Our time in Quebec City was tranquil and refreshing, mainly because we stayed in an old convent. The Augustinian sisters who founded it once ran the hospital next door. Like most Catholic religious orders, numbers have dwindled since the 1960s.
In a huge stone home built for hundreds of nuns, set right in the heart of the old town, the small group found a way to continue to live in the monastery and carry out their mission in a unique, forward-thinking way. They renovated, made the place a haven for healthy living, and accepted guests.
I had no idea nuns would be there when I booked the hotel. But one afternoon Em and I heard singing. Ghosts? Angels? Then, we discovered the sisters on the second floor at vespers. As it turns out, they maintain the whole second floor, while the rest of the building serves as top-notch lodging for rest and rejuvenation, in keeping with the sisters’ mission of healing and healthcare.
We stayed in a historic room once used as a nuns’ cell, although modern rooms are available and extremely nice. With twin iron beds and a sink, the room is almost Spartan, yet comfortable. (The bathroom is down the hall!) Light-filled, without TV and with a little knitted pouch for cell phones to encourage detachment from them, the room is made for rest. And we slept well and peacefully under our patchwork quilts.
The monastery is also a museum filled with artifacts. The sisters arrived from France in 1639, so the exhibits focus on the development of their healthcare mission, their faith, their furnishings, and a bit about the early founders.
The restaurant only serves delicious, healthy food and encourages mindful eating. In fact, we couldn’t say a word at breakfast! We could speak at the other meals, though.
Our time in the monastery was truly relaxing. We found quiet and rest from the moment we arrived. But we have to go back — we didn’t have time to try out the massages, the stretching classes, the daily Mass and so many other wonderful things. Yep. Going back is the only solution!
Wandering Star 
The Monastery sounds divine in many ways: a rejuvenation for the spirit, a respite from the demands of society and a banquet of good/healthy food – all to be enjoyed in beautiful, but spartan surroundings. Cindy R.
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