Different types of nuns?

[Evi]

I'm translating an opera from Italian. It's Puccini's Suor Angelica which is
set in a nunnery. But I've got stuck in translating the religious terms. I
know what they mean in Italian but don't know the English equivelent (if
any) and I can't find a website that can help. I don't know anything about
monastic life. Can anyone have a guess at any these:

Sorella zelatrice (lit. Sister Zealot). She seems to be the equivelent of a
school prefect since she admonishes the other nuns. The term seems to be a
position which she holds, not just a description or a name.

sorella dispensiera (lit. Dispensary Sister) She cared for a nun who was
ill.

Suora clavaria (lit. Sister with a key) She unlocked doors for a visitor.

I wonder if you can also have a guess at the following.

preghiera mentale per gli afflitti (lit. mental prayer for the afflicted) A
nun had to say this 20 times for being late to a service.

'quindèna' a daily church service which all the nuns were supposed to have
attended. It seems to happen before sunset (possibly at 5 oclock since
quinta is the Italian word for fifth?)

il segnale delle tavolette (lit. the signal for the tablet). A bell was rung
and all the nuns went to their cells for the night, either to sleep or to
perform some other task before sleeping.

Thanks

Evi

[billu]

Sounds like they are cloistered (like a monestary) order. The lead would
be in english the Mother Superior or Abbess depending on time/order. The
second is a Nurse and you need to look up the third. If you can identify
the order, perhaps you may do some research on the order.

Post by Evi
I'm translating an opera from Italian. It's Puccini's Suor Angelica which is
set in a nunnery. But I've got stuck in translating the religious terms. I
know what they mean in Italian but don't know the English equivelent (if
any) and I can't find a website that can help. I don't know anything about
Sorella zelatrice (lit. Sister Zealot). She seems to be the equivelent of a
school prefect since she admonishes the other nuns. The term seems to be a
position which she holds, not just a description or a name.
sorella dispensiera (lit. Dispensary Sister) She cared for a nun who was
ill.
Suora clavaria (lit. Sister with a key) She unlocked doors for a visitor.
I wonder if you can also have a guess at the following.
preghiera mentale per gli afflitti (lit. mental prayer for the afflicted) A
nun had to say this 20 times for being late to a service.
'quindèna' a daily church service which all the nuns were supposed to have
attended. It seems to happen before sunset (possibly at 5 oclock since
quinta is the Italian word for fifth?)
il segnale delle tavolette (lit. the signal for the tablet). A bell was rung
and all the nuns went to their cells for the night, either to sleep or to
perform some other task before sleeping.
Thanks
Evi

[Evi]

It's fictional (an opera). I just wondered what the equivelent name for
those roles would be in an English convent.
Evi

Post by billu
Sounds like they are cloistered (like a monestary) order. The lead would
be in english the Mother Superior or Abbess depending on time/order. The
second is a Nurse and you need to look up the third. If you can identify
the order, perhaps you may do some research on the order.

Post by Evi
I'm translating an opera from Italian. It's Puccini's Suor Angelica

which

Post by billu
is

Post by Evi
set in a nunnery. But I've got stuck in translating the religious terms. I
know what they mean in Italian but don't know the English equivelent (if
any) and I can't find a website that can help. I don't know anything about
Sorella zelatrice (lit. Sister Zealot). She seems to be the equivelent

of

Post by billu
a

Post by Evi
school prefect since she admonishes the other nuns. The term seems to be a
position which she holds, not just a description or a name.
sorella dispensiera (lit. Dispensary Sister) She cared for a nun who was
ill.
Suora clavaria (lit. Sister with a key) She unlocked doors for a visitor.
I wonder if you can also have a guess at the following.
preghiera mentale per gli afflitti (lit. mental prayer for the

afflicted)

Post by billu
A

Post by Evi
nun had to say this 20 times for being late to a service.
'quindèna' a daily church service which all the nuns were supposed to have
attended. It seems to happen before sunset (possibly at 5 oclock since
quinta is the Italian word for fifth?)
il segnale delle tavolette (lit. the signal for the tablet). A bell was

rung

Post by Evi
and all the nuns went to their cells for the night, either to sleep or to
perform some other task before sleeping.
Thanks
Evi

[Cunneen]

Sorella zelatrice: Mother Superior

Sorella dispensiera: Dispensary Sister is alright; Sister of Healing might be
better

Suora clavaria: Portress would be the technical term; Sister of the Gate might
be more poetic

preghiera mentale per gli afflitti (lit. mental prayer for the afflicted): act
of penance

quindèna: "5th hour"? The evening prayer is usually called Vespers or
Evensong.

Where you planning these to be Catholic or Anglican nuns? The Anglicans use
more of the traditional terms; the Catholics have been "reformed" since Vatican
II.

[Evi]

Wonderful. Thank you very much.

This is an Italian opera written in the 1800s and the nuns were definitely
Catholic
Evi

Post by Cunneen
Sorella zelatrice: Mother Superior
Sorella dispensiera: Dispensary Sister is alright; Sister of Healing might be
better
Suora clavaria: Portress would be the technical term; Sister of the Gate might
be more poetic
preghiera mentale per gli afflitti (lit. mental prayer for the afflicted): act
of penance
quindèna: "5th hour"? The evening prayer is usually called Vespers or
Evensong.
Where you planning these to be Catholic or Anglican nuns? The Anglicans use
more of the traditional terms; the Catholics have been "reformed" since Vatican
II.