The Ear of the Heart: An Actress’ Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows by Mother Dolores Hart and Richard DeNeut (review)

The title is apt. This is indeed the story of an actress, fairly well known in her time, and her improbable journey to a life as a cloistered Roman Catholic nun. And it is indeed a story of the ear and the heart. The pun on the primary author’s last name must be intentional since it is so obvious. But the sentiment rings true. By her own recollection, Mother Dolores Hart’s primary guide throughout her journey was her inner compass. Her parents did not raise her as Catholic; early mentors guided her towards other life callings, and some close friends actively tried to dissuade her from participating in religious life, especially cloistered life. This narrative does not denounce those influences, but takes them in stride as the primary author moves towards what she believes she was called to be and do.

Hart’s early life was unsettled. Her parents had a volatile relationship, marked by failed ambitions, violence, and alcoholism. Their subsequent marriages were unsettled as well. She saw little of her father throughout her formative years and, although her relationship with her mother was intense, it was troublesome. Both parents died relatively young. But Dolores also tells of a loving extended family, especially of her devoted “Granny.” Dolores was sent to Catholic grade school largely as a convenience but early on developed a steadfast faith and was allowed to convert. Her acting career was also unforeseen . . . one of those seemingly easy stories of high school plays and lucky breaks. Although Hart is often touted as “the girl who gave Elvis his first onscreen kiss,” she spends little time on this but does comment on every role, often with great generosity for her fellow actors. She was particularly delighted with her stint on Broadway, playing in The Pleasure of His Company with esteemed stage actors Cornelia Otis Skinner and Cyril Ritchard who remained her friends and supporters.

It was during this time, however, that Dolores began to visit the convent of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut. The story of her transitions, first from actress to postulant and then on to Clothing, Consecration, and Final Vows is peppered with sharp observations, conflicting emotions, and steadfast determination to go forward. Dolores talks about loneliness, doubt, fear, and even unkindness, but also determination drawn from some interior compass.

What follows is a fascinating chronicle, from a very personal perspective, of the transitions in U.S. women’s religious life during the latter part of the twentieth century. The story is more commonly told from those in apostolic orders and congregations – those “out in the streets” doing work in such areas as education, health care, and social work. In contrast to this, Regina Laudis was a site of prayer and contemplation, a place where even Sister Dolores [briefly changed to Sr. Judith] encountered family, friends, and the greater public from behind a screen. But well before the book ends, there are accounts of a much broader outreach that includes the staging of numerous theatrical performances, including collaborations with Patricia Neal, Vanessa Redgrave, and Bobby Short. We also learn about an amazing array of abbey endeavors, including candle-making, cheese-making, carpentry, gardening, piano-tuning, sculpture, blacksmithing, livestock-raising, music recording, and forestry.

The format of the book is both interesting and frustrating. Authorship is divided between Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B. and Richard DeNeut. Mr. DeNeut carries the major narrative. Mother Hart’s portions [written in italics] respond and expand on what he has introduced, making it rather conversational. Sometimes the effect is charming. Sometimes it is confusing, especially when DeNeut inserts paragraph-long quotations from a third party. Moreover, the back and forth structure lends itself to omitting some crucial pieces of transitional information. For example, after dozens of pages describing the nuns’ isolation from “the outside world” during...