As the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, Cambridge, celebrates its tenth anniversary the Vice-Principal reflects on the emerging charism of this house of study and prayer for Roman Catholic women. In describing first of all the structural patterns of life and courses available at the Institute, some sense of the shape of the central core of Margaret Beaufort's purpose begins to be disclosed. This 'inner secret' gains sharper definition through reflection on the women who have been a part of the (...) Institute's life; their diverse yet shared sense of vocation, typified by risk and openness to God's unknown future fleshes out the nature of the Institute's charism. Finally, the idea of the development of Christian 'intellectual' discipleship is explored, through the experiences of working, praying and studying at the Institute. What emerges is a fresh way of looking at the particular contribution made by a group of Catholic women to this discipleship of intellect, transcending limitations of gender questions, whilst remaining true to the particular reality they embody. (shrink)