CONTENTS.

Introduction. By Rev. Richard Baptist O'Brien, D. D., etc., etc Page 17

CHAPTER I.

Woman in the Church. — "The devout sex." — General characteristics of Catherine McAuley. 37

CHAPTER II.

Dublin. — Baggot- street House. 1827. — Era of the Emancipation. — Opening of the year 1787. — Apostasy of Lord Dunboyne. — Birth of Catherine. — Difference of statements as to the year of her birth. — An Eastern tradition. — Religious state of Ireland in the 18th century. — " Ite, Missa EeV — Extract from Gorres. — A tragedy. — The Earl of Chesterfield, viceroy. — He permits the reopening of some old Catholic churches. — Attempts to open schools. — Nano Nagle. — Princess Louise 41

CHAPTER III.

James McAuley, Esq. — His zeal for instructing children. — Little Catherine Eleanor McAuley. — Domestic altercations. — Death of Mr McAuley. — Responsibility of parents. — Ghosts in Stormanstown House. — Its inmates remove to Dublin. — Madame St. George. — Mrs. MoAnley's early training, and its consequences. — Her judicious mode of governing children. — Catherine on "good manners." — Death of her mother. — Its influence on Catherine. — The contrast between the deaths of the mother and daughter. — Catherine's aeal for preparing children for Confirmation 54

CHAPTER IV.

Surgeon Conway. — Catherine and Mary removed from all Catholic influence. — The two Cathedrals of Dublin. — Amiability of Catherine. — She essays to write Latin exercises. — The pedagogue. — Catherine's religious difficulties. — Her esteem for her Protestant friends. — Her theological and historical studies, — Surgeon Conway's financial reverse. — Catherine's cheerfulness under affliction. — She is adopted by the wealthy owner of Coolock House. — Dean Lube. — Very Rev. Dr. Betagh 64

CHAPTER V.

Catherine instructed by Very Rev. Dr. Murray. — Mr. Callahan. — His portrait. — Mrs. Callahan. — Her generosity. — An unfortunate alliance. — Another. — A death-bed. — Catherine's godchild, Teresa. — Importance of prayer and deliberation before choosing a state in life 74

CHAPTER VI.

Dr. James McAuley. — Dr. William McAuley. — Table-talk. — Catherine's considerateness for converts. — Bigotry usually the result of early training. — Catherine's life at Coolock. — Her trials. — Her zeal for the poor. — Her views on the importance of the education of women of the lower classes 80

CHAPTER VII.

A soul in danger. — The Servants' Asylum. — The lost sheep. — Shadows of coming events. — Catherine's efforts to make the poor industrious. — Her moderate expectations. — The rich man and his heiress 89

CHAPTER VIII.

Conversion of Mrs. Callahan. — Her death. — Her husband's grief. — Rev. Mr. M prescribes wiru as a preparation to die well. The new gospellers and the old. — Mr. Callahan's conversion and death. — His will. — Very Rev. Dr. Armstrong. — His disinterestedness 98

CHAPTER IX.

Catherine's fortune. — Her charities. — Death of her only sister. — Mr. Williams' grief. — An exciting scene. — Catherine's midnight sortie. — The sentinels. — The reconciliation. — Her hair becomes " gray, but not with years." Ill

CHAPTER X.

Beauty everywhere. — Something lovely in every one. — Mary Teresa McAuley. — She evinces a desire to become a Catholic — Her aunt's devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. — The Mea Culpa 120

CHAPTER XI.

Projects of the Foundress. — First stone of Baggot-street House laid. — V. R. Dr. Blake's presentiment. — He is summoned to Rome to restore the Irish College. — Miss Fanny Tighe. — Miss McAuley's architects build a Convent. — Very Rev. Dr. Armstrong's illness and death. — Mr. Callahan's will contested. — The Institution opened. — Action versus contemplation. — Extracts from Ven. Archdeacon O'Brien 125

CHAPTER XII.

Mother McAuley's associates assume a distinctive dress. — Her relatives urge her to marry. — Major W.'s constancy. — A scene. — An amusing incident- Mary Teresa not allowed to associate with her aunt. — The Captain's theology. — His recollections of Waterloo. — Severity and mildness. — Intolerance on the decrease. — Dr. "Williams 1 death. — A scene between the guardians of his children 186

CHAPTER XIII.

The O'Connell family. — The Liberator a Scruple Doctor. — His speeeh in a school-room. — His interest in the new Institute. — He dines with the poor children 146

CHAPTER XIV.

Our Lady of Mercy. — Accessions. — Rev. Father Lcstrange. — Very Rev. Father O'Hanlon's Novitiate. — The Military and Religions Order of Our Lady of Mercy. — Sisters of Mercy founded by Princess Teresa Doria. — Dedication of the Chapel in Baggot-street. — Opposition to the Institute. — Extract from Dr. Blake's sermon. — Charitable institutions founded in Ireland during the last century. — Foundresses— " C. McAuley, Esq." — Severity of the Archbishop. — Anomalous position of the Institute. — Dr. Blake's kindness. — Kindness of several religious houses. — The Presentation Rule. — Catherine enters George's Hill Convent. — Sister M. Magdalen Flynn. — Indulgences granted to the new Institute 148

CHAPTER XV.

Use of the Novitiate. — The Novice and the Mistress. — Incidents of Catherine's Novitiate. — Trials. — Catherine's reception. — Behind the grille. — Eminent virtues Catherine observed in the Abbess and Religious of George's Hill. — Pupils of the Presentation Nuns 162

CHAPTER XVI.

Caroline Murphy. — Caroline, Princess of Wales. — A seraphic death. — Extraordinary kindness of the Carmelite Fathers. — New trials for Sister Mary Catherine 170

CHAPTER XVII.

Sister M. Catherine's Profession. — Her return to Boggot-strcet. — Her first lecture. — Extracts from her instructions. — Her mode of correcting. — The office of Superior. — How Mother McAuley exercised it. — One paragraph suffices for rules and constitution for the Institute. — A generous rival. — Mother McAuley combines the active and contemplative lives. — Intercourse with seculars. 178

CHAPTER XVIII.

The first Reception. — Costume of the Order devised by the Foundress. — General end of all Orders. — Special end of the Order of Mercy. — Mother McAuley's arrangements for the protection of distressed women. — She insists that they shall be governed by mildness. — "A shirt for the Lord-Lieutenant" causes a little commotion. — Contrasts. — A soul rescued. 181

CHAPTER XIX.

Visitation of the sick. — How Mother MoAnley caused the public hospitals to be opened to all religious bodies that chose to visit them. — The poor, the middle class, and the rich. — Court life at Versailles considered by Madame Louise to be more monotonous than conventual life. — "Good Queen Maude." — The poor the treasures of the Church. — Anecdotes 191

CHAPTER XX.

Mother McAuley's views on education. — The regulations she made. — Catholic and Non-Catholic educationists. — Anecdote. — Pestalozzi, Bell, Lancaster, Jacotot. — The Kildare-street schools. — The National Board. — The Christian Brothers. — Gerald Griffin's grave. — Catholic priests inaugurators of gratuitous instruction. — Education of the middle classes. — Effect the example of our great educationists ought to have on those engaged in education 201

CHAPTER XXI.

New trials. — Death of Sister Aloysia O'Grady. — Illness and death of Sister M. Elizabeth Harley. — Resignation of the Foundress. — Supernatural joy at the death of a member, always characteristic of Religious Orders. 220

CHAPTER XXII.

The cholera in 1882. — Zeal of the Catholic Clergy. — Excitement of the people. — Mother McAuley takes charge of the Cholera Hospital, Townsend-street. — The garrulous nurse. — Extract from Dean Gaffney's Memoir of the Foundress 225

CHAPTER XXIII.

Distress of the poor in 1882. — The Duchess of Kent. — The Princess Victoria. — The Catholic queens. — A royal donation. — New accessions. — Profession. — Extract from Very Rev. Dominic Murphy. — Mary Teresa McAuley's interview with the Archbishop. — Her last days. — Her death. — Grief of the Foundress. 229

CHAPTER XXIV.

Rule and Constitutions of the Order of Mercy. — Lay Sisters. — Very Rev. James Rice. — Opposition to the new Institute. — The Pope sends his approbation, and his apostolic benediction to its members. — Mother McAuley gives an account of the foundation of the Order. — Letters 289

CHAPTER XXV.

"Little Catherine." — Generosity of the Foundress. — The Lord Bishop of Dromore. — Chief events of his life. — His connection with the Foundress. — His love for the Institute 248

CHAPTER XXVI.

Virtues of the Foundress. — Faith. — Hope. — Charity. — Prudence. — Justice. — Fortitude. — Temperance. — Humility. — Obedience. — Chastity. — Poverty. — Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. — Anecdotes 264

CHAPTER XXVII.

The First Branch. — The wreck off Dunleary harbor. — The excommunication, and its consequences. — Sussex-place House. — Trials. — Mother McAuley hiding from the sheriff. — Her letters. — A beautiful specimen. — Kingstown convent relinquished. — Reopened. — Glasthule 278

CHAPTER XXVIII.

The Tullamore Foundation. — Sermon of Very Rev. Dr. Curtis, S. J. — Mother Mary Anne Doyle. — Father Mathew. — Generosity of the Foundress. — Tullamore will neither lend nor give. — " A bitter scolding for Tullamore, and three cheers for Carlow." 287

CHAPTER XXIX.

Mother McAuley and her absent children. — Rhymes. — Her mode of preparing Sisters for Superiority. — Her advice to a young Superior. — The Charleville Foundation. — Very Rev. Mr. Croke. — Sister M. Angela Dunne. — Mother McAuley refuses to give a colony to her friend, the Bishop of OBSory. — Other applicants 294

CHAPTER XXX.

Very Rev. Andrew Fitzgerald, D. D. — The McAuley boys. — The Doctor and the Monk. — Young men's sermons. — Right Rev. Dr. Nolan. — Dr. Doyle's error. — Mother McAuiey's temptation, and its remedy. — She loses two of her Sisters. — Sets out for Carlow. — The Sisters' entree. — Schools for the middle classes. — The silver breakfast service. — Death of Bishop Nolan. — Letter of the Foundress. — Letter from Dr. Fitzgerald 305

CHAPTER XXXI.

The Cork Foundation. — Miss Barbara Goold. — "Saint Marie's of the Isle." — The Foundress inours the displeasure of the Bishop. — "Catherine the Less." — An eligible postulante. — The Meeting of the Waters. — Largo, Lento, e Grave. — Death of Little Catherine. — Her Aunt's letter. — Dr. Murphy. — Severe retort. — A heavy purse and a fair escutcheon. — The English Sisters. — A compliment. 322

CHAPTER XXXII.

Sister M. de Chantal. — Deaths. — A broken arm. — "A boy that will not be good." — The Chaplaincy difficulties. — Letters. — Dean Meyler. — "Christ's Blessed Cross." — The Limerick Foundation. — Death of Sister M. Teresa Potter. — Letter of condolence 331

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Sister M. Gertrude Jones. — She shows her brightest colors in dying. — Death of Robert McAuley. — The English Sisters. — National pride. — "Geraldine." — The last glimpse of Erin. — Visit to Newry. — Departure of the Foundress for the London mission 345

CHAPTER XXXIV.

General government— Lady Barbara Eyre. — Her Reception. — The Court Friseur. — An amusing incident. — Gratitude of the Foundress. — Letters 356

CHAPTER XXXV.

Galway. — "A second Mary Teresa." — The English Sisters. — The Laundry. — Dr. Griffiths entreats more aid for Bennondsey. — Reception of the Sisters for the Birmingham Foundation. — Reception in Galway. — Difficulties. — Very Rev. Peter Daly 367

CHAPTER XXXVI.

The Apostle of Temperance and The Sister of Mercy. — A Howard among the Teetotalers. — Birr. — Worse feuds than the "O'Carroll Feuds." — The Apostle's expedient. — The Crottyites. — Mother McAuley on the progress of Temperance. — Letters from Birr. — Conversion of Rev. Mr. Crotty. — "The sun shines too brightly" for the Foundress 377

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Fresh objections to the Institute. — Reverend Mother appeals to Rome. — Letter. - She loses the last of her "earthly joys." — Her warm attachment to her relatives. — The Naas Convent— A severe letter. — O'Connell's speech at Carrick-on-Suir. — The Wexford Convent. — A spoiled vocation 389

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Declining health of the Foundress. — The English Sisters. — Letter of the Bishop of Birmingham. — Bishop Wiseman. — The Bishop of Liverpool. — Miss G , of Eaton House. — Renewal of the Liverpool negotiations. — Letter of Dr. Youens. — Dr. Pusey. — Confirmation of the Rule. — The Birmingham Foundation 398

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Return of the London Superioress. — Innovations and reformations. — Unfavorable Report by an English priest. — Very Rev. Dr. Butler congratulates himself on being independent of "borrowed plumes." — Stormy nationality. — Forbearance of the Foundress. — Visions. — Bishop Baines. — "Where Paul and I differ." — The lady who has had the visions secedes. — She goes to Rome. — Is protected by Cardinals Acton and Fransone. — She gives her revelations in a Catholic novel. — The "Solitaries" and "Handmaids" disperse. — Their projector writes another story. — Why did she leave us ? 407

CHAPTER XL.

The Foundress writes to the Bishop of Galway. — Her return to Ireland. — Letters to Very Rev. Dr. Burke, of Westport; to Sister M. Joseph Joyce; to Mother Teresa White. — Her continued interest in her Houses. — Her zeal. — Old opinions about the New World 422

CHAPTER XLI.

All Saints' Day. — All Souls' Day. — Joy of the Foundress at the approach of death. — She receives the Last Sacraments. — Her last moments. — The ruling passion strong in death. — Her obsequies. — The remains of her departed children are brought home. — Her personal appearance. — Her portrait. — Statistics of the Order 480

CHAPTER XLII.

Letter of Bishop Blake. — Letter of Dr. Gaffney, Dean of Maynooth. — Obituary, from the Halifax Regitter 442

CHAPTER XLIII.

Mother McAuley's views on various subjects. — Gentleness. — St. Anselm. — St. Catherine of Bologna. — Sweetness and condescension. — Importance of the education of women. — Patron Saints. — Amusing anecdote. — Converts. — Regular observance. — Works of literature and art. — M. HAbbe' Grou. — Mother McAuley's special devotions. — Her abstraction. — Her appreciation of the Sisters. — Her unbounded confidence in them. — Profession and renovation. Prayer. — De La Mennais. — Conclusion 448

APPENDIX.

Letters 465

List of the Convents, etc., founded by Mother McAuley 486

R. I. P. — Obituary 487

Convents of Mercy founded up to the year 1868 495