At the Pearly Gates, three Italian nuns—Sister Maria, Sister Angelina, and Sister Chiara—stood before St. Peter after a lifetime of devotion. He congratulated them on their service and offered an extraordinary reward: six months back on Earth to experience pure, unrestrained fun, living as anyone they wished.
Sister Maria eagerly chose the life of a pop star, imagining stadium lights and roaring crowds. Sister Angelina, bold and creative, opted to be an iconic artist, embracing fame and reinvention. Both vanished in bursts of dazzling energy.
Then came Sister Chiara. Calm and contemplative, she surprised St. Peter by choosing a man named Alberto Pipalini—not famous or powerful, just celebrated in his small town for simple happiness, kindness, and laughter. St. Peter was momentarily stunned, then erupted in delighted laughter.
Chiara’s choice reflected the truth: joy isn’t always found in glory or spectacle. It lies in gratitude, contentment, and the simple pleasures of life. And so, on Earth, the three nuns embarked on their six-month reprieve—two chasing dazzling excitement, and one discovering the profound joy of ordinary, unassuming happiness.