Frances Margaret Taylor

Frances Margaret Taylor (name in religion Mother Magdalen Taylor) (born 20 January1832; died in London, 9 June1900) was an English nurse, editor and writer, nun, and Superior General and foundress of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God [ [http://www.poorservants.com/archives.htm Poor Servants of the Mother of God ] ] .

Life

Her father was a Protestant clergyman, the vicar of a Lincolnshire parish where her early years were spent in works of charity among the poor. In 1854 she joined Florence Nightingale's staff of nurses, and went with them to the Crimean War. This threw her into contact with Catholic priests, Sisters of Mercy, and soldiers. After instruction she was received into the Catholic Church by Father Woollett, S.J.

On her return to England she worked among the poor of London, and made the acquaintance of Lady Georgiana Fullerton, with whose co-operation she laid the foundation of her institute. In addition to this, and to opening various refuges, convents, schools, etc., she did a great deal of literary work. She wrotemany stories and employed her pen for the promotion of the Catholic religion. For some time she edited "The Lamp", and helped to start both "The Month", and "The Messenger of the Sacred Heart", to which, as to other Catholic papers and periodicals of the day, she contributed.

She had learned from Father Dignam, S.J., a great devotion to the Sacred Heart, and was very active in spreading this devotion and the Apostleship of Prayer, especially in Ireland. In 1892 her health gave way. She died in a home she had founded for penitents in Soho Square, London.

Works

Her works are

*"Memoir of Father Dignam, S.J.";
*"Retreats given by Father Dignam, S.J.";
*"Conferences by Father Dignam, S.J.";
*"The Inner Life of Lady Georgiana Fullerton";
*"Tyborne and Who Went Thither";
*"Convent Stories";
*"Lost, and Other Tales";
*"Dame Dolores";
*"Life of Father Curtis S.J.";
*"Religious Orders";
*"Holywell and Its Pilgrims";
*"The Stoneleighs of Stoneleigh";
*"Irish Homes and Irish Hearts";
*"Eastern Hospitals and English Nurses."

References

*"The Messenger of the Sacred Heart" (April, 1901);
*Joseph Gillow, "Bibl. Dict. Eng. Cath.", s. v. Taylor, Frances Magdalen

Notes