The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-10-18
The Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
catholic Heview.l

The order known as that of the Good
Shepherd was first established in Ceen,
Normandy, France, 10 the year 1851. UP
to 1929 the order WAS only represented in
France, but in 1880 it was extended to
parts OF England, Ireland, Italy and Ger
many. 1t was first introduced into the
United States in lS43 at Louisville, Ky.
The object Of the institution is--the re-
formation of the fallen of the female sex.
To this labor the members of the order OF
the Good Shepherd devote their lives and
energies. Their asylums are always open
to receive the poor fallen oues, be they
ever so depraved and sunk in vice They
are never detained against their will, and
kindness and gentieness are the only meaus
used to accomplish their reform. GeDer
ally, this class are iguorant of n useful and
profitable occupation, and to their idleness
their fall can be mostly attributed. On
entering the convent they are Taught that
employment for which they seem best
suited. There is DO distinction of creed,
persons of every denomination being re-
ceived and all treated alike. Their meals,
consisting of good substantial fare, take
place at regular hours, and recreation fills
up the unemployed spaces of the day.
Those who are delicate are exempted from
labor, aud receive the professional care of
physician. If after a residence in the
convent of several months, they show
signa of q thorough reformation and ex
press q desire to leave, they are civen into
the charge of their friends or relatives.
Should they be without home or friends
the institution undertakes to provide them
with both, by placing them in a situation
with some respectable family, where they
will be kindly treated and removed from
the occasion Of sin. After being reclaimed,
if they desire foreman for life, under the
charge of the Religious, and if their con
duct is entirely satisfactory, they are ad-
mitted to the habit of the Sisters Of st.
,lry lad a
dalens. They are governed by the pnns of
the Good Shepherd precisely as the class of
penitepts are, only they take the Carmeilte
habit and practice austerities which would
not DO permitted to the penitents. The
work of this great and good institution
does not end here,-tbere is another class
of persons for which it provides, called the
class of preservation. They form sepa-
rate department and are composed of child
rem who are unmanageable, show an incli-
nation to be vicious, or who from being
orphans and deserted are exposed to dan
gers. They receive a moderate education,
are instructed in different branches of in
dustry, and are, when thought fit, returned
to their friends or placed in good and safe
situations. The slightest intercourse be-
tween the inmates of those several depart
ments is strictly prohibited by the Sisters,
whose surveillance of the inmates is unre-
hitting. These are labors to which the
lives of those good Sisters are devoted, and
thus they work on from day to day, and
from year to year until they go down in the
grave, having done more good for their
species than the most exalted monarch,
statesman, philosopher or philanthropist,
whose name has been held up for the ven
ecation of mankind. They bring back to
the path of rectitude the poor wonderer
who Is often more siEned against than sim
ming; return to the family circle that form
30 lorg absent, and give to society useful
member, who was once its disgrace. Truly,
what a great and giOrions work tending
az it does for the benefit of society, the en-
oouragement of industry, and the removal
of that social eUiI so common in all large
cities.