An Unquenchable Thirst

A powerful autobiography about a search for meaning that begins when a young woman enters an austere order as a devoted follower of Mother Teresa, and ends when she returns to the secular world, disappointing Mother Teresa but remaining true to herself.

'An Unquenchable Thirst' is the story of Mary Johnson's twenty years as a Missionary of Charity working alongside Mother Teresa in service to the world's poor. At the same time it is a fascinating depiction of the daily struggles of a life of religious service.

At seventeen, Johnson experienced her calling when she saw a photo of Mother Teresa on the cover of Time magazine, and eighteen months later found herself in religious training in a South Bronx convent. Not without difficulty, this boisterous, independent-minded teenager eventually adapted to the sisters' austere life of poverty and devotion, but beneath the white-and-blue sari an ordinary young woman faced the simple and profound daily struggles we all share, with the same desires for love and connection, meaning and identity.

After twenty years during which she rose in the ranks, Johnson left the order and has since left the Church altogether. The story of this compellingly honest woman who also happens to be an exceptionally gifted writer will speak to atheists and true believers alike, to anyone who has ever grappled with the mysteries and wonders of life and faith.