Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-03-17
CHRISTIAN
virtues Are the Drowning Glories
OF the Daughters OF
Erin.
st. Brigid Is the Patron OF All
the Irish Women in
Ages.
Presentation Order and sdstcsS o.
Mercy Founded by
IrishwOmen.
FAITH, MERCY AND CHARITY

From time immemorial the purity.
the woman1y virtues and the beauty
OF Irish women have been the sub
jects OF praise from poets. artists
and churchmen. Even before st.
Patrick visited Ireland the purity Of
Irish women had been extolled. Thes
camp the illustrious st. Brigid, for
sixteen centuries the patron bf
Irish womanly charity and virtue.
Historians tell us she was born near
Dundalk, County Louth, in the year
Asa. Her father was a Prince OF
the Hermonians OF L,einster. no
singular modesty and simplicity OF
manners she united great charity. At
the age OF sixteen she took the veil
as a. nun Collecting a number OF
young girls like herself she estab-
Hshed a religious retreat In the
County Meath In the year $50 she
established the famous convent OF
Kildare. ST. Brigid travelled all over
ireland, establishing converts and
caring for the poor, the homeless
and the afflicted. After a life OF
piety and charity st. Brigid died on
February /, 523, and was buried at
Kildare. When the Danes devastated
Kildare her followers had her re-
mains removed to Downpatrick and
sepultured near ST. Patrick and st.
Columbia.
Irish women have ever initiated
the virtues Of st. Brigid, though
their efforts may have been along
different lines. In more recent
times one reads OF Nano Maggie, the
fOundress OF the Presentation order.
She was born in County Cork, the
daughter OF Garrett Nagle, a man Of
property. Nano was educated in
Paris. Upon her return her thoughts
were turned to the lamentable condi-
ton OF the poor Irish Catholic chill
dren. deprived under the penal laws
OF all chances of education. In 1893
she established schools In Dublin
and Cork at her own expense. In
1911, at her instance a house for the
reception Of the nuns OF the
Ursuline order was erected In Cork.
So stnong was the prejudice against
them among the dominant class that
for many years except In he privacy
II their convent these nuns had to
wear secular dress. Miss Maggie
then organized band of Irish women
who agreed to give themselves solely
to the poor peiple of Ireland. They
were known as Sisters OF the Pre-
sentatlon. Mother Maggie died In
1884, and her community was not
given recognition and sanction until
1891, when Pipe Plus VI. commended
their work.
The then reigning Pope gave the
Sisters Of the Presentation authority
TO establish houses in Cork and else
where in Ireland for the reception
OF virgins whose duty II would be to
instruct children in the rudiments
Of faith and morals; to teach them
different works peculiar to their sex,
and to visit sick women in public
infirmaries and help them in their
necessities" At this time the Pre-
sentation order has representative
houses in Ireland. England, Aus
rala and America.
Mary Catherine McAuley, found
ress OF the Order OF Mercy, was
born in the County Dublin in 1879.
Her parents died while she was
young, and the future nun was
brought UP by Protestants. She
never wavered in her faith and de-
votlon. Before many years she had
the satisfaction OF seeing her foster
parents devout members OF the Cath
Ollie church. Her foster father, John
O'Callaghan. left her quite for
tune, and she determined to devote
It TO works OF mercy In 1897 she
established in Dublin a home for the
education and care OF young women
and for the visitation OF the sick and
distressed. In 1881, after Mother
McAuley and two OF her companions
had completed a noyitiate OF fifteen
months, they made VOWS OF poverty,
chastity and obedience Archbishop
Murray economically appointed Cath
crime McAuley Mother Superior. In
1868 there were l54 converts under
the rule OF the mother house.
One Of her biographers, Dr. r. B.
O'Brien, of Dublin, has written OF
her; The character OF Catherine
McAuley is the most precious legacy
that her children can. inherit from
her. It's chief strength seems TO lie
IN its simplicity What is still more
remarkable Is the pliancy and gen
tleness with which she allowed her
self to be moulded and directed by
authority, without claiming any
righta or debating any conditions
on the ground OF the large fortune
which she brought with her 70 the