The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-09-19
MOTHER MARGARET MARY.

One of the most interesting books of the da-
has lately been repubiished in England, beiu,
the biography of Mother Margaret Mary Hal
lahan. We have seen it fayorably noticed i,
the London Catholic journals, and had marked
some portions for the STAR, but prefer TIL,
following sketchy porraiture by ''Maior Mus
kerry" in the Irish Ci6sea:
Margaret Hallahau will be n new no,no 70
many readers Without knowing it, she car.
rieu out IN great measure the philosophy OF
cur strong-mlnded women-the Stantons, the
stoves, and the ADthonys-and PLAYED n re.
markabiy independent part in the business OF
general progress. One part of that progress is
tne extraordinary return of the old Catholic
rites, orders and Hturgies to England, and to
inns work Margaret devoted herself in n very
memorable way. She was the foundress of =
Congregation of the ancient Dominican Order !,
says Bishop Ullathorne, " she trained n HIM
dred religious women, founded five converts
putt three churches, established an hospital
Ior lncurables, three orphanaCes schools for
an eiasses-and what is more, left her own
spirit III its fullest vigor to animate her chill
aren.. Margaret was a woman of genius, aud
nef biography, Just published, has much to at
tract q merely secular reader
- margaret Mary Hallahan,svas an Irishwotuap
She happened to be born in London but she
was as truly Irish as any of her name, Her
father and mother~were Catholics from ireland,
ne being mapfn reduced circumstance who
worked as 1/porter in that metropolis Their
laughter was born in 1903, and got the great
RRs ennff 2k beg re In a French einisraiit school
the death Of her father and 68Ssf. IN On
she was taken into his orphanare Here she
lGaEneu TO read and write, and at the age of
eleven she went into service With Mime. Caulier,
VINE OF u French emigrant, who thought her
careless and slatternly, but who subsequently,
salo the girl was :" litter to be queen than a
servant" Margaret was of high, self-willed
and passionate nature md at the age of
twelve she grew discoutented with her place
ana weat away from Nine. Caulier to another
service. She afterwards Went into n PROTESTANT
family, where she was called the little maid
VINO would not eat meat on Friday" and where
she broke plate on the head of a person who
was scotfug at the Virgin Mary.
1n lS22 Margaret was the attendant and
nurse OF old DR.. Morgan, once physician of
George Ill, and on the death of the invalid
VINO VINO left her legacy of $50, she went into
Tue service OF his daughter, Mrs. Thomson
IN this Catholic family she was treated more
like friend than servant, and respected for
her strong religious feelings. She7was a very
good-looking Young woman with as uncf,
pr1ue as piety in her nature at that time In
io2o she accompanied the Thompson family to
BruScs, in Belgium, and spent with them the
next 1 fitteen years of her life. The splendor of
Cathollclty Ill that country greatly struck and
excited her, and she afterwards said that when
she first heard n military Mass mt the Church
oil Notre Dame, she thought she should have
gone crazy" Religion now filed all her
thoughts, and she wished to enter the English
AuSustinian Convent of that city. Mr. Th0mp-.
SON procured her admission. But she did
NOT ike to be lmmured IN q sedentary way
ana soon came back TO the family. Sheyvas of
sooiable turn, and liked out-of-door work and
the ctrcertuiness OF, kitchen. She said ''I
thnk 1t was Our Lady that taught ME to cook
anti l. always prayed to her aud nv ANGEL
guardian when l was cooking the dinnern
She regularly attended to her religious duties
TASTED and underwent penances and Yersaval,
Her severe confessor, sent her to the Teresian
Sisters, who Instructed her in the regular and
proper way of tormeuting herself, or rather
Notifying herself. She wassintenseIy devoted
to the Chufelf5T which grew to be the great pas
SION OF her life, and, indeed, the poetry of her
lie, too, for it had most inspiring and exalt-
ing effect upon her. Her church piety, and her
visits and charity to the sick aud poor, made
her known and talked of in Bruges as n sainted
young English woman.
In ls4i, Margaret received the habit of the
order OF ST. Dominick, under the Tertiary
Rule, which does not require close convent
confinement. She had the good sense to think
she could show more effective piety among the
poor and Ignorant of society than seated with
her book in n cloister. She was full OF feryor
and anxious Ito do something for God y mean
ing all the time to assist and benefit her fellow
creatures.
But Belgium was not her proper field, because
she did not speak French; and in 1872 she was
invited to England by Bishop Walshe, of the
Midland District. She came over accordingly
first visiting her friend and protectress. Mrs
at Kenilworth. She subsequently,
went to the Catholic Benedictine Mission of
~, - ~ ,, 49, ~ ,'thlSc3 ny olshop Ollathorne,
with whom she began the career which gave
her the great distinction of her life. At this
time the Catholic renaissance of England. so to
term it, was under way. The English Govern
ment seemed to see the necessity of concilia-
ting the Pope and the Catholic hierarchy in |
the empire; aud so the great change began, |
making Latimer and Ridley, John Knox and
all the rest, turn nneasily in their coffins--if
they heard anything about it. 1t was the good |
fortune of Margaret Mary Hnllahan to assist |
in bringing about the new order of things or |
the old order of things, aud she found it was |
the very work that suited her best When she |