Lawrence Wright

i this sort of hero in my book is this catholic deacon named ronnie lastovica who's a cattleman and he lives in in belton texas and you know a real texas figure but you know he's he's a very pious catholic and his bishops said he wanted him to start ministering into the women's prisons there five, I think, in Gatesville. And four of them are women's prisons and one men.

i this sort of hero in my book is this catholic deacon named ronnie lastovica who's a cattleman and he lives in in belton texas and you know a real texas figure but you know he's he's a very pious catholic and his bishops said he wanted him to start ministering into the women's prisons there five, I think, in Gatesville. And four of them are women's prisons and one men.

i this sort of hero in my book is this catholic deacon named ronnie lastovica who's a cattleman and he lives in in belton texas and you know a real texas figure but you know he's he's a very pious catholic and his bishops said he wanted him to start ministering into the women's prisons there five, I think, in Gatesville. And four of them are women's prisons and one men.

Huntsville has most of the men. So he started interviewing the women who are ministering to the women on death row. And it occurred to him that there were some women who lived very similar lives. So he drove over to Waco and knocked on the door of the convent.

Huntsville has most of the men. So he started interviewing the women who are ministering to the women on death row. And it occurred to him that there were some women who lived very similar lives. So he drove over to Waco and knocked on the door of the convent.

Huntsville has most of the men. So he started interviewing the women who are ministering to the women on death row. And it occurred to him that there were some women who lived very similar lives. So he drove over to Waco and knocked on the door of the convent.

and bear in mind these nuns although they haven't taken a vow of silence essentially they're silent and praying all day long and um and although they're not cloistered they don't they don't go out very much so ronnie knocks on the door and says you know sister there's some there's some women who could use your help and um you know they're living in community but they don't know how and you've got you know ancient monastic traditions about how

and bear in mind these nuns although they haven't taken a vow of silence essentially they're silent and praying all day long and um and although they're not cloistered they don't they don't go out very much so ronnie knocks on the door and says you know sister there's some there's some women who could use your help and um you know they're living in community but they don't know how and you've got you know ancient monastic traditions about how

and bear in mind these nuns although they haven't taken a vow of silence essentially they're silent and praying all day long and um and although they're not cloistered they don't they don't go out very much so ronnie knocks on the door and says you know sister there's some there's some women who could use your help and um you know they're living in community but they don't know how and you've got you know ancient monastic traditions about how

to live together. And I think you could help them. And... Oh, okay, well, where are they? Well, they're on death row. Oh, we don't get out much. So these women, their average age is mid-30s. And so if there's a future of Catholicism, I think they're going to be a part of it.

to live together. And I think you could help them. And... Oh, okay, well, where are they? Well, they're on death row. Oh, we don't get out much. So these women, their average age is mid-30s. And so if there's a future of Catholicism, I think they're going to be a part of it.

to live together. And I think you could help them. And... Oh, okay, well, where are they? Well, they're on death row. Oh, we don't get out much. So these women, their average age is mid-30s. And so if there's a future of Catholicism, I think they're going to be a part of it.

But they were terrified, but they felt obligated because Ronnie had asked, and it seemed like something that they were capable of. So they went to this highly secure prison. And interestingly, The guards were a little scared of the nuns. It's like they answered to a different order. They were on their best behavior and a little odd. And they're all in these gray habits. What a riveting scene.

But they were terrified, but they felt obligated because Ronnie had asked, and it seemed like something that they were capable of. So they went to this highly secure prison. And interestingly, The guards were a little scared of the nuns. It's like they answered to a different order. They were on their best behavior and a little odd. And they're all in these gray habits. What a riveting scene.

But they were terrified, but they felt obligated because Ronnie had asked, and it seemed like something that they were capable of. So they went to this highly secure prison. And interestingly, The guards were a little scared of the nuns. It's like they answered to a different order. They were on their best behavior and a little odd. And they're all in these gray habits. What a riveting scene.

Yeah. And they walk into the common room where the death row women are all dressed in white. And the weird thing is they immediately embrace each other. And it was true, they have very much in common. They each live in cells, as they're called in the convent. They each arise around 4.30 in the morning and pray, and then they got crafts and stuff. It's just very similar lives.

Yeah. And they walk into the common room where the death row women are all dressed in white. And the weird thing is they immediately embrace each other. And it was true, they have very much in common. They each live in cells, as they're called in the convent. They each arise around 4.30 in the morning and pray, and then they got crafts and stuff. It's just very similar lives.

Yeah. And they walk into the common room where the death row women are all dressed in white. And the weird thing is they immediately embrace each other. And it was true, they have very much in common. They each live in cells, as they're called in the convent. They each arise around 4.30 in the morning and pray, and then they got crafts and stuff. It's just very similar lives.

But one of the nuns said, also, you should understand that we are not beautiful women. We don't use cosmetics. We don't dress in. There's nothing to be afraid of us, you know, because we are so, we are plain. And, you know, the women on death row had, you know, long since gone past the days when they were, you know, vibrant young women. You know, the years have taken a toll on them.

But one of the nuns said, also, you should understand that we are not beautiful women. We don't use cosmetics. We don't dress in. There's nothing to be afraid of us, you know, because we are so, we are plain. And, you know, the women on death row had, you know, long since gone past the days when they were, you know, vibrant young women. You know, the years have taken a toll on them.