The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-05-11
Nantes tations of Hrovidshcs.
HOUSES or TIE LITTLE srsrERsoFrBErooR;


wants Of the poor. whom she always claims
as ssher property" and not the burden OF
the state. The Church in this proves the.
divinity of her character, the truth OF her
claims to be the teacher sent by Him who
had rot whefcon to place his head, and
Church, that its doctrine should be preach
ed to the poor. j"Tis this Church which, in
the person of her Sisters of Charity and her
Little Sisters of the Poor, establishes her
houses for the destitute, not on some is
land where the finger OF curiosity may
point to sour paupers," but often in the
heart Of our large cities near the busy
ual lesson that the poor are part Of our
selves that must be cherished and looked
upon, and not some repulsive fangns-
growth which We must bear, only Oecaase
we have not the heart to cut it OF. In our
own day, this spirit Of disrespect for the
poor has shown itself in more ways than
one. Take up some OF cur society jeunals,
and We shall md that more than once the
necessity of removing from our sight the
offensive poor, who now and then meet the
gaze of our latter day Christians, has been
spoken of "a q necessary step in our adj
vanced civilization. Take even the names
given the public servants who have our
charities to idistribute. We fave the board
of "Public Charities and Correction" we
have our keepers and wafdens, our 'ECom-
nissiouers for the Protection of the Outside
Poor" Our public institutions Of charity
have often even names which repel the
more tender feeiings of tho completely edu-
Joseph's Home for the Aged" "the Pro.
violence Hospital" the "Hotel Dieu"
C'House of God"), names which in them
selves give lesson, and touch q respon-
sive chord in our hearts, we have nothing
but "Blackwell's" Island, or coma other
,1asr Id L.
public houses, open for the relief Of dis
tress. Aud again, while in Catholic
homes, hospitals, or protectories, we
have the attractive white hat and pleas
antiy sounding beads of the Sioters of
Charity, or the equally attractive garb of
the Sisters of Mercy, the repulsive presence
for the position on the within or good grace
of o politician, meets the gaze of the reci-
pient of public charity. Again, what o
qualification for the poor who receive at
tention which the donors really believe
themselves bound to bestow whereas the
fuuctionary gives his services simply be-
cause the poor cannot we'll be- gotten rid
of, and must have life preserved them.
We End We are wandering not from, bat
too slowly towards, our subject, 1.-THE
Manifestations of Providence,n in tho var
ious establishments opened by the Little
Sisters of the Poor, Believing that more
tnan OURSELVES VIII DO lnIeresteU In this
matter, we have gone to some trouble in
collecting materials for the readers of the
Monthly, that, should they need for any of
their friends proofs of the existence Of q
Providence, they may go no farther than
the history of these establishments, to which
We will ut once introduce our audience.
Had any one seen two young women in
charge of u poor blind person of their own
sex, and aged eighty years, smile of in
credulity might have played upon his coun-
tenauce had any one said {: "Behold the
beginning of a work which, within thirty
years, will have extended throughout
France, aud have even crossed the seas
les, and with its neighbor, tho City of
Churches. Yet such has been the case
In 1910, the Little Sisters of the Poor took
their origin in this humble manner and to.
day their Sisters have a reputation as ex-
tensive as the countries which they bless
by their presence. Whoever heard of pur-
chasing house worth thousands, without
a cent either in present or prospective pos.
session. Such things or unknown in fin
anciel circles. The Little Sisters of che
Poor deal with different board of trade.
They have but one bank, that of Pro.
vidence but one teller, the angel who re.
cords their noble deeds aud like St. Law
rence of old, their only riches sin handn
are the poor whose members, constantly
increasing, never allow the miracle by
which they are provided for, to diminish.
Their first property was purchased in Saint
Servan for % 900 francs not q sous was
in the exchequer at the moment of pur-
chase none was left therein till the date
OF payment, and when the hour for settle.
ment arrived, the establishment was paid
for.-Sach was the FIRST speculation entered
into by the Little Sisters of the Poor,
The second foundation wac made in
Rennes. A very questionable locality.
some thought, was selected. In the yicin
ity were tayerns, saloons, and other low
places of amusement. Bad as the associa-
lions seemed, they were still more honor
able than greeted from without the coming
of the Divine Infant into the world. In
Bethlehem, the animals breathed their
warm breath over the body of the new
born babe in Rennes. the very drunkards
fell in love with tho Little Sisters of the
Poor. Well, they didn't marry the Little |
Sisters, of course, but they espoused their
cause and where lords and ladies' at frat
refused to look, these outOasta of society
might be seen helping the Little Sisters to |
establish homo. After while tho first
locality became too Nnall; aud again class
Of persons, little understood, came to the
assistance of the Sister. A detachment of
SOldierA from tho viciniBr oskadora ,,bVa;.