Sisters of Saint Elizabeth

Sisters of Saint Elizabeth

Sisters of Saint Elizabeth - a Roman Catholic religious order. Generally styled "Grey Nuns" [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05388a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia Article] ] .

The order was founded by an association of young ladies established by Dorothea Klara Wolff, in connection with the sisters, Mathilde and Maria Merkert, and Franziska Werner, 1842, in Nelsse (Prussia), to tend in their own homes, without compensation, helpless sick persons who could not or would not be received into the hospitals.

The members purposed to support the needy through the labour of their own hands. Without adopting any definite rule, they led a community life and wore a common dress, a brown woollenhabit with a grey bonnet. For this reason they were soon called by the people the "Grey Nuns". As their work was soon recognized and praised everywhere, and as new members continually applied for admission, their spiritual advisers sought to give the association some sort of religious organization. They endeavoured, wherever possible, to affiliate it with already established confraternities having similar purposes. But their foremost desire was to educate the members for the care of the sick in hospitals. Great difficulties arose, and the attempt failed, principally through the resistance of the foundresses, who did not wish to abandon their original plan of itinerant nursing. Thus the association which had justified such bright hopes was dissolved, and many of the newly admitted members joined the Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, while the foundresses left the novitiate which they had already entered. Klara Wolff and Mathilde Merkert died shortly after, in the service of charity. The other two began their work anew in 1850 and placed it under the especial patronage of St. Elizabeth.

They speedily gained the sympathy of the sick of all classes and creeds, and also that of the physicians. New candidates applied for admission, and the sisters were soon able to extend the sphere of their activity beyond Neisse. Of especial importance was thefoundation made at Breslau, where the work of the sisters came under the direct observation of the episcopal authorities. Soon after, 4 Sept., 1859, Prince-Bishop Heinrich Furster was prevailed upon by the favourable reports and testimonials to grant the association ecclesiastical approbation. As such a recognition presupposed a solid religious organization, a novitiate was established according to the statutes submitted. In the following year the twenty-four eldest sisters made the three religious vows. State recognition, with the grant of a corporate charter, was obtained by the confraternity 25 May, 1864, under the title, "Catholic Charitable Institute of St. Elizabeth", through the mediation of the Prussian Crown Prince Frederick William, subsequent Emperor of Germany, who had observed the beneficent activity of the sisters on the battlefields of Denmark. The approbation of the Holy See was granted for the congregation on 26 Jan., 1887, and for its constitutions on 26 April, 1898. The congregation has spread to Norway, Sweden, and Italy, and had by 1908, dependent on the mother-house at Breslau, 305 filial houses, with 2565 sisters and about 100 postulants.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Elizabeth, Sisters of Saint — • From an association established by Dorothea Klara Wolff, in connection with the sisters, Mathilde and Maria Merkert, and Franziska Werner, 1842, in Nelsse (Prussia), to tend in their own homes, without compensation, helpless sick persons who… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth — Entrance The Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth are a Roman Catholic apostolic congregation of pontifical right, based in the Convent Station area of Morris Township, New Jersey. The stated purpose of the order is to show the love of Jesus… …   Wikipedia

  • College of Saint Elizabeth — Established 1899 Type Private Endowment US$ $15.7 million [1] President Sister Francis Raftery …   Wikipedia

  • Seton,Saint Elizabeth Ann Bayley — Se·ton (sētʹn), Saint Elizabeth Ann Bayley. Known as “Mother Seton.” 1774 1821. American religious leader. A widowed mother of five, she converted to Catholicism (1805), opened a parochial school in Maryland, and founded a religious order, the… …   Universalium

  • Seton, Saint Elizabeth Ann — • Biography of the founder of the Sisters of Charity in the United States Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Elizabeth Ann Seton — Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Foundress and Educator Born August 28, 1774(1774 08 28 …   Wikipedia

  • Seton, Saint Elizabeth Ann — orig. Elizabeth Ann Bayley known as Mother Seton born Aug. 28, 1774, New York, N.Y. died Jan. 4, 1821, Emmitsburg, Md., U.S.; canonized Sept. 14, 1975; feast day January 4 U.S. religious leader and educator, the first native born U.S. citizen… …   Universalium

  • Saint Vincent Academy — (SVA), is a four year, Catholic, college preparatory school for young women located on West Market Street in Newark, New Jersey, United States. It is located within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.BackgroundThe academy was founded in… …   Wikipedia

  • Sisters of St. Joseph — This article is about the Roman Catholic order of founded in Le Puy, France. For the congregation of the same name founded in 1845 in Alsace, see Sisters of St. Joseph of Saint Marc. For the congregation of the same name founded in 1867 by Mary… …   Wikipedia

  • Sisters of Charity of New York — The Sisters of Charity of New York is a religious congregation of women in the Catholic Church whose primary missions are education and nursing and who are dedicated in particular to the service of the poor. History Saint Elizabeth Seton founded… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”