Hospital Sisters of the Mercy of Jesus

Hospital Sisters of the Mercy of Jesus - a Roman Catholic religious order.

The order was established under the Rule of St. Augustine, the institute being dependent on the Pope represented by the bishop. Before the end of the thirteenth century the Hôtel-Dieu of Dieppe (Diocese of Rouen) was served by "Hermit Sisters of St. Augustine". They formed a secular congregation, lived on goods held in common and on alms, and observed constitutions drawn up for their use. Apart from the services they rendered to the Hôtel-Dieu, they were also employed in assisting the sick poor in all quarters of the city. To these hospitallers is connected the Institute of the Mercy of Jesus, a branch of the order founded by the Bishop of Hippo. The constitution establishes two classes of religious: lay sisters and choir sisters. The former were employed at the manual tasks of the community, in order to relieve the choir religious. They were not obliged to recite the Divine Office, neither did they nurse the sick. The choir religious were obliged to recite the Divine Office in common, and daily employed in attendance on the sick. They were obliged as far as health permit to go at least once a day to the hospital to render some service to the poor. Two of their number took in turn the night-watch in the wards.

The chapter was composed of all who are ten years professed. They elected a superior triennially, but her charge could not be prolonged beyond six years. They also elected the assistant, the mistress of novices, the treasurer, and four other advisers, thus forming the council of eight principal officers. The same officers could be retained as long as they had the majority of votes in the chapter. The costume of the sisters was entirely white with a black veil for the professed and a white veil for the novices. This costume was the same as that formerly worn by the Canonesses of St. Augustine. A gown and a leather girdle, a gimp, a bandeau, and a veil composed the different parts, to which was added a black serge cape for choir duties. In 19-th century the Hospitallers of the Mercy of Jesus had communities in France at Dieppe, Rennes, Eu, Vitré, Château-Goutier-St-Julien, Château-Goutier-St-Joseph, Malestroit, Auray, Tréguier, Lannion, Guingamp, Morlaix, Pont-l'Abbé, Gouarec, Fougères, Harcourt, and Bayeux; in England, at Waterloo (Liverpool); in Canada, at Quebec (3 communities), Lévis, and Chicoutimi; in Africa, at Estcourt (Natal), Durban, Ladysmith, and Pietermaritzburg; in Holland, at Maasbracht; and in Italy, at Turin. [CathEncy|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07488a.htm|title=Hospital Sisters of the Mercy of Jesus]

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