Susan Saurin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Susan Saurin
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In 1869 during court proceedings
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Susanna Mary Saurin
21 September 1829 Duleek, County Meath, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
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| Died | February 10, 1915 (aged 85) Harrow on the Hill, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
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| Nationality | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Other names | Mary Brown Mary Scholastica |
| Occupation | Roman Catholic nun |
| Employer | Sisters of Mercy |
| Known for | Cause célèbre |
Susan Saurin (born Susanna Mary Saurin, also known as Mary Brown and Mary Scholastica; 21 September 1829 – 10 February 1915) was a British Roman Catholic nun. She became famous because of a big court case called the "Great Convent Case." This case showed that she had been treated unfairly by her convent. It also highlighted that the church had not helped her get justice. The case was a very important and talked-about event in Victorian society, especially because of strong feelings against Catholics at the time.
Early Life and Becoming a Nun
Susan Saurin was born in Duleek, a place in Ireland. Her parents, Brigid and Michael Saurin, owned land there. Many of their children chose to live a religious life. Susan also wanted to become a nun, even though her parents hoped she would choose a different path.
In November 1850, Susan joined a convent in Dublin. There, she trained with two other women, Mary Starr and Julia Kennedy. They all took new religious names: Susan became Sister Scholastica, Mary became Sister Joseph, and Julia became Sister Magdelen. Susan made her final promises to become a nun on 3 October 1853.
Starting a New Convent
In 1856, Sister Scholastica (Susan), Sister Joseph (Mary Starr), and Sister Magdelen (Julia Kennedy) were sent to start a brand new convent. This new home for nuns was in Clifford, Yorkshire. Sister Joseph was put in charge, and Sister Magdelen was her helper. Later, this new convent moved to a town called Hull.
Challenges at the Convent
Sister Joseph and Sister Scholastica started to have disagreements. Sister Joseph was not happy with many things Sister Scholastica did. She even accused Sister Scholastica of not following her vow of obedience. This was because Sister Scholastica would not tell her about private talks she had in confession. She also wouldn't share letters she had written, like one asking her uncle to help her move to a different convent.
Sister Joseph became very upset. She asked the Bishop to make Sister Scholastica leave the convent, or else she would leave herself. The Bishop was responsible for overseeing the convent. The Bishop of Beverley, Robert Cornthwaite, received requests from both sides. Sister Scholastica's family wanted him to look into how she was being treated.
The Bishop's Investigation
Bishop Cornthwaite asked five priests to investigate the situation. They found that Sister Scholastica had been treated with "extraordinary and unexemplary severity." This means she was treated very harshly and in a way that was not a good example for others. However, the priests only spoke to Sister Scholastica herself. Even though some priests had doubts, they all agreed that Sister Scholastica should be made to leave the convent.
Sister Scholastica refused to leave. She believed that the Bishop did not have the power to cancel the promises she had made to the convent.
Living Apart from the Community
For more than a year, Sister Scholastica lived in the convent but was not allowed to be part of the community. A nun had to sleep outside her room. She was not allowed to have a fire for warmth or any books. This harsh treatment made her very unwell.
With advice from doctors and her brother, who was a lawyer, she decided to leave the convent. She left quietly, without talking to Sister Joseph or Sister Magdelen. Nuns who leave convents often lose their social standing and respect in society.
The Great Convent Case
The "Great Convent Case" began on 3 February 1869. It took place at Westminster Hall. Sister Scholastica, represented by a lawyer named William Digby Seymour, was asking for £5,000 in damages. The other side, Sister Joseph and Sister Magdelen, were represented by their own lawyers.
During the trial, Sister Scholastica accused Sister Joseph and Sister Magdelen of lying to the Bishop. She also said they had treated her badly and kept her confined. The court heard about the Bishop's earlier investigation, which was called a "parody of justice." This means it was not a fair or proper investigation.
The Bishop was criticized for not fixing the "miserable squabbles of a convent." The court decided that Sister Joseph had used Sister Scholastica's promise of obedience to be cruel to her. Sister Scholastica was awarded fifty pounds in damages. A newspaper called The Daily Telegraph even published a special report about the trial, titled "Inner Life of the Hull Nunnery Exposed."
Why the Case Was Important
The "Great Convent Case" was a very famous event in Victorian society. At that time, people had different Christian beliefs, and there were strong feelings against Catholics. This case showed how some people felt about Catholic convents. For example, a politician named Charles Newdigate Newdegate campaigned to control Catholic convents and monasteries. This shows that many people in and out of Parliament shared anti-Catholic views in the early 1870s.
Later Life
Susan Saurin died in Harrow on the Hill on 10 February 1915. She remained a nun, having joined another convent in Bristol under the name Mary Brown.
