Priceless Spirit: A History of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, 1841-1893 (Collected Studies Series; Cs456)

In Priceless Spirit Sister M. Georgia Costin, C.S.C., recounts the history of the Sisters of the Holy Cross from the time of their founding in 1841 to the death of the "architect of their autonomy," Father Edward Sorin, in 1893. Here is a lively, detailed study of a women's religious community in nineteenth-century America, wherein the complexities of frontier life, tensions with their community leaders in Europe, and collaboration with a male clergy and hierarchy are fully detailed in stories that run the gamut from humor to poignancy. Costin, having tapped previously unused historical and archival sources, provides a stimulating, often surprising, reappraisal of people and events in Holy Cross history. The liberal use of quotes from actual letters and annals gives readers a very real picture of the complex characters in Holy Cross history, casting them in a truer light than ever before. Of particular interest is how the persona of Father Sorin, founder of the University of Notre Dame, emerges in this study. Previous biographies and chronicles have depicted him as a self-serving autocrat, but here he is revealed to be a compassionate, loving person, always supportive of the Sisters in their various missions and in their efforts to establish Saint Mary's College. Priceless Spirit may lead readers to formulate new conclusions about the history of Sisters of the Holy Cross in particular and the evolution of the Congregations of Holy Cross in general. Historians and students of American Catholicism and American religion and culture, as well as persons associated with the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College, will find much of interest in this chronicle that stands out not only as a history of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, but also as a testimony to their indomitable spirit - past, present, and future. Priceless Spirit Contents Preface 1— These Fortunate Shores, 1841–42 2— An Association of Pious Persons, 1840–42 3— Wild Roses and Sweetbriar, 1843–47 4— As Edifying As Carthusians, 1847–49 5— Maintain Your Independence, 1848–49 6— I Saw a Man! 1849–52 7— Here Will I Dwell All the Days of My Life, 1852 8— This Question of Final Separation, 1852–53 9— The One I Have Been Praying for, 1853–54 10— The Marsh between the Lakes, 1854 11— Thinking I Was Coming to Certain Death—New Orleans, 1849–52 12— Many Changes and Troubles—New Orleans, 1852–55 13— An Entirely Different Style—New Orleans, 1855 14— Through the Intermediary—New York, 1855–56 15— Wonderful Unheard-of Event, 1857 16— They Do All the Governing, 1858–60 17— Autonomy without Separation, 1861–62 18— Good and Bad and Very Bad, 1862–63 19— Overflowing with Patients, 1861–65 20— Taste of Our Hospital Tea, 1861–65 21— Change Is Unanimously Requested, 1862–65 22— The Secret Votes Being Taken . . . , 1866–69 23— A Province Yet Not a Province, 1870–79 24— Priceless Spirit, 1880–93 Notes 1— These Fortunate Shores 2— An Association of Pious Persons 3— Wild Roses and Sweetbriar 4— As Edifying As Carthusians 5— Maintain Your Independence 6— I Saw a Man! 7— Here Will I Dwell 8— This Question of Final Separation 9— The One I Have Been Praying for 10— The Marsh between the Lakes 11— Coming to Certain Death 12— Many Changes and Troubles 13— An Entirely Different Style 14— The House at New York 15— Wonderful Unheard-of Event 16— They Do All the Governing 17— Autonomy without Separation 18— Good and Bad and Very Bad 19— Overflowing with Patients 20— A Taste of Our Hospital Tea 21— Change Is Unanimously Requested 22— The Secret Vote Being Taken 23— A Province Yet Not a Province 24— Priceless Spirit Works Consulted Published Works Unpublished Works Congregational Records Council Minutes Chapter Books Sisters' Apostolic Service Records Local Archives Other Materials Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y Z By M. Georgia Costin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 253-255) And Index.