on her arms and sobbed.

Her mother sat down next to her, her flour dusted arms gathered the girl in.

“It’s alright Rose, it’s alright. You’re seeing a message from God I’m sure, the light of angels.”

She huffed a half laugh, half sob. “Oh Mother, if so they are the strangest looking angels I have ever seen or heard of! If God is talking to me I wish he would use plainer language, and not speak every night!”

“Rose Caldwell! That’s blasphemous!” Her mother said with a laugh and a hug.

* * *

1846 Carmelite Convent of Saint Teresa Chester, England

“Tell me child, what makes you think that a life of contemplation and devotion is your path? Why do you wish to be a postulant?”

Rose looked up at the woman who sat across the grated opening from her. The Mother Superior was stern faced but her eyes at the moment had warmth in them.

They were sat in the parlor of the convent, the only space in which visitors might be allowed within the convent precincts. Rose sat in the public area barred from the other side by wood paneling, only the grating allowed visitors to see and converse with those within.

Rose considered before answering, at sixteen she was unusual in that she didn’t just blurt out her thoughts. There was also the fact that saying she had visions or dreams of angels was most likely going to get her shown the door than acceptance into the community of Carmelite nuns.

Unlike many of her friends and their families, her family was still stoutly Catholic, not rare, but not that common in England.

“Mother, I cannot explain fully, I just feel in my heart that my life has a meaning and destiny in the work of God. I do not know if it is God’s will or my own desires but I feel I have much to learn from a life that is apart from but of the world.”

“I see.” The older woman appraised the slight girl sat opposite her. She was impressed with the girl’s eloquence it spoke of education beyond that most girls of her age had received. It was also measured and balanced which was unusual for a teenage girl.

“You can read and write?”

“Yes Mother and do my sums, I helped my father with the counting of the mill.”

“You understand to what you commit? If accepted, you will spend three years as a novitiate before we decide if you will join our order fully. At this time we have a dispensation from His Holiness to accept novitiates to our house as we must expand our congregation here in England. However, His Holiness has said that any accepted must spend a period of seven years under simple vows only. This means that you will be able to go out and about and assist with the sick and elderly. This is something our order does not normally do, but His Holiness feels it is necessary in order that the people here accept us. At the end of that time, you may decide to take full vows and enter the contemplative life fully or stay as you are. One other thing His Holiness included in his dispensation was the matter of the dowry. He has set aside the normal requirement of two hundred crowns as your dowry and set it at 10 crowns, with the rest paid by the papal bank. Do you understand all this? Do you have the money for a dowry?”

“I understand Mother. We are not a wealthy family, the mill is tied to the estate of the Culpeppers, but my father works hard and has saved the dowry for me.”

“Very well child, I will consider and pray on the matter and I will talk to Father Peter and he will let you know my decision.”

* * *

1847 Carmelite Convent of Saint Teresa Chester, England

“You have now taken your final vows and stand before Christ as his bride. Now is the time to put aside your past and take up your new life. As a symbol of this release of the past, you will have new names in Christ.”

The Mother Superior spoke to the three young women in front of her.

“Novitiate Emily, hence forth you shall be known as Judith.

“Novitiate Mary, hence forth you shall be known as Katherine.

The Mother Superior sighed as she turned to the last girl who stood head bowed before her.

“Novitiate Rose, hence forth you shall be known as Rose.”

The girl looked up in surprise, why did she not have a new name? Had she failed, was she to leave the convent?

“Do not fear child, I have prayed many times on what your new name should be. Each time I received the same answer from God. A white Rose with a single red petal it is clear that your name came from God in the first place so you shall keep it. The Bishop has agreed.”

“Now my children, you are sisters under God and may wear his habit with humility. Your new garb is in your cells. Go with God my children.”

She held out her hand for each of the new nuns to genuflect and kiss before departing.

Her brow was creased and her eyes worried as she watched Rose, no Sister Rose, follow the others from the chapel.

She did not know why but she knew in her heart that the newly accepted nun would follow a different path to her fellows.