Jessica Powers

Jessica Powers
Born	February 7, 1905 Mauston, Wisconsin
Died	August 18, 1988 Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Marquette University
Occupation	Carmelite Nun, Poet
Religion	Roman Catholic (Carmel of Mother of God)

Jessica Powers (February 7, 1905 – August 18, 1988) was an American poet and Carmelite nun.

Biography

Early years (1905-1936)

Jessica Powers was born on February 7, 1905 in Mauston, Wisconsin, the third child to John Powers and Delia Trainer Powers. By the time Jessica had turned 13, she lost both her older sister and father. She graduated from Mauston High School in 1922 and attended Marquette University for a year studying journalism. She then worked in Chicago before returning to care for her family after the death of her mother from 1925 to 1936.

Carmelite community (1941-1988)

After spending time in New York, Powers decided to enter the Pewaukee, Wisconsin community of the Carmel of Mother of God,^[1] as a postulant on June 24, 1941. On April 25, 1942, she received the habit of the Carmelites and was given the religious name of Sister Miriam of the Holy Spirit.^[2] She served until 83 years of age, until suffering a stroke and dying on August 18, 1988.^[3]

Books

• The Lantern Burns. New York: Monastine Press, 1939.
• The Place of Splendor. New York: Cosmopolitan Science and Art Service, 1946.
• The Little Alphabet. Milwaukee: Bruce Publishing Co., 1955.
• Journey to Bethlehem. Pewaukee, WI: Carmelite Monastery, 1980.
• The House at Rest. Pewaukee, WI: Carmelite Monsastery, 1984.
• Selected Poetry of Jessica Powers. Regina Siegfried and Robert Morneau, eds. Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward, 1989.

Archival Collections

The papers of Jessica Powers are held at Marquette University Special Collections and University Archives. The collection includes her correspondence (mostly letters received), handwritten and typescript drafts of poems, scrapbooks of her poetry and other writings, copies of her books, and writings about her. Notable correspondents included August Derleth, Raymond E. F. Larsson, Robert F. Morneau, and Regina Siegfried.

References

1. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20091027001109/http://geocities.com/pewaukeecarmel/
2. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20091028123338/http://geocities.com/pewaukeecarmel/poet.html
3. ^ "Biography Jessica Powers". Spondee.net. http://www.spondee.net/JessicaPowers/biograph.html. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 

External links

• Jessica Powers Sister Miriam of the Holy Spirit OCD
• The Spirituality of Jessica Powers

Persondata
Name	Powers, Jessica
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 7, 1905
Place of birth	Mauston, Wisconsin
Date of death	August 18, 1988
Place of death	Pewaukee, Wisconsin