Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-04-04
Bride of Irish Hero of Defense
of Little Round
Top.
Won Entire Family Back to the
Fervant Practice of
Religion.
LOVE OF GOD WAS her MOTIVE

The allusion to Madame O'Rorke,
of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart,
in our Catholic chronology of date
March 20, will revive loving recol-
lections of noble religious and an
accomplished woman among her for
mer Associates and pupils in her
long career as an educator in New
York, Albany, Detroit and Prov
idence.
Madame O'Rorkes maiden name
was Clara Bishop. She was born in
Rochester, ". Y, March 20, 1887.
Her father was a Protestant, her
mother though baptized a Catholic
did not practice her religion. Clara
had not heard of the sacrament of
penance until her thirteenth year.
Then Marie, a classmate, told her of
II, and the impression made on Clara
was so great that she begged her
companion to take her to confession
One day the two girls went to the
church. Marie placed Clara near
the confessional and then went tc
call the priest. During the interval
Clara became frightened and was
about to run away, but the priest,
appearing at that moment, spoke to
her gently and overcame her fears
with the words: do not fear, dear
child; come to our Lord" From that
day she approached the holy tribunal
every week, but she did not make
her first communion until she was
fourteen.
She became an apostle in her own
family, exercised a great influence
over her brothers and sisters and
had the happiness of winning the
entire family back to the fervent
practice of religion. She was very
gifted intellectually and graduated
at sixteen. She married the dashing
young Colonel of the One Hundred
and Fortieth New York Volunteers,
Patrick H. O'Rorke, in 1852. and a
year later he fell at the head of his
regiment in the defense of Little
Round Top, in the second day of the
battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1853,
his action on that occasion forming
one of the historical and tragic
episodes of the.
Col. O'Rorke was also a Rochester
boy, though he was born in the
County Cavan, Ireland, March rs,
1887, the two being of nearly ex-
actly the same age. When but six
teen he won a scholarship in the
University of Rochester, which he
| declined for cadetship at West
| Polnt, where he was graduated at
the head of his class in 1861. He
saw immediate service in the En-
gineer Corps, in the Army of the
Potomac, fought at Charlottesville
and Fredericksburg, and shortly be-
Tore Lees invasion of PENNSYLVANIA
had been assigned to the One Hun
dred and Fortieth New York as its
| Colonel when but twenty-five years
old, at the request of the officers
and men.
On the second day at Gettysburg.
as ne was bringing up the rear of
Wells brigade, Gen. G.. X. Warren
met him and suggested that he turn
aside and go to the defense of Round
Top. Recognizing the nature of the
crisis he led his regiment to the
danger point, which was seriously
threatened and the loss of which
would leopard the issue of the day.
O'Rorke led his men diagonally up
the eastern slope of the rocky hill
and springing from his horse, his
sword flashed from its scabbard and
calling; This way, boys!" he led
the charge over the rocks, down the
hillside in support of Vincent's
brigade, while Hazlett's battery was
dragged to the summit. Here 1t was
that the gallant O'Rorke fell, pierced
through the neck by bullet; but the
day was won. His remains were
tenderly cared for by his brother
officer, Capt. Porter Farley.
His widow entered the Society of
the Sacred Heart at the convent of
Manhattanville, New York, in 1868.
In 1874 she was named Superior and
successfully governed the converts
OF the society at Detroit, Albany and
Providence. She won all hearts by
her wisdom, firmness and kindness;
her influence extended beyond the
walls OF the convent; her worth was
recognized by the priests of the do
cese, who, following the example of
their Bishop. helped her in all her
undertakings.
At her death, in 1898, the follow
ing tribute was paid to her memory
by an eminent ecclesiastic: Mother
ORorke will not be forgotten; her
spiritual daughters will preserve as
precious treasure her wise coun-
sci and her words OF encourage
ment. Her character was sincere and
loyal; love of God was the motive
OF all her acts; she lived ever in
ms presence; she was never deaf to
the cry OF distress; she was not only
superior, but a mother. and above
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