The Opelousas courier., 1886-07-31

Believing that the obituary notice of
the death Of Mother Mary Aloysea Har
dey, formerly IF st Landry parish, and
who reached such emineuce in the
Catholic Church, would be read with
great interest by our parishioners, We
copy the following from the Washing
ton Argus of the 29th inst:
Died, in Paris, at the Mother House of the
Sacred Heart, on June 18th, 1886, MARY
ALoYsEA HARDEY, aged 70 years, months
and 5 days, after an active service of more
than fifty years performed in Europe and
America.
She was born near the village of Piscataqua,
in Prince George Co, Maryland, ton the 9Th
liam Frederick Hardey and Sarah Elizabeth
Spaulding, both OF old Catholic families of
Maryland, removed from that State to Louisi-
ana in 1879, AMI settled near Grand Coteau
in ST. Landry parish.
From early childhood Mary A. Hardey
manifested the decided traits of earnest relig-
ious devotion which characterized her whole
life AS devoted daughter and loving sister,
she was model for limitation. After few
years of close application to study in the
House Of the Sacred Heart at St. Michaels,
near New Orleans, she requested permission
from her parents TO join the Order, and after
full preparation and probation, she joined the
Order on the 22d of October, 1926, at the
early age of IS years.
The earnest and energetic devotion shown
by her to the interest of the Order, soon
brought her into prominent notice and she
became superior at ST. Micheals, at the early
age of "a years From this time, she seemed
to have been especially chosen by Divine
VIII for the great task to which she has de-
yotedsa long life. Louisiana will long feel
the influence of her character in the education
and motherly training of many thousands OF
the daughters of the prominent families OF
nearly every part of the State. Her precepts,
counsel and example still appear in letters Of
light, as guides to most of the Creole families
Of the State In thousands of these families
her name is a sacred and revered household
word.
Fully comprehending the feeble condition
of her order in America, which at that time
consisted Of but three small converts in this
country, viz one near ST. Louis, Mo-, one
at Grand Coteau and one at ST. Micheal, the
young and energetic Superior began to lay
those wonderful plans for the enlargement
and extension of the order throughout the
American Continent, the fuihllment of which
has been marvel of success
BY her wonderful energy, her gentlenes:
and kindness to all who approached her, to-
gether with her far sighted business qualifca
tions, all directed by her full trustin God al
her guide, she soon enlarged the convent a
ST. Micbeals into magnificent building will
grounds exquisitely laid out, and became sur
rounded by wealthy friends, who placed thei
: children in her care, and aided her liberallJ
in her sacred ambition. In I84I. Madame
Galitzin, Vicar Of the Order in North Ameri
ca, perceiying the wonderful gifts of tht
young Superior, conducted her to Paris to th,
Mother General, before whom Nine. Hardel
laid all her plans for the enlargement ant
success of the order. With full powers a
Vicar to the Mother General in America
Mother Hardy returned to the United State
in r842, and founded the small establishment
in Houston street N. r., in a small room witt
but few scholars. With her wonderful tao
and energy, aided BY Bishop Huges and Arcl
Bishop McCloskey, her efforts were croWnet
with success. She put no bounds to her zeal
she was overcome by no difficulty. Thougl
the society was poor in worldly resources, sh
was strong and rich in her confidence in God
She won an hearts, hence the marvellous sue
cess that ever crowned her efforts. She dres
friends from every class of society, spoata
neous aid was freely given, fourishing school
sprung up iii every State, and very many D
her old pupils joined the order. In a fes
years she had established houses in allnos
every large city in the north, iii South Amer
Z ca, Mexico, Canada and even in the Wes
Indies.
During the 81 years of her service, Madam
Hardy has established nearly so Aourishin
houses in North America, some of them, yer
large establishments, like those of Maahai
tanyiIIe and KenWood near Albany. Upo
whom shall her mantle fall to continue th
great work
She was most accomplished woman
drawing, painting, all the graceful arts $
beautiful in women, were familiar to her /; sh
was an accomplished lingnist. The rhc
rough knowledge Of 5 or q languages mad
her society very charming to all foreignel
who approached her. These accomplis shmen
were steadily acquired during The short Inte
vaIs Of her labor for the advancement Dc Il
interests of her order. She was great III
weller, both in Europe and America and b
crossed the ocean over IS times.
The following expressive estimation OF ht
character and virtue is from one who kne
her, well and only the echo of nlanY thousand
of her friends
There was not another Sister in the ord
who was sd universally loved and respeets
81 ill who knew her. She was woman of
century Though her administrative abili
was of The highest order, she was always iii
and gentle III her manner to those who we
subordinate to her, and none can say, no Ias
fer what provocatlons Tnay have arisen. fh