Title Page of Awful disclosures of Maria Monk
Maria Monk, Awful disclosures of Maria Monk, as exhibited in a narrative of her sufferings during a residence of five years as a novice, and two years as a black nun, in the Hotel Dieu Nunnery at Montreal (New York: Howe & Bates, 1836). New-York Historical Society.
Document Text |
Summary |
| Some of my readers may feel disposed to exclaim against me, for believing things which will strike them as so monstrous and abominable. To such I would say, without pretending to justify myself: you know little of the position in which I was placed; in the first place, ignorant of any other religious doctrines, and in the second, met at every moment by some ingenious argument, and the example of a large community, who received all the instructions of the priests as of undoubted truth, and practiced upon them. Of the variety and speciousness of the arguments used, you cannot have any correct idea. They were often so ready with replies, examples, anecdotes, and authorities, to enforce their doctrines, that it seemed to me as if they could never have learnt it all from books, but must have been taught by wicked spirits. . . . | Some people who read my account may not believe me because it sounds too terrible to be true. I say that they do not understand how awful my position was. I did not know anything about religious teaching. People constantly told me I was wrong. And the whole community followed whatever the priests commanded. The Catholics had an answer for every question or concern that I raised. It seemed to me that every word that they said must have come from some evil spirit, not books. |
| Among the marks which I still bear of the wounds received from penances and violence, are the scars left by the belt with which I repeatedly tortured myself, for the mortification of my spirit. These are most distinct on my side; for although the band, which was four to five inches in breadth, and extended round the waist, was stuck full of sharp iron points in all parts, it was sometimes crowded most against my side, by resting in my chair, and then the wounds were usually deeper there than anywhere else. | I still have scars from the beatings I received during my time as a nun. But the worst are the scars I got from a special belt I wore to torture myself. The belt was studded with sharp iron points. It wrapped tightly around my waist. When I sat in a chair the points would pierce my skin. |
| My thumbs were several times cut severely by the tight drawing of the hand used to confine my arms; the scars are still visible upon them. | My thumbs were cut several times when my hands were tied tightly together. I still have these scars too. |
| The rough gagging which I several times endured wounded my lips very much; for it was common, in that operation to thrust the gag hard against the teeth, and catch one or both the lips, which were sometimes cruelly cut. The object was the stop the screams made by the offender as soon as possible; and some of the old nuns delighted in tormenting us. . . . | Sometimes I was gagged. They tied the gag so tight that my teeth would cut my lips. They used the gag to stop their victim from screaming. Some of the old nuns seemed to like hurting us. |
Maria Monk, Awful disclosures of Maria Monk, as exhibited in a narrative of her sufferings during a residence of five years as a novice, and two years as a black nun, in the Hotel Dieu Nunnery at Montreal (New York: Howe & Bates, 1836). New-York Historical Society.
Background
By the 1830s, the American population was growing uncomfortable with the number of immigrants that were arriving annually. This led to the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment and policies that came to be called “nativism.”
Nativists believed that immigrants would take jobs and opportunities from people born in the U.S. They worried that immigrant populations would introduce traditions and cultural practices that would weaken American society and culture. They wanted the U.S. government to limit the number of immigrants allowed into the U.S., and they wanted to make sure that those immigrants who were allowed fit their narrow definition of “good citizens.” Nativism was a powerful motivator in the 1800s. Nativist politicians and voters oversaw the passage of increasingly strict immigration laws.
About the Document
Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk was published in January 1836. The book’s author claimed to be a former nun who wanted to expose the crimes committed by the Catholic Church. Historians have confirmed that the book was a hoax. But in the 1830s, most Americans were anxious about the arrival of large numbers of Irish Catholic immigrants. Awful Disclosures seemed to confirm their worst fears about what a Catholic invasion might mean for their country. The book was taken for truth and became a national best seller. It formed the cornerstone of the anti-Catholic nativist movement in the U.S.
Discussion Questions
- What is the author trying to accomplish with this book?
- How does the author convince sceptics that her account is real?
- Why do you think this book was so popular?
Suggested Activities
- Teach this document in any lesson about nativism and the rise of the Know Nothing Party.
- Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk is an excellent example of how political literature disguised as journalism can manipulate unsuspecting audiences. Use this resource to teach students how to investigate a source for possible bias. Ask them to reflect on how the passages make them feel, and how the author is achieving that effect.
- To learn how nativism affected the lives of immigrant women, see:
Themes
IMMIGRATION, MIGRATION, AND SETTLEMENT
