New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-25
SISTERS OF CHARITY---CHARTTABLE IN
SITUATIONS UNDER THEIR CARE.

l
Religion, pure and undefled before th
Father, is this 'sTo visit the widow an
the fatherless in their distress, and t
keep ones self unspotted from the world;
an inspired definition, applicable in al
its fullness to the association which bear
the appropriate name" Sisters of CHAR
ty." Sisters, indeed To them all men
no matter of what faith, character or con
dition, whether Protestants, Catholics o
infdels. saints or reprobates, are simpl.
their brethren; children of the same hea
venly Father, and members of the human
family. Impelled by that hottest charac
teristic of their sex, the spirit of self-sacri
fice elevated to sublimity by the religion.
sentiment, these admirable women cheer
fully abandon the world with all its fasci
nations to devote their lives to the service
of God, through that most acceptable Of
means-the service of humanity Most OF
them take this step in early youth, regard
less of the fattering prospects which, to
an earthly eye, brighten the pathway OF
beauty. Many, in the fulfllment of their
meroiful mission, leave the bosom of
wealthy and refined families, whose
chief care it has been that the winds of
heaven should not visit their cheeks too
roughly; carrying into their sanctifed re-
tirement talents and accomplishments
fitted to command the homage of society;
and beauty, fitted to command still
more precious homage. But what are all
these-talents, accomplishments, youth,
beauty, social standing, love itself, to
souls whose only desire is to initiate their
divine Master by works of mercy here on
earth, and thus to secure an everlasting
inheritance with Him in heaven? These
are their sole motives: love to God and
man; and their sincerity and devotion
are tested every year. For, unlike nuns,
they do not assume, on joining the asso-
citation, lifelong obligation, but simply
pledge themselves by solemn vow to re-
main in the order and fulfill its duties for
one year. Should any of them desire to
leave, it is only necessary, at the ap-
pointed time, to omit the renewal of the
dedicatory VOWS, and she is at liberty to
re-enter the world without further cere-
mony. This circumstance, however, very
seldom occurs, the period of probation be-
fore fall admission to the association being
long to enable the candidate
% determine whether the life of sister |
If charity is her vocation or not: whether |
he is equal to its high requirements, to
is laborious duties. For no idle, super
titious drones are these Sisters of Charity, |
dividing their time between prayer and
rihing pursuits, but active, hard working
women, the most refined and intellectual
mong them being required by their rules
o spend portion of every day in manual
abor. Verbal prayer, indeed, forms an
important part of their duties and fills an
important portion of their time, but not
the exclusion of that more practical
ind of prayer which seldom fails to
btain the desired answer-work. As
urses of the sick they are pronounced
y all who have had an opportunity of
ldging, to be veritable ministering
ngels. The tenderness, patience, skill
nd unwearied attention which have i'm
lortahzed the name of Florence Night
lgale are bestowed unsparingly by these
lspired though humble nurses, upon
7ery sufferer committed to their care
ot merely by one here and there of
ore tender nature than the rest, but by 7
Ich and every one. Nor are the
veetness, the captivating tones, the !
inning gentleness of these sisters
served for the noble and the good. Like
e genial sunshine, and the gentle rain |
heaven, they are lavished impartially {
BON the just and the unjust; the vilest
retches in our hospitals, whose very
essence would be contamination to crea- S
res less pure, receiving at their sisterly c
nds the same care as the purest and the t
st. Men, cold, worldly and wicked, t
40 have once enjoyed their soothing v
nlstrations, cannot speak of them but t
tones of enthusiasm and with tears of i
altitude moistening their hardened eyes, S
vt few such have been induced to \
andon their sinful courses by simply u
messing the true spirit of religion as I
infested in the works and ways of the p
ter OF Charity. But it is chiefly as n
cheers and guardians of destitute orphan n
ldren that they carry on their labor of c
n every city in the Union-nay, in al
ry city on the globe-where catholi- N
% flourishes or is tolerated, there exists "
irritable institutions, mostly orphan A
lums and hospitals, presided over by N
Sc devoted friends of humanity. In
city the number of orphan children TO
ltered, protected, supported and in ht
lcted by Sisters of Charity of different it
ers is about fifteen hundred; while the al
lrity Hospital, having from seven to lie
I've hundred patients annually, is un- an
the charge of twenty Sisters of Charity, an
ose services in that institution are pro- M
need by all connected with it to be OF
,eless In the care of the insane their CT
id manners, undaunted frmness lac sa
red by resignation to the divine will, Ca
a sublime Indifference to sublunary RAJ
ters). piyes them GREAT nowar and ca