Abbey of Regina Laudis: Readings>

On January 26, 2016, Richard DeNeut, beloved friend of Mother Dolores Hart and the Regina Laudis Community passed away in Los Angeles. For 27 years Dick was the West Coast bureau chief for Globe Photos which covered Hollywood for national and international publications. He compiled and edited Inside Hollywood: 60 Years of Globe Photos. A brilliant writer, Dick was co-author with Mother Dolores of actress Patricia Neal's autobiography As I Am and Mother Dolores' own acclaimed autobiography The Ear of the Heart: An Actress' Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows which was released in 2013.

Dick was a child actor, beginning his acting career at the age of 4 when he was cast as a member of the TV show “Our Gang”. After appearing in film and television shows before he was a teenager, Dick attended Glendale College and then UCLA. There he forged a life-long friendship with fellow freshman Carol Burnett after partnering with her in an acting-class scene.

Read Dick DeNeut's full obituary in Variety.

We offer here a poignant reading by Mother Dolores of the PREFACE to her autobiography The Ear of the Heart: An Actress' Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows. Mother Dolores speaks of meeting Dick DeNeut, and their friendship and professional partnership. It is a friendship that extended to the whole community of Regina Laudis. (Used with permission of Ignatius Press)

In 1970, when I pronounced my perpetual vows and was consecrated as a cloistered Benedictine nun, I invited Dick to hold my veil during the ceremony. I understood the extraordinary way in which he had "veiled" me throughout my professional life, making certain that my image was appropriately received by the press through his company, Globe Photos. In every professional context, he was there to inform and address the world at large that my person was to be kept within a virginal integrity, and he maintained that demand fiercely. Catholic or not, he is for me a Saint Joseph person.

Watch PART II of this video series: Mother Dolores reading the INTRODUCTION to her autobiography The Ear of the Heart: An Actress' Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows. It is Dick DeNeut's personal account of meeting Mother Dolores for the first time and the history of their relationship and life-long collaboration.

Other Readings by Mother Dolores.

Please note: Hospitality is an essential part of our Benedictine spirituality and as such we welcome you to visit the Abbey of Regina Laudis. However please be advised that taking photographs and video on Abbey grounds is only allowed when permission has been pre-arranged. We ask that all guests refrain from taking photographs and capturing audio or video recordings in the Church and in the Chapel at all times. Thank you for respecting this request.