Near Death, Nuns Contemplate the Other Side

The Community Room
Before you joined the church, did you feel the call of God?
Sister Jude: I was always a Roman Catholic. My family was Catholic, but they weren't devout. An angel didn't come down from heaven. I have one beside me all the time — a guardian angel. It's funny that late in life, I got to be friendly with my guardian angel. But she's there; he or she is there. In heaven, we're neither boy nor girl, just angels. But the angels ... they do help you. Their work isn't to serve tables or anything, but they're there. You can trust your angel. He enlightens us. He guides us. He takes care of us.

• Radical Love: The Sisters of Summit, N.J.
• Mae Ryan's website