Montserrat’s Religious Vocation

Montserrat’s decision to become a Carmelite expresses a personal calling that Alice admires but struggles to reconcile with the hospital’s need for her care.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

A Life of Practical Service

The Work Montserrat Does Many roles Montserrat supports patients as a social worker, psychologist, and gymnastics monitor. Her good humor and attention make her a trusted presence throughout the institution. A visible vocation Alice regards her kindness as central to the hospital’s emotional life. Montserrat demonstrates that service can be disciplined, practical, and personal rather than merely a professional task.

A Call to the Cloister

Choosing a Different Path A decision long considered Montserrat tells Alice she plans to enter a Carmelite convent after years of uncertainty. She understands her choice as a response to God’s guidance, not as rejection of the patients she has served. Alice’s disagreement Alice argues that remaining at the hospital may help more people directly. Montserrat answers through the image of the oscillating girl, whose trustful surrender becomes her model for accepting divine direction.

A Farewell Deferred

Friendship Under Separation Institutional punishment Montserrat’s conflict with the director interrupts her work and separates her from Alice. Their bond now carries the cost of defending one another against administrative power. A remembered guide Alice continues to think of Montserrat as the person who first made the hospital bearable. Her possible return to the institution is partly shaped by the example Montserrat leaves behind.

During Alice’s months in the hospital

During Alice and Montserrat’s walk outside the walls

After Montserrat is suspended by Alvar