Mary Catherine Chase facts for kids

Mary Catherine Chase (born 1835 or 1836 – died around 1905) was an American nun and writer from the 1800s. She was known as Sister Mary Francis de Sales when she became a nun in the Sisters of the Visitation. She also used two different pen names: Winnie Rover and F. M. Edselas.

For many years, Mary was a strong follower of the Episcopalian faith, which is a type of Christian church. Later, a Catholic woman inspired her. Mary then decided to join an enclosed order of nuns. This means she lived a life dedicated to prayer within a monastery.

She started writing in 1874 using the name "Winnie Rover." In 1892, she changed her pen name to "F. M. Edselas." Under this name, she often wrote memories and stories about famous writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Early Life and School

Mary Catherine Chase was born in Pepperell, Massachusetts. Her birthday was either July 1, 1835, or July 1, 1836. She had one older sister named Sarah Augusta Chase, born in 1834.

Mary's mother passed away when Mary was a baby. Her two aunts on her mother's side raised her. She first learned at home. Later, she went to schools in Springfield, Massachusetts. She also studied at Mount Holyoke College. In 1855, she graduated from the State Normal School in Westfield, Massachusetts.

When she was 19, Mary became a confirmed member of the Episcopalian Church. This happened at St. Paul's Church in Boston. She was guided by a religious leader named Rev. Alexander Hamilton Vinton. She remained a very dedicated Episcopalian for many years.

Mary was the granddaughter of Bishop Philander Chase, a well-known Episcopalian leader. She was the only person in her family known to leave the Episcopalian faith. She did this after becoming a Catholic and a nun.

Becoming a Writer and Nun

Mary chose to become a teacher. She traveled west, where she met a Catholic woman. This woman had a big influence on Mary's life. After this, Mary decided to join an enclosed religious order. When she became a nun, she took the religious name Sister Mary Francis de Sales.

Even as a nun, Mary felt a strong desire to write. She wanted to create books for young Catholic readers. So, she started writing under the pen name "Winnie Rover." She published travel books for children, which were called the "Neptune Series." She also wrote plays and helpful classroom guides, like a book called Practical Science.

After 1892, she began using a new pen name: "F. M. Edselas." This name was an anagram of her religious name, Mary Francis de Sales. An anagram is when you rearrange the letters of a word or name to make a new one.

Under this new name, she wrote about topics that interested the public. Many people thought the writer was a man. Some of her works included "How to Solve a Great Problem" and "Institute of Woman's Professions." Her articles appeared in a popular Catholic magazine and received good reviews.

Because of her writing, she was chosen to speak at the Columbian Catholic Congress. Her speech was about "Woman's Work in Religious Communities." She also gained new fans with other writings like "A Visit to Ramona's Home" and "What Shall We Do With Our Girls?"

Mary Catherine Chase passed away around 1905.

Selected Books

As Winnie Rover

• 1874, The Neptune outward bound
• 1877, The children of to-day : a farce in five acts
• 1877, Wealth and wisdom, a drama in six scenes
• 1877, The house on the avenue, or, The little mischief-makers : a drama in six scenes
• 1879, Lessons in practical science
• 1882, The Neptune at the Golden Horn
• 1890, The Neptune afloat

As F. M. Edselas

• In a City of the Clouds
• What Shall We Do with Our Girls?
• Mission Lectures to Non-Catholics
• An Educational Bureau and Journal, 1893
• The Wonders of Old Ocean
• The Golden Age and its People
• Checkmated Each Other
• Genoa and Its Campo Santo
• Savonarola--Monk, Patriot, Martyr
• Visit to Ramona's Home
• Institute for Woman's Professions
• Woman's Work in Religious Communities
• How to Solve a Great Problem