Catherine Butler-Burns decided to become a nun aged 17. It was a shock to her parents, they weren’t especially religious by Irish standards of the time and until then Catherine had been having a lively teenage social life. But she chose to take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience because the women she saw “saving the world” were nuns.
Catherine took on a role teaching speech and drama at a Catholic school in Scotland where she met a priest called Father Michael. There was evidently an emotional connection between them but it was never openly acknowledged.
She lived and worked as a nun for 42 years then - aged 60 - she made a momentous decision. And what would become of the love that had been stifled for nearly thirty years?
To get in touch with the programme, or to share your personal story, you can email us at: lifechanging@bbc.co.uk
Image: Catherine Butler-Burns Credit: Catherine Butler-Burns
We said we’d never talk about it again
I’m held together by 17 titanium plates
The phone call that changed everything
We were paraded through the streets and spat at
Life Changing returns on October 13th
The near-death experience that made me a musician
Vitiligo turned all of my brown skin white
The coalman who could have been a prince
The day I lost a lifetime of memories
I witnessed the plane crash that killed my sisters
I stole €1.75 million from work to feed my gambling habit.
A falling man left me paralysed
Discover extraordinary real-life stories
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Maverick Show with Matt Bowles
Global News Podcast
The Infinite Monkey Cage
Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
You’re Dead to Me
Elis James and John Robins