panion, and a holy friendship sprung up between them. Several young ladies, some of them members of noble families, joined them, and engaged in their practices of piety and charity-chiefly the education of poor giris. They met regularly around the couch of Julie, giving her the title of 'Mother,' and respectfully receiving her instructions. In a little time, they were all compelled to flee from the revolutionists, and betook themselves to Bethancourt, a castle which belonged to one of their number. Here they laboured assiduously in the instruction of the surrounding peasantry, plunged by the misfortunes of the times in the grossest ignorance. Mère Julie and her companions took the charge of preparing persons of their sex for the sacraments; and also taught them to read, write, and knit. Soon the whole face of the village was changed, and God blessed the first labours of the little association with signal success. In 1803, they were able to return to Amiens, and there they continued their good work. For many a weary year, now, had Mère Julie, a suffering invalid, directed their pious labours with untiring zeal and admirable discretion. In the month of June 1804, she offered up a novena, or nine days' devotion, to beg of God to restore her health, in order that she might labour more effectually in His service. The prayer of faith prevailed, and God was pleased to raise her up from the couch, on which she had helplessly lain so long. For the twelve years that she survived, she was able to travel about, and to found several houses of her institute. It was on October 15, 1805, that Mère Julie, Mère Blin, and two of their first companions bound themselves by vow to the work to which God had called them; and this may be taken as the date of the establishment of the congregation. Soon, the increasing numbers of the community, and the requirements of school accommodation, obliged them to remove to a more commodious house in Amiens. When the new schools were ready, one of their first boarders, known after wards as Sister Bernardine, went through the streets ringing a small bell, and was soon surrounded by a crowd of little girls, to whom she said—This is to let you know that the Sisters of Notre-Dame have just opened free schools for little girls. Go, tell that to your parents.' The next day, between sixty and seventy poor children presented themselves, and were gladly welcomed by the Sisters. In 1806, Mère Julie established a house of her congregation in Ghent, and, the following year, one in Namur, at the earnest desire of the respective bishops. Mère Blin was appointed first superioress of the house at Namur. This has been for many years the mother house of the institute, the community of Amiens having been transferred here. The foundress died on April 8, 1816; and Mère Blin was unanimously elected her successor, as superioress-general. She established several houses in Belgium, and died in 1838. Her successor Madame Thérèse Goethals de Courtrai opened up a new field for the labours of the congregation, having sent a colony of eight Sisters from Namur to Cincinnati in 1840. There are now forty houses of the congregation in Belgium; eighteen in America, including one established in the Rocky Mountains for the instruction of the Red Indian tribes; and seventeen in England. November 1845. It was introduced into England in At the request of all the Belgian bishops, the congregation of the Sisters of Notre-Dame was approved of and confirmed by Pope Gregory XVI. on June 28, 1844. Besides the gratuitous education of the poor, the Sisters labour most successfully in different parts of England in the education of young ladies.' In another chapter 2 will be found an account of their training college for school-mistresses, which is highly commended by Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools, under the Education Department of the Privy Council. 1 See Chapters XXVII. and XXXII. 2 Chapter XXXII. 261 CHAPTER XX. SISTERS OF THE INSTITUTE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, OR LORETTO NUNS. Goodness is a God-like power, And active; she doth lead an angel life, MONTGOMERY. Their first THE Sisters of the Institute of Mary, or, as they are popularly called, Loretto Nuns,' says Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools, are believed to form the oldest community in Christendom, devoted to the education of girls.' foundress, Mary Ward, seems to have experienced as much opposition in the sixteenth century as would now-a-days be exhibited towards the most extravagant advocate of woman's rights. They conduct a boarding school in Hulme, and teach the two excellent schools of Saint Wilfred and Saint Alphonsus, Manchester.' 3 This congregation is entirely of English origin; and has laboured for many years, most successfully, in the education of girls, rich and poor, in these kingdoms. Towards the middle of the seventeenth century, a number of English Catholic ladies, fleeing from religious persecution, settled in Germany, where they were cordially received by the bishops, and protected by the Dukes of Bavaria, especially 1 This is not the case. There are several orders engaged in the education of girls, which are of much more ancient date. Mr. Stokes has evidently been led into this error by the fact of the York convent of this institute, founded in 1686, being the oldest convent in Great Britain. 'Not 'foundress;' but one of the leading members of the community at York. 36 'Report of the Committee of Council on Education, 1870-71,' p. 289. Maximilian the Great. In 1650, they formed themselves into a religious community in Munich, under the presidency of Madame de Maille. Some of these ladies came over to England, towards the close of the reign of Charles II., on the invitation of the Queen, Catherine of Braganza. In 1686, James II. having ascended the throne,' one of their number, Mrs. Bedingfield, purchased the ground on which the present convent of York stands. This convent and the sister house at Hammersmith were the only religious communities of women in England for upwards of one hundred years. The nuns of the York convent devoted themselves to the education of the children of Catholic nobility and gentry; and thus became the objects of bitter persecution. Mrs. Bedingfield, the superioress, was imprisoned for a time; and the house was repeatedly searched. However, though threatened on every side, the establishment continued to receive and educate youth, and succeeded in braving the storm of persecution. The rule was approved by Clement XI. in 1703. The institute, then numbering six houses, two in England and four in Germany, was presided over by Mrs. Babthorpe, an English lady, who resided in the mother house at Munich, and whom His Holiness confirmed superioress-general. This lady collected the constitutions and rendered other signal services to the congregation. She died in 1711. In 1745, through the intervention of the celebrated Sterne,1 a fresh storm of persecution broke out against the community at York, who received express orders to quit the house, accompanied by threats that the Penal Laws would be rigorously enforced against them and the Catholic nobility and gentry, if they persisted in educating youth. Nevertheless, they stood their ground; the tempest subsided; and Doctor Sterne was not only appeased, but became so far their friend as to serve them in their temporal affairs. At this convent there are an excellent boarding school for 1 February 6, 1685. 2 Laurence Sterne. See Appendix XVI. young ladies, and extensive poor schools. Thus the work of education has been carried on within its walls for nearly two centuries. Owing to the troubled state of the Continent, and the difficulty of communication in the early part of this century, the Holy See sanctioned a change in the constitution of the institute, by which the convents of these countries ceased to be governed by the mother house in Germany, and were placed under local jurisdiction. The Irish branch is one of much importance. It was founded in 1821, by Mrs. Ball, Mrs. Arthur, and Mrs. Therry, who, at the request of Doctor Murray, Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, came over from York convent for the purpose. In the course of the following year, the celebrated convent, Loretto Abbey at Rathfarnam, was founded. From this, the Irish mother house, Mrs. Ball,' a lady distinguished alike by her zeal and rare administrative ability, established fourteen convents in different parts of Ireland, besides sending out communities to India, America, and the Mauritius. The rule is that of Saint Ignatius. The Sisters are engaged in the education of rich and poor. Their schools are numerously attended and admirably conducted. There are fifteen convents in Ireland, and four in Great Britain. The particulars of these will be found in another chapter.2 1 Sister of the Right Honorable Justice Ball. |