Radical Love

by Toni Greaves

Photographed over seven years, this striking documentary narrative of life within a cloistered monastery in Summit, New Jersey, reveals a young nun’s passage amidst a dedicated religious community.

Published by Chronicle Books
/ September 2015

From the publisher... The sudden revelation of a powerful religious calling was an entirely unexpected event in the life of a college student named Lauren. But when it became clear to her that she had a spiritual vocation, she made the exceptional decision to dedicate her life to God. Drawing upon many visits to the cloistered religious community of Dominican nuns in Summit, New Jersey, photographer Toni Greaves has created a luminous body of work that follows the transformative journey by which Lauren became Sister Maria Teresa of the Sacred Heart. Presented in an exquisite photobook volume featuring a luxe cloth case, these meditative photographs capture the radical joy of a life dedicated unequivocally to love.

featured in

“Toni’s luminous images marry the quotidian with the divine in all sorts of ways: a young novice dribbles a basketball in full habit; a jar of Vick's VapoRub nestles a bottle of holy water; a group portrait of all 19 sisters, whose ages range from 25 to 90, includes Sabina, the golden retriever, splayed flat on the floor” –  September 5, 2015

Recognised internationally, including:

“When I was discerning what I should do with my life... I saw that none of it was enough, none of it would fulfill me, and I had to give myself more radically to God.”
– Sister Lauren, age 22

06:12 minutes
This multimedia piece was created within the first year of this seven-year project.

Credits
Toni Greaves – photography, interviews, audio, editing, production
Sister Mary Catharine – acapella vocals
Dominican Nuns of Summit – choir vocals