GENERAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 8, 21 February 1907, Page 33

GENERAL

The Sisters of Mercy On December 12 (says the ' Edinburgh Catholic ' Her- : ald ') was observed in all lands where the- Or-der is I'cstablished, the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Sisters of Mercy. Seventy-five years ago • -Mother Catherine v McAuley, foundress of the Order, made her religious profession, which marked the beginning of a religious community whose main purpose is to assist the poor, the sick and the untaught. Catherine McAuley, who afterwards became the foundiess of the Sisters „ of Mercy, was a resident of Dublin, -where her charity toward the poor, and motherly care of young girls were well known long; before she had any__idea ■ of founding a religious Sisterhood. With the permission of his Holiness Pius VIII., the Institute of Mercy 1 Mas established on the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy, September 24, 1827, and on December 12, 1831, Mother - Catherine made- her holy profession. The ''Order re-, ceived the approval of. Pope Gregory XVI., May, 3," 1835, and the Rule-, and Constitution were solemnly confirmed by the same Pontiff, June 6, 1841.- Before" Mother Catherine died she _ had the happiness 'of seeing, her beloved institution flourish in many parts of Ireland and England. ■■ . *• , . -