Society of the Sisters of Saint Ursula of the Blessed Virgin facts for kids
The Society of the Sisters of Saint Ursula of the Blessed Virgin is a group of Catholic religious women. They were founded in 1606 in Dole, France, by a woman named Venerable Anne de Xainctonge. These sisters are especially known for their work in teaching and educating girls.
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The Story of the Sisters
At a time when girls often didn't get much education, Anne de Xainctonge had a big idea. She wanted to create a school for girls, just like Saint Ignatius had done for boys. This was a very new and unusual idea back then! Anne de Xainctonge was truly a pioneer in girls' education.
The first classes opened in Dole on June 16, 1606. These schools were open to everyone, whether they were rich or poor, and they were completely free. The sisters were special because they didn't live in a closed-off monastery (they were "uncloistered"). They also offered free education to girls, which was very rare. Their rules for living were based on the rules of the Jesuits, a group of priests. Instead of a special religious uniform, Anne and her friends wore simple black dresses, like the Spanish widows in their area.
The Pope, Innocent X, officially approved the society in 1648. Later, Pope Innocent XI confirmed this approval in 1678.
How the Society Grew
From their first home in Dole, the Sisters of Saint Ursula quickly spread to other countries like France, Switzerland, and Germany.
During the French Revolution, many of their schools had to close, and the sisters were scattered. But as soon as things became peaceful again, they started their work once more. One sister, Mother de Verse, reopened the school in Dole. Another, Mother Roland de Bussy, started a new house in Tours in 1814, with the blessing of Pope Pius VII.
The rules for the sisters were based on the teachings of Saint Ignatius, adapted for women. Anne de Xainctonge started writing these rules with help from a Jesuit priest. They were finished in 1623, after her death. These rules were followed until the French Revolution. After the Revolution, different bishops made some changes to the rules. But in 1898, Pope Leo XIII officially approved the original rules again, with some updates. In 1902, the words "Of the Blessed Virgin" were added to their name. This helped people tell them apart from other groups of Ursuline sisters who lived in monasteries.
New Schools and Locations
At first, each new school started by the sisters was independent. But after the French Revolution, many of the main houses started new schools that stayed connected to them. Important new "Motherhouses" (main centers) were in Dole and Tours in France; Fribourg, Sion, and Brig in Switzerland; and Villingen and Freibourg in Germany.
Many new schools were started from the Tours Motherhouse. However, because of new laws in France in 1901, the sisters were forced to leave, and their property was taken. So, the main house for Tours moved to Haverloo-lez-Bruges in Belgium. Other new schools were later opened in Rome in 1904, and Sluis in the Netherlands in 1911.
The Sisters in the United States
When the sisters were expelled from France in 1901, the Archbishop of New York invited them to start a community there. This was their first school in the United States! They opened a house in New York City, where they taught French and piano lessons. In 1903, they opened the Academy of Our Lady of Lourdes. This school later moved and became the Notre Dame Convent School. In 1989, the school became independent, and in 2002, the Notre Dame School of Manhattan moved to a new location.
From New York, the sisters started a second school in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1911.
In 1925, the sisters opened the Academy of St. Ursula in New York. In 1943, they began teaching at St. Joseph's parochial school in Kingston. The Academy of St. Ursula later became John A. Coleman Catholic High School in 1966.
In 1968, the sisters also opened the Linwood Spiritual Center, a place for retreats, in Rhinebeck, New York. In 1984, the Society arrived in North Carolina, where sisters now serve in Wilmington and Jacksonville.
Today, the Federation of the Society of Saint Ursula has about 600 sisters. They are active on four continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. Their work focuses on education, helping with social justice, spiritual guidance, and supporting local communities.
Other Related Groups
- Ursulines, founded in 1535
- Congregation of the Ursulines of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus (Grey Ursulines), founded in 1920
