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‘Yes, My Lord’: Some Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Bishops and the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 September 2015

M. Geoffrey Kirkus
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Extract

That we may freely and consistently persevere in our intention … we will that … all and each of ours shall make a vow never to seek directly or indirectly nor to allow others to seek … that except the Chief Pontiff to whom alone we humbly beg to be subject, any religious order whatsoever or any person whomsoever or any bishop or any one else appointed by the Pope to visit us, should have us so committed to his charge as to exercise over us authority, power, or jurisdiction.

(Memorial of Mary Ward, translated from the Latin original, Archivum Romanum Societatis Jesu, Anglia 31, 11, pp. 675-685).

The above are strong words, even from a forthright Yorkshirewoman, and they are almost startling when one considers how submissive, personally, was their author to all authority in the Church. But, in this Memorial, Mary Ward describes the constitution she envisages for her Institute. The firm lines she draws are even more accentuated in her Third Plan of 1622: ‘We most humbly beg that the entire hierarchical structure of this work should depend entirely on the Holy See and not on any other authority’. Another document headed Reasons why we may not alter makes it clear that the proposals admit of no compromise. The genesis of this attitude is not far to seek. Mary Ward considered she had received divine intimation that she was to undertake some new work to the greater glory of God and for this she was to follow St. Ignatius’ Society of Jesus with its direct responsibility to the Holy See. Sr. Immolata Wetter points out that Mary Ward’s ideas were further sharpened by the contemporary situation of the Catholic Church in England: ‘adherence to the primacy of the Pope distinguished the English martyrs and confessors of the faith. For their loyalty to the Vicar of Christ these brave men and women suffered restrictions both in public and private life.

Type
Research Article
Information
British Catholic History , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , October 1998 , pp. 171 - 192
Copyright
Copyright © Catholic Record Society 1973

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References

Notes

1 The whole text is printed in The Heart and Mind of Mary Ward ed. I.B.V.M. published by Anthony Clarke, 1985 pp. 11–224.

2 Quoted in Till God Will ed. by Sister Orchard, Emmanuel, I.B.V.M. pub. London, Darton, Longman & Todd, 1985, p. 70 Google Scholar

3 Wetter, Elizabeth b. 1913, Superior General of the Institute B.V.M. 1976–1985. Most of her religious life had been devoted to working on Mary Ward’s cause.Google Scholar

4 The Heart and Mind of Mary Ward ed. op. cit. p. 117.

5 Gallopping Girls—Memorial of the English Clergy to the Holy See. Copy in AWW Vol. 16, p. 201. Quoted in Chambers Vol. 2, p. 186.

Wandering nuns: the expression is used in a rare pamphlet The English Spanish Pilgrim by the spy James Wadsworth, 1630.

Jesuitesses—the expression is used in the Information of the Archpriest William Harrison. The original is lost but there are copies in the Vatican Library (B.V. Rome, Fonda Capponi 47, ff 68r–72r), in the Archives of the Congregation de Propaganda Fide (APF Rome. Belgium sive Fiandia’ Jesuitissae ad 1648, incl. Vol. 205, ff, 304r–408r) and in AWW, WA Lond. Vol. 16, 1617–1622 pp. 213–220.

6 BCA, 3F/2

7 See Mother Dorothy Paston-Bedingfield’s account given to the Munich annalist, quoted in Colderidge p. 60.

8 Domestick Intelligence Nos. 55 and 57, quoted in Carmel in England by B. Zimmerman, published London, Burns & Oates 1899, pp. 319–322.

9 The first thirty eight pages of a seventeenth/eighteenth Century register are extant. BCA, C43.

10 Bedingfield: an old Norfolk family: Frances, b. 1616 at Oxburgh Hail, entered the Institute in 1632 and was present at Mary Ward’s death-bed; superior of the Hammersmith House, 1669–1686 and of the Bar Convent 1686–1698. At least twice imprisoned for her faith. She died in Munich, 4th May 1704.

11 Domestick Intelligence No. 56 quoted in B. Zimmerman’s Carmel in England, op. cit. p. 321. Cecily Cornwallis, b. 1656, daughter of Francis Comwallis of Beeston, Norfolk and his wife Katharine (daughter of Lord Arundell). Entered the Institute 1672, imprisoned in York Castle for her faith, 16781685. Superior of Hammersmith house 1686–1715. Died in York 1723. Buried in Holy Trinity, Micklegate.

12 London Recusant, Vol. 8, No. 1 p. 25.

13 Among code words, a ‘bag’ stood for a ‘priest’, a ‘mitre’ for a bishop, ‘knot’ for the ‘religious vows’.

14 A letter written by her confessor, probably Father Ralph Cavendish, S.J., quoted in Coleridge pp. 134–6.

15 Giffard, Bonaventure, Vicar Apostolic of the London District 1703–1734, titular Bishop of Madaura. Google Scholar

16 AAW, Vol. 39, Giffard 2, No. 104. Copy in BCA, 2A/39.

17 AAW; Vol. 39, Giffard 2, No, 106. Copy in BCA, 2A/60.

18 AAW, Vol. 39, Giffard 2, No. 108. Copy in BCA, 2A/41.

19 AAW, Vol. 39, Giffard 2, No. 107. Copy in BCA, 2A/42.

20 Printed in BCA, V. 79

21 This distinguished Yorkshire family from Osgodby and Babthorpe gave three Superior Generals to the Institute, viz. (1) Barbara b. 1592, Superior General 1645–1653, d. in Rome April 23rd 1654: (2) Anna Barbara, great-niece of the above, b. 1647 Superior General 1697–1711, d. in Munich 10th March, 1711: (3) Agnes, sister of Anna Barbara, b. 1654, Superior General 1711–1720, d. in Munich 20th February 1720.

22 i.e. Choose a confessor

23 Copy in BCA, 2A/3p. 2. The original letter has not been traced.

24 Members of the Hammersmith community—

Martha Marshall joined the Hammersmith Cty 1691, d. 1712.

Anna Powell member of Hammersmith Cty from 1677

Bridget Coldham member of Hammersmith Cty 1686–1751.

Elizabeth Evans member of Hammersmith Cty 1690–1702

Mary Dallison, b. 1681, member of Hammersmith Cty 1702–1760, Superior 1739–1760, d. July 28th 1760

Elizabeth Clarke, member of Hammersmith Cty 1703–1713, d. April 1st 1713.

Anne Ely, member of Hammersmith Cty 1700–1709, d. September 12th 1709.

Elizabeth Henslow, member of Hammersmith Cty 1681–1724, d. November 18th 1724.

Frances Barnard, educated at Hammersmith school, member of the community 1683–1753, Superior 1715–1739, d. November 7th 1753.

Dorothy (Winifred) Arundel, close relation of Cecily Cornwallis, member of Hammersmith Cty 1702–1749, d. April 23rd 1749.

Jane Thwing, niece of Thomas Thwing the martyr, member of Hammersmith Cty from before 1697 to 1724/5, d. January 19th 1724/5.

25 AAW, Vol. 39, Giffard 2, No. 131. Copy in BCA, 2A/45.

26 AAW, Vol. 39, Giffard 2, No. 128. Copy in BCA, 2A.46

27 The Generalate moved to the Paradeiserhaus in Munich in 1711.

28 Copy in BCA, 2/A 13, p. 3. ‘Sparrow’ may refer to Bishop Giffard himself or to a priest appointed by him as ‘director’ or ‘chaplain’.

29 AAW, Vol. 19, Giffard 2, No. 212. Letter of April 14th 1712. Copy in BCA, 2A/13, p. 6.

30 Letter of Feb. 13th 1713. Copy in BCA 2A/13, p.10.

31 BCA. This letter is mentioned in 2/4, but has not been traced.

32 BCA 1/4 g, h; the rules are printed in V.79.

33 BCA, copies of the translations are in 1/4 j, k.

34 BCA. There are copies of extracts in 1/4 1.

35 AAW, Vol. 39, Giffard 2, No. 105. Copy in BCA 2A/50.

36 AAW/OB. Vol. 3, part 3, No. 213.

37 AAW, Vol. 39, Giffard 2, No. 127. Copy in BCA, C40(H).

38 The portrait has been ascribed to Sir Peter Lely, Court Painter, 1618–1680.

39 Father Louis de Henne was chaplain of the convent at one time and Father Josseaume translated a book for her.

40 Catherine Rouby b. in Holland 1740, educated abroad; entered the novitiate 1765; taught French in schools: Superior 1790–1810. d. April 23rd 1810; buried in Holy Trinity, Micklegate, York.

41 Elizabeth Coyney, b.1759, educated at the Bar Convent; 1779 entered the novitiate, 1st mistress of schools, 1790–1810, Superior 1810–1826. d. December 15th 1826, buried in the convent cemetery.

42 Traces of this holocaust can be seen in the Antique Library, Vol. A6, 13 where pp. 55–61 are cut out, as they referred to Mary Ward. In the BCA Archives, Vol. 17 has also been heavily mutilated.

43 BCA, 3C/2.

44 This priest has not been identified.

45 This ancient house was loaned to the Institute in 1626, and made over to it in 1691. In 1711 it became the Generalate, but the nuns were expelled in 1809. It was destroyed by bombs in World War II.

46 There was no General Superior from 1809 to 1840, but I.B.V.M. communities survived in Altotting, Augsburg and Burghausen.

47 BCA, 3C/4 and V. 79 pp. 51–52.

48 BCA, 3F/7 p. 26.

49 BCA, 3C/1. When Dr. Norah Gurney catalogued the archives, she ascribed this document to Mother Austen Chalmers, 1772–1830, but comparison with Mother Chalmers’s vow-sheet shows that the handwriting is not hers.

50 He seems to have been Mother Coyney’s agent in Rome.

51 One of the York clergy.

52 BCA, C5/7 p. 26.

53 Extraordinary confessor to the community and spiritual director of some members.

54 BCA, Vol. 6. The leather binding and gold tooling of this volume are an indication of its importance. It has neither title-page nor date, but was probably written about 1816. Over two hundred pages of exquisite, flawless script record the eighty-one rules and the constitutions which claim to elucidate the rules and give practical advice for their execution. The handwriting cannot be identified as that of any member of the community {c.f. their vow-sheets), so it seems probable that a professional scribe was employed.

55 BCA, 3F, 7.

56 Josephine Haigh b.1850, entered the novitiate 1877, served as teacher, infirmarian, librarian and annalist; died 1942.

57 Rose Dunn, b.1791, educated at the Bar Convent, entered the novitiate 1818, served as procuratix and mistress of novices; elected Superior 1830. See BCA, V89 and 6J for the sources of her story.

58 BCA, V.34.

59 The Constitutions are hand-written, but the title-page is printed. It runs Constitutions and Customs of The Institute of the B. V. Mary at St. Mary’s Convent, Micklegate Bar, York, devised and approved by the Superior thereof, the Right Reverend John Briggs, Bishop of Trachis and Vicar Apostolic of the District of York. The page is decorated with a mitre, pastoral staff, ears of wheat and bunches of grapes.

60 Julia Browne, b.1796, educated at the Bar Convent, entered the novitiate 1818; served as Mistress of Schools: Superior 1840–62. Died 1874.

61 BCA, 3F7, pp. 55–56

62 BCA, 41. A good example is printed in Coleridge, pp. 363–364.

63 BCA, V. 34 pp. 10–14. The Exhortation that follows makes mention of a “tender mother’ but gives one little confidence of finding such a one.

64 Robert Cornthwaite, b.1818, consecrated Bishop of Beverley 1861; transferred (with the Convent) to the diocese of Leeds 1878. Died June 16th 1890.

65 BCA, 3F7, pp. 68 et seq.

66 Note on the authorship of St. Mary’s Convent, Micklegate Bar, York. The book seems to have been written by the Rev.Haigh, D. H. with the help of his niece, Mother Hilda Haigh. It was edited by the Rev.Coleridge, H. J. S.J. and published under his name in the Quarterly Series, 1887.Google Scholar

67 BCA, 4G/1.

68 Mary Ann Martin, b.1828, educated at the Bar Convent and at The English Convent, Bruges; entered the novitiate 1849; Superior 1862–83, died 1892.

69 BCA, V. 22 passim.

70 The story is told in Coleridge, pp. 193–196.

71 BCA, ‘Notes on the relief of the poor’ 4G/5.

72 BCA Constitutions, V. 34, p. 61.

73 In BCA, V. 64 there is a long article on Martin, Juliana taken from a Journal called The Niagara Rainbow. Google Scholar

74 Mother Ignatius Barrett founded a house in Gloucester from Augsburg, 1862. This community moved to London in 1872. See also note 88.

75 The letters addressed to the York Superiors from the General Superiors, etc. are to be found in BCA, boxes 6A, 6B and 6C, where detailed lists of the contents are given.

76 BCA, Folder 3D/1–7 contains the correspondence of Father Morris, Bishop Cornthwaite and others on the proposed petition.

77 The Irish branch, called Loreto Sisters and centred on Rathfarnham Abbey, was founded by Teresa Ball whose early training was in York, 1814–1821. It was always independent. The Canadian Generalate was founded from Rathfamham.

78 BCA, 6B/2.

79 BCA, 3D/8–11.

80 BCA. The petition and decree are printed, inter alia in J3. See also 3D/17–23 for MS copies of the petition, decree and letter of thanks sent to the Pope.

81 The ‘original’ Institute of Mary Ward had its Generalate in Rome until 1711, then in Munich (in the Paradeiserhaus) until the secularisation of 1809. The Generalate was re-established in 1840 in Nymphenburg, near Munich. From there it moved to Rome in 1929.

82 BCA, 3D/43.

83 Chaplain to the Convent, 1841–1884.

84 Lawrence Toole, Canon of Salford diocese. He corresponded with Canon Thompson on the history of the I.B.V.M.

85 BCA, 1/9 d–i, 4L/6, 6F.

86 BCA, 6B/2, 7.

87 BCA, J9, pp. 79–80.

88 Mother Ignatius Barrett’s fascinating life-story is too long to tell here, but it must be recorded that, after joining the Institute originally in Augsburg, she was persuaded to return to her native Ireland and to join the Loreto branch, but she left it on a question of authority when Cardinal Paul Cullen tried to bring all the convents in his archdiocese under direct subjection to himself.

89 In addition to founding the houses in London and Ascot, she accepted an invitation to found an ‘English house’ in Rome; after World War II this house was merged with the Generalate.

90 BCA, A40.

91 BCA, A28–35.

92 BCA, B35.

93 Translated by Helen, Sister Butterworth under the title Mary Ward, a world of contemplation and published by Gracewing in 1994.Google Scholar

94 See note 66 above, on the authorship of The History of St. Mary’s Convent.

95 BCA, V17. There is unfortunately no pagination to this ancient MS. volume; the account of Cecily Cornwallis is about midway through it, under the heading ‘A memorial of those who have lived and died here since the year 1686’.

96 BCA, 2/A, passim.

97 Reproductions of these paintings hang in the Bar Convent Museum, York. The originals were hidden in a Fugger Castle during World War II, and so escaped destruction when the Augsburg Convent was heavily bombed.

98 BCA 6A/5.

99 BCA, 3C/34a and 3C/34b.

100 Louisa Pope, b.1833, the daughter of a Whitby clergyman. Received into the Church 1853, entered the novitiate 1854; taught in the schools; Superior 1887–1899. Founded the I.B.V.M. house in Cambridge, 1898. Died 1914. Her frank and genial features, captured by the portrait painter, speak of optimism and seem to augur happier times ahead for the Bar Convent.

101 BCA, 3C/34C.

102 BCA, V6, 2d.

103 BCA, 6A, 6 passim.

104 BCA, V6, 2d.

105 The house in Cambridge was founded from York in 1898.

106 BCA, 3C/37.

107 The process of unification continues. In 1929 the Generalate was established in Rome and in 1953 the Mainz and St. Pölten (Austrian) Generalates joined it. Union with the Loreto Generalates remains possible.