Mary Aikenhead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mother Mary Frances
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Mary Aikenhead (around 1807)
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| Born | 19 January 1787 |
| Died | 22 July 1858 Our Lady's Mount, Harolds Cross, Dublin, Ireland
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| Resting place | St. Mary Magdalen's, Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland |
| Known for | The founder of the Religious Sisters of Charity |
| Parent(s) | David Aikenhead Mary Stacpole |
Mother Mary Frances Aikenhead (born January 19, 1787 – died July 22, 1858) was an important Irish woman. She was born in Cork, Ireland. She is known as one of the greatest leaders in nursing. Mary Aikenhead started the Religious Sisters of Charity, a Catholic group of nuns. She also founded the Sisters of Charity of Australia and St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin.
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Her Early Life
Mary was the daughter of David Aikenhead, a doctor, and Mary Stacpole. Her father belonged to the Anglican Church, and her mother was Roman Catholic. Mary was baptized into the Anglican Church when she was a baby.
Because Mary was often sick, she lived with a kind nanny named Mary Rourke. This nanny was a strong Catholic. It is believed that Mary Aikenhead was secretly baptized as a Catholic by her nanny when she was very young.
When Mary was about six years old, she moved back home. The Rourke family also came to live and work with Mary's family.
Discovering Faith
As a child, Mary spent a lot of time with her grandmother. Here, she learned more about Catholic beliefs from her aunt.
Her father became ill and joined the Roman Catholic Church before he passed away in 1801. Six months later, when Mary was 15, she was officially baptized as a Roman Catholic in 1802.
Helping Others
In 1808, Mary visited her friend Anna Maria O’Brien in Dublin. There, she saw many people who were poor and jobless. Mary and her friend started visiting sick and poor people in their homes to help them.
Mary wanted to join a religious group that focused on helping others. However, she could not find one. She shared her idea with Archbishop Murray of Dublin. He suggested that Mary could lead a new French religious order in Ireland.
To get ready for this big task, Mary became a novice (a beginner in a religious order) from 1812 to 1815. She trained at a convent in York, England. There, she took the name Sister Mary Augustine. People still knew her as "Mrs. Aikenhead."
Founding the Sisters of Charity
On September 1, 1815, the first members of Mary's new group took their vows. Sister Mary Augustine became their leader, called the Superior-General.
Besides the usual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, they added a fourth vow. This vow was to give their lives to serving poor people.
At that time, there were only about 100 women in religious orders in Ireland. All of them lived apart from the world. Mary Aikenhead's group was different because they went out to help people directly.
Expanding Their Work
For the next 16 years, Mary worked hard to organize her community. She expanded their work to many types of charity, especially in hospitals and helping those in need.
She and her sisters were the first nuns to visit prisoners in Kilmainham Gaol. This showed their dedication to helping everyone, no matter their situation.
In 1831, Mary's health suffered from too much work and illness. She became an invalid, meaning she could not move easily. But she kept working tirelessly.
She guided her sisters during a terrible plague in 1832. She also put them in charge of new places and sent them on missions to France and Australia.
On January 23, 1834, Archbishop Daniel Murray and Mother Aikenhead founded St. Vincent's Hospital. This hospital was a major achievement in helping the sick.
Later Life and Legacy
Mary Aikenhead passed away in Dublin when she was 71 years old. She left her religious group in a strong state. They were in charge of 10 institutions and many other charitable works. She is buried in the cemetery at St. Mary Magdalen's in Donnybrook.
Steps to Sainthood
Mary Aikenhead was given the title "Servant of God" in 1921. On March 18, 2015, she was declared "Venerable Mary Aikenhead." This means her good deeds and strong faith have been recognized by the Church.
You can learn more about Mary's life at the Mary Aikenhead Heritage Centre. It is in Dublin at Our Lady's Hospice, Harolds Cross. This building, called Our Lady's Mount, is where Mary Aikenhead lived for many years. It later became Our Lady's Hospice in 1879.
Lasting Impact
St. Margaret's Hospice was started in 1950. It is now known as St. Margaret of Scotland Hospice. Her work continues to help many people today.
See also
- List of people on stamps of Ireland
