Charlottetown - Lucille Poulin says the divine hand of God was guiding the rod when the children of her religious commune were beaten.
The former nun is charged with assaulting five children at the commune near Summerside, P.E.I., by repeatedly beating them with a heavy wooden paddle.
Poulin, 78, took the stand in her own defence Monday, telling the court she was personally directed by God to hit the children in order to correct their behaviour and save them from going to Hell.
"It isn't easy," the elderly, slightly stooped woman told the court. "But God said to do it."
Poulin spoke firmly and without hesitation under examination by defence lawyer Zia Chishti. She insisted that while the beatings hurt the children, they were not injured or maimed by the punishments.
She frequently quoted Bible passages to support her belief that adults should not spare the rod when raising children.
"The wrath of God falls on the children of disobedience and it's Hell," she said. "For obedience, it's Heaven. We use the rod to bring the child to obedience."
Poulin has worn the same flowered dress, matching, lace-trimmed cap and mauve sneakers since the trial began two weeks ago.
She described to the court how she became a fundamentalist, born-again Christian after serving as a nursing nun for over 30 years.
Poulin, her voice rising as if she was preaching from a pulpit instead of testifying from the witness stand, said she was close to killing herself because of a crisis of spirit when she was saved by Jesus Christ.
She said that because she has been born again, she has been given the gift of eternal life and does not fear judgement.
"If I were to die today, I know I would be with Jesus in glory," she said, her eyes sweeping the packed courtroom.
"I am now justified by faith."
Justice David Jenkins, who is hearing the case alone, advised Chishti not to probe too deeply into religious background.
"The court is not going to judge anyone's religion," Jenkins said. "The court will judge whether there has been a violation of criminal law."
Poulin is charged with assaulting children at the commune between 1999 and 2001. Other adult members of the commune have testified that they also hit the children, but Poulin is the only person on trial.
She was primary caretaker of the children. The parents and other adults worked and they gave Poulin, whom they consider a prophet, parental authority to look after the children.
The five children who testified at the trial said they were beaten frequently and often for no reason by Poulin.