Mission and Ministry

Newsnote: Vincentian Library Purchase of the Week: “Marthe ou La Soeur Hospitaliere.”

bcicirel Vincentian Heritage, Vincentian History

Marthe ou La Soeur Hospitaliereby M. L’abbe J****. 5th edition, Tours, Ad Mame et Cie. Imprimeurs-Libraires, 1851

This small romance novel traces the early 19th century vocation of the fictional Soeur Marthe (Ernestine Dubuisson). Her parents are, according to the fashion of the time unbelievers, and the novel traces the extraordinary story how their daughter Ernestine becomes a Sister of Charity (and a nurse) serving as a symbol of faith and charity in action in the midst of the stormy mid-years of the century. A fascinating look at how the Sisters of Charity were perceived in the 19th century.

Update on Online Source

bcicirel Vincentian Heritage, Vincentian History

‘Vincentian Missionaries in Seventeenth-Century Europe and Africa: A Digital Edition of Sources from the Vatican Archives’

We are constantly adding to the catalogue and transcriptions for this collection. There are now 690 documents catalogued and published, along with an extensive biographical dictionary and other supporting materials.

Please see http://earlymoderndocs.omeka.net, for further information, and bookmark and share the site!

DRMA Fall Quarter Lecutre: Balm of Hope

bcicirel Vincentian Heritage, Vincentian History , ,

Sr. Betty Ann McNeil, D.C. gave a lecture about her recently published book Balm of Hope. Sr. Betty Ann a scholar in residence at DePaul University.

Sr. McNeil’s discovery of 500 pages of handwritten memoirs by Daughters of Charity Civil War nurses led her into a multi-year project to transcribe, annotate, index, and publish Balm of Hope: Charity Afire Impels Daughters of Charity Civil War Nurses. This compendium includes: 1. Notes of the Sisters’ Services in Military Hospitals; 2. Civil War Recollections and Accounts; and 3. Correspondence. The texts invite readers to listen to courageous women reminisce in their own words about nursing amid the ravages of war.

Book Announcement: Fealty and Fidelity: the Lazarists of Bourbon France, 1660-1736.

bcicirel Vincentian Heritage, Vincentian History

Dear Colleagues

I am pleased to announce the publication of my book Fealty and Fidelity: the Lazarists of Bourbon France, 1660-1736, with Ashgate. The book provides a major critical investigation of the followers of Vincent de Paul, one of the French Catholic reform’s most decisive contributors. It uncovers rich new information on missionary activity and crown agency in France and two highly-neglected Indian Ocean French colonies during the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV. The book draws on a great number of unseen archival records, and both teachers and students of early modern France will enjoy it.

To read select material or order a copy please visit  http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9781472444783.

If any of our colleagues is interested in purchasing a copy for themselves or their libraries, I would be glad to share the promotional code, which entitles the user to 50% off the price. Please don’t hesitate to email me at sean.smith@ucd.ie

Newsnote: Vincentiana Purchase of the week: Bronze statue of kneeling Daughter of Charity

bcicirel Vincentian Heritage, Vincentian History

The Vincentiana Collection of the Archives and Special Collections Department of DePaul University’s Richardson Library has just purchased a late 19th-early 20th century French bronze statue of a Daughter of Charity kneeling in prayer. The statue is ten inches in height and is four inches wide. It is a beautiful statue but has been marred by an ill-advised cleaning that has removed the patination. Never-the-less it is a nice addition to our Daughter of Charity material culture and iconography collection.

2015 DRMA Fall Lecture

Video bcicirel Media, Vincentian Heritage, Vincentian History , ,

Sr. Betty Ann McNeil, D.C. gave a lecture about her recently published book Balm of Hope. Sr. Betty Ann a scholar in residence at DePaul University. Sr. McNeil’s discovery of 500 pages of handwritten memoirs by Daughters of Charity Civil War nurses led her into a multi-year project to transcribe, annotate, index, and publish Balm of Hope: Charity Afire Impels Daughters of Charity Civil War Nurses. This compendium includes: 1. Notes of the Sisters’ Services in Military Hospitals; 2. Civil War Recollections and Accounts; and 3. Correspondence. The texts invite readers to listen to courageous women reminisce in their own words about nursing amid the ravages of war.

Newsnote: Vincentiana Purchase of the Week: “Lettres Patentes Du Roi.”

bcicirel Vincentian Heritage, Vincentian History

This week the Vincentiana Collections in Archives and Special Collections of DePaul University’s Richardson Library has purchased a copy of the 1782 parlementary registration of the papal act conferring responsibility for the former Jesuit missions in the Levant to the Congregation of the Mission. With the definitive dissolution of the Society of Jesus by the papacy in 1773, the French king had requested that the Lazaristes be granted responsibility for the former Jesuit missions in the Levant.

Newsnote: Vincentiana Purchase of the week “L’Envol des Blanches Cornettes.”

bcicirel Vincentian Heritage, Vincentian History , ,

The Vincentiana collection at Archives and Special Collections of DePaul University’s Richardson Library this week purchased a rare copy of a charming 1929 “pièce en trois actes, pour Jeunes Filles (avec chœurs, paroles et musique) entitled “L’Envol des Blanches Cornettes ou La Bienheureuse Louise de Marillac.” It was written by Amédée Huc, C.M. The author dedicated this piece “aux Filles de la Charité qui, animées de l’esprit de St-Vincent-de-Paul et de leur Bienheureuse Mère font rayonner en France et dans le monde entier: LA CHARITÉ DU CHRIST.” The work was published in Lyon, “en souvenir du Centenaire de l’Apparition de la ‘Médaille Miraculeuse” 1830-1930.”

Newsnote: Vincentiana Purchase of the Week: “19 thermidor, an II” Rare Saint-Lazare prison document

bcicirel Vincentian History ,

The Vincentiana Collection in Special Collections and Archives of DePaul University has recently purchased a rare 1794 document from Saint-Lazare’s early days as a revolutionary prison. This document orders the relase of “citoyen Bergeron” who had been imprisoned at Saint Lazare by the “Comite de Surete Generale.” It is dated 19 termidor an II (6 August 1794). Robespierre had been executed nine days earlier in the Thermidorian reaction. This sealed docment is a copy: “l’original etant depose au greffe de la prison.”