CHAPTER XXX.
REMOVAL FROM AISQUITH ST.—MOTHER TERESA'S DEATH.
After the death of Archbishop Spalding, Rev. John Dougherty became administrator of the diocese. While he had this office the Carmelites bought a lot for a new convent. The purchase was concluded on Saturday evening, March 9th, 1872, and on the 1st of May following, it was given into their possession. On the 21st of July, 1872, the corner-stone of the present convent, situated at the corner of Biddle and Caroline streets, was laid by Dr. Lynch, Bishop of Charleston, S. C., in the presence of the administrator of the diocese. There were also present Rev. Father Patrick of the Cross, a Discalced Carmelite friar from Dublin, several other priests and a great concourse of people.
The inscription on the corner-stone was as follows:
“In the year of our Lord 1872, twenty-first day of July, during the 27th year of the reign of our Holy Father, Pope Pius IX, within the octaves of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and our Holy Father, St. Elias, Very Rev. John Dougherty being the administrator of the diocese, the corner-stone of the Monastery of Mount Carmel (corner of Caroline and Biddle streets) was laid by Rt. Rev. Dr. Lynch, Bishop of Charleston, for a translation of the Carmelite religious from their monastery in Aisquith street, Baltimore, Maryland. This translation was made with the approbation and zealous exertions of their Superior, Very Rev. John Dougherty."
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Only a few days after the event we have just related, the Papal Brief was dated, that created a successor to Archbishop Spalding. This was on July 30th, 1872. The one on whom the choice of Rome had fallen, was the Bishop of Newark, James Roosevelt Bayley. He was born in New York City, on August 13th, 1814, of Dr. Guy Carlton Bayley and Grace Roosevelt. On his father's side he was descended from an English family, and his maternal ancestors belonged to the old Dutch colonists of New York. His parents were Protestants, and he himself was educated an Episcopalian. He was ordained in the ministry of the Episcopal church, about the year 1839; but having learnt to know the Catholic Faith, he courageously embraced it, a few years later, in 1842. After his conversion to the church, he entered the ranks of the clergy, and after studying at St. Sulpice in Paris, and at Fordham, New York, he was ordained priest by Bishop Hughes in the Cathedral of New York, on March 2d, 1844. In 1853 he was appointed first Bishop of Newark, New Jersey, and continued to administer that See until the year 1872. After the death of Archbishop Spalding, Bishop Bayley was appointed his successor. On Sunday, October 13th, 1872 he was solemnly installed in the Cathedral as Archbishop of Baltimore, and was invested with the pallium by Archbishop Wood of Philadelphia. Among those present, on the occasion, was the Bishop of Richmond, Virginia, now his Eminence, Cardinal Gibbons.
Two days after his installation, Archbishop Bayley paid a visit to the Sisters of Mount Carmel; it was the Feast of their holy Mother, St. Teresa.
On November 11th, 1872, the old convent on Aisquith street was, by the decision of the Ecclesiastical Superior, Rev. John Dougherty, sold for an orphan asylum. In the same month Mother Ignatius of the Greater Glory of God, Amelia Bauduy, was elected Prioress.
On November 12th, 1872, Sister Joanna of the Heart of Jesus, Josephine A. Sneeringer, made her profession.
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On the 4th of March, 1873, Rev. Father Roesch, C. SS. R., having been removed, Rev. Francis A. Elberhardt, C. SS. R., was appointed ordinary confessor of the nuns. About this time, that is during the latter part of February, and the beginning of March, the remains of the deceased Sisters were removed from the convent yard, on Aisquith street, where they had been buried, to the new Cathedral cemetery, and placed in the vault there, until a lot was given by the trustees of the cemetery.
On March 26th, the nuns took possession of the convent they now occupy. It is built upon a lot l00 x l50 feet large. The building, a two-story and attic brick edifice, of modern Gothic architecture, occupies the greater portion of the lot, leaving but little space for a convent yard, so necessary for a contemplative Order. The chapel and choir are contained in the east wing. The parlors, that are, of course, situated outside of the enclosure, the recreation-room and chapter-room and choir, are on the first floor. The kitchen and store-rooms are situated in the basement, and on the second floor the nuns have their cells. It was built under the superintendence of Mr. John Stack. Arrangements having been made for the removal of the Sisters from the house where, for so many years, they had served God, to their new home, at the corner of Caroline and Biddle streets, several gentlemen, on the appointed day, March 27th, sent their carriages to transfer the community. The Sisters wore their mantles and large veils. Rev. John Dougherty, the Superior, received them at the convent.
On the next morning, March 28th, Rev. Father Dougherty said the first Mass in the chapel of the Monastery, after which he blessed the two church bells; the larger one received the name of St. Joseph, and the smaller one, that of St. Teresa. After the ceremony of the blessing of the bells, Father Dougherty, accompanied by several priests, proceeded through the new convent and blessed it. A large congregation was present at the ceremony, also Rev. Fathers Chapelle
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and Hoffman of St. Joseph's, Fathers Eberhardt and Hespelein of St. James', and Father Voltz of the Cathedral. Messrs. Joseph, Austin and Thomas Jenkins, Hon. Wm. J. O'Brien, Messrs. John Malloy and John Stack were the sponsors of the bells. One of the bells was made of the metal of the one that had served in the old convent.1
When the nuns moved from their old home on Aisquith street, to the convent which they now occupy, they were assisted by their many kind friends in every possible way. Many personal services were rendered, which can never be forgotten. A representation of beautiful tableaux was given for the benefit of the community, to help in the erection of the new convent and during the two years which immediately followed their installation, public entertainments of tableaux, etc., were twice given by their friends to assist in liquidating their debt.
Towards the end of the month of March, 1873, His Holiness, Pius IX, sent his blessing to the new convent and to each member of the community. This was indeed a great consolation and encouragement to all the Sisters. Mgr. Silas Chatard, who was then Rector of the American College at Rome, requested of the Pope, for the Carmelite Sisters, a little skull-cap that he had worn. The Holy Father graciously complied with the request, and Mgr. Chatard wrote to Mother Ignatius, the Prioress, as follows: “I am happy to be able to tell you that the Holy Father has granted all you asked, that is, his blessing for the new convent, and for yourself and all the members of the Community of the Carmelite Nuns of Baltimore, and one of the little caps he is accustomed to wear. Instead of referring me to the officer in charge of his wardrobe, he rose from his writing-desk and went himself to get the calotte of white silk, which is now on its way to America.”
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1Baltimore Sun.
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On the 2d of April, 1873, Mother Antonia of the Purification, Catherine Lynch, departed this life in the 46th year of her age, and in the 16th of her religious profession. Mother Antonia was of a simple, straightforward and sincere character, and sought God alone in all things. Though naturally impetuous, she had acquired such control of herself that she became a model of meekness, gentleness and equanimity of soul. Nothing disturbed her peace of mind; no matter what contradictions or trials beset her, she cast her care upon God and remained unmoved. She was a very interior soul, always silent and recollected in manner. She had a great sense of the obligations of manual labor imposed by the rule, and when not engaged in spiritual exercises, was always employed at something useful for the community. On one occasion a novice went to speak to her when she was suffering from a violent, sick headache, and found her busily sewing. Her countenance showed the pain she was enduring, but she could not be prevailed upon to put away the work, and gave as her only answer to the novice: "The Rule says, 'that working in silence we should eat our own bread.'"
She had a great spirit of poverty, and was very self-sacrificing, kind and charitable to all. She was also noted for her fidelity to the regular observance. As a true daughter of St. Teresa, she had great zeal for the Holy Church, and used to impress upon the novices under her care their special obligation of helping the Church and of coming to the aid of those who labored in the vineyard of the Lord by their prayers and sacrifices.
She had a loyal love of our Holy Father, Pius IX, as the representative of Christ upon earth, and rejoiced exceedingly in the demonstrations of filial affection, which were offered to him throughout the world. On the occasion of his Sacerdotal Jubilee, when Most Reverend Archbishop Spalding ordered an illumination in all religious houses, in order to celebrate the event, she was Prioress, and took great pleasure in carrying out the instructions of the Archbishop, and having the
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convent decorated and illuminated according to the best of her ability.
Her death occurred only a few days after the removal of the Sisters to the new convent, but although unexpected, it was not unprovided, for her life had been marked by a spirit of resignation to God's Holy Will, and she kept herself always in a state of preparation for death.
Full of confidence in the goodness of God, fortified by the Sacraments of Holy Church, she passed to her Spouse, leaving behind her the good odor of her virtues and holy example.
From the year 1857, when Rev. Father Byrne, Assistant Pastor of St. Vincent's Church, had been appointed chaplain of the convent, until shortly before the removal of the nuns to their present abode, the assistant pastors of St. Vincent's Church had successively acted as chaplains to the Carmelite Monastery. Amongst those who thus officiated, we mention Rev. P. McCarthy, Rev. J. Dougherty, Rev. Thomas Lee, Rev. Jas. Morgan and Rev. Alphonsus Coppens, now a member of the Society of Jesus. The latter held this office from 1869 to 1871, and was succeeded by Rev. E. Didier, now Pastor of St. Vincent's Church, who was the last chaplain of the Convent on Aisquith street. He was greatly grieved when the community left his parish. In his childhood his mother had led him to the little chapel of Mount Carmel, and there he had served Mass for several years; and when he became a priest it was his pleasure to officiate at the altar dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. After the removal of the Sisters to the convent on Caroline street, the Redemptorist Fathers of St. James' Church became the regular chaplains of the community, and have held the position to the present time.
On July 16th, 1874, Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Rt. Rev. William Gross, C. SS. R., then Bishop of Savannah, Georgia, and now Archbishop of Oregon City, celebrated Pontifical Mass in the new chapel of the monastery.
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Many pleasant recollections of childhood days are, for Archbishop Gross, connected with the Carmelite convent. When he was a little boy Mother Teresa heard of his desire to become a priest, sent for him, and held a conversation with him, in which she impressed upon his mind a high idea of the priesthood.
The first Mass he said in his native city, Baltimore, was celebrated in the old Carmelite chapel on Aisquith street, and there he gave the Holy Communion to his aged father.
On the 16th of October following, the Forty Hours' Devotion was for the first time celebrated in the new chapel.
A few months later, a new foundation went forth from the Carmelite monastery at Baltimore; but by the decrees of Divine Providence, it was not destined to last. On the right bank of the St. Lawrence river, 180 miles below Quebec, where the river Rimouski flows into the St. Lawrence, lies the little town of Rimouski, with a population of only a few hundred inhabitants. The Bishop of this place, Mgr. Langevin, at the request of his sister, Miss Langevin, had invited the Carmelites to his diocese. The Bishop gave the grounds and a house for the monastery. The Sisters sent to this new foundation were Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart, Sister Michael of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and Sister Mary of the Incarnation. They set out on their journey on January 12th, 1875. The new convent at Rimouski was dedicated to St. Teresa.
On the 11th of February, 1875, a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Lourdes arrived at the monastery. It was carried in procession by the Sisters, wearing their white mantles, with lighted candles in their hands, and chanting the hymn, O Gloriosa Virginum. It was then placed on the altar of the choir. During the course of the summer the community received from Rome the Brief of Indulgences attached to it by His Holiness, Pius IX, at the request of the general of the Discalced Carmelites, Rev. Father Luke of St. John of the Cross.
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The following is an extract from the letter of the procurator general of the order, Father Jerome Marie of the Immaculate Conception, informing the Sisters at Baltimore that the indulgences had been granted. We translate from the French:
“Our Rev. Father General commissioned me to obtain indulgences for your statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, and I obeyed this order with much satisfaction. I have the honor of informing you that His Holiness graciously admitted your request, and that he has granted an indulgence of three hundred days for every visit to the aforesaid statue, and also a plenary indulgence to be gained once a month by those who shall have visited it every day for a month.”
On August 26th, 1875, Sister Barbara of the Blessed Trinity, Victoria Weser, made her profession.
On November 25th, 1875, the time for the elections having again arrived, Sister Louisa of St. John the Evangelist, Magdalen Peckocheck, was elected prioress.
February 3rd, 1876, Rev. Francis Eberhardt having been removed, Rev. Father Hespelein, C. SS. R., became ordinary confessor of the monastery.
Sister Mary of the Angels, Emma C. Hartman, was the next of the community to depart this life.
Sister Mary of the Angels was one of those souls whom God calls away from scenes of earthly woe in the springtide of life. She had lived on earth only twenty-four brief years, and but six weeks had passed since she had pledged herself for all eternity to her Divine Spouse by an irrevocable promise, when the Bridegroom called her hence to be united to the angels whose name she bore. Her illness lasted but a few days. About two hours before death she received the last Sacraments, and joined afterwards in responding to the prayers which were said near her. Although she had lived only a very short time in religion, she had been a great source of edification, by her innocence, her childlike simplicity and humility. Her soul took its departure from time and space
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on the 11th of July, 1876, the 86th anniversary of the landing of the Carmelite nuns in the United States.
On May 31st, 1877, Sister Ignatia of the Immaculate Conception, Sarah Tuttle, departed this life. She was about fifty-nine years of age, and it was thirty-six years since she had made her profession. She had the happiness of receiving the last Sacraments. During her religious life she had edified all by her love for her duty, and her fidelity to the regular observance.
As we have seen, a new convent of Carmelites had been begun in Canada, but circumstances were such that it was impossible for the Sisters to continue their existence in that place. Hence, after generous efforts, they were obliged to relinquish the project of a foundation in Rimouski, and return to Baltimore. This they did with the permission of the Bishop of Rimouski, and of Very Rev. P. Dubreuil, the vicar-general and administrator of the archdiocese of Baltimore during the absence of Archbishop Bayley, who had gone to Europe for the benefit of his health. The three Sisters, who two years before had left for Rimouski, returned to Baltimore on August 3rd, 1877.
Meanwhile, the health of the Archbishop had been declining; his trip to Europe had not benefited his condition, and he returned to America to die. He breathed his last at Newark on October 3rd,1877. His remains having been carried to Baltimore, his obsequies were solemnly performed in the Cathedral, and his body was finally interred at Emmittsburg beside the remains of his aunt, the saintly Mother Seton. In the death of Archbishop Bayley the Carmelites mourned the loss of a zealous superior and affectionate Father.
Before the decease of Archbishop Bayley, Right Rev. James Gibbons had been appointed his coadjutor, and afterwards he became his successor in the Archiepiscopal See of Baltimore. James Gibbons was born in Baltimore on July 13th, 1834. He was educated for the ecclesiastical state by the Sulpitians at St. Charles' College and St. Mary's Seminary. Having
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been ordained priest by Bishop Kenrick in 1860, he became assistant at St. Patrick's and afterwards pastor of St. Bridget's in Baltimore. He was later appointed secretary to Archbishop Spalding, and in that office received his nomination as Vicar-Apostolic of North Carolina, and was consecrated Bishop of Adramytum, on August 16th, 1868. He soon became known throughout the country as the author of the popular little work: The Faith of our Fathers. In 1872 he became Bishop of Richmond, but still retained the care of North Carolina. As we have seen, on October 3rd, 1877, he succeeded Archbishop Bayley. 1
On November 29th the new Archbishop paid a visit to the monastery, and was solemnly received by the community. Rev. J. Hespelein, C. SS. R., was present on the occasion.
During the latter part of the same year, Rev. Father Sheerin, S. J., was appointed extraordinary confessor.
On February 11th, 1878, the community was deprived by death of the edification it had for so many years received from Mother Teresa of Jesus. This venerable religious, then in her 81st year, had spent sixty-one years in religion, and it was time that the day of rest should finally dawn, for she had borne the heat and burden of a long day on earth. The reader no doubt remembers the account we gave of Mother Teresa's early life and entrance into religion. Many years had passed, and many changes taken place since then. Professed on old Mount Carmel in Charles County, she had lived with Mother Clare Joseph and Sister M. Aloysia, two of the foundresses, and had spent a few years under the direction of Father Charles Neale. She had, since then, shared all the vicissitudes of her order in Baltimore. When the school opened, one of the principal classes was confided to her, and she was untiring in her efforts to improve the minds and hearts of all under her care. During the twenty years that the school existed she continued her duties as teacher, and all
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1Sadliers Directory, 1887.
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her pupils were devoted to her. They warmly expressed their gratitude for all the good she had done them, and several of them maintained that they owed to her their conversion to the Faith.
She was animated with a tender charity towards all who were suffering, and her words always brought light and comfort to the afflicted. Her generosity and kindness toward the poor and needy were well known. Often when the Sisters would prepare some extra dish for her, she would request them to bring it to the turn where she was sure to have some poor person waiting to receive it. She was also noted for her courage and magnanimity of character. When, in 1850, the typhoid fever had broken out in the community, she was most devoted to the sick, and very attentive in paying the last services to the dead.
Her cheerful spirit rendered her conversation very agreeable and enlivened the recreations. Even during the last eighteen months of her life, when sickness confined her to the infirmary, she seemed to be the life of the house, and all the Sisters delighted in paying her frequent visits.
Her ready wit was proverbial and always most agreeable. One day a gentleman, a friend of the community, having called, Mother Teresa asked him, when taking leave, to pray for her, adding that she always preferred gentlemen's prayers. He, expecting a compliment, inquired the reason, when she laughingly replied: “Because they are so scarce.” Another time, Rev. Joseph Helmpraecht, C. SS. R., when paying a little visit to the convent, turned to Mother Teresa, who was then quite advanced in years, saying: “Well, Mother Teresa, are you not very tired, living so long in this world!” “But I don't live in the world, Father," was the quick reply.
She was a near relative of Francis Scott Key, author of the “Star-Spangled Banner,” and she had strongly imbibed the
patriotic spirit of her family. She always impressed it as a duty upon the young religious to pray for the political, social and religious welfare of the country. The celebration of the
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centennial anniversary of American Independence was a great joy to her heart, and she took much pleasure at the time in singing the Star-Spangled Banner and in relating little anecdotes of revolutionary days, which she had heard from her father, who, as we have seen, had been so intimately connected with General Washington.
Mother Teresa had a great gift of consoling those that were in trouble. On a certain occasion one of the Sisters, who was in some affliction, complained to her that she could not pray. Mother Teresa very calmly replied: “Do you think there was much praying on Calvary? Suffering in a spirit of resignation is the best prayer.”
Her humility was always equal to her charity. If at any time she feared lest by some inadvertence she might have caused pain to any one, even were it to the youngest Sister in the house, she would, at the first opportunity, ask pardon and try to make amends by showing some special mark of attention, and the Sisters were not a little mortified when this aged nun, who had grown grey in the service of God, would try to atone for what they did not even consider a fault.
She was gifted with great tact and discernment of character. Once, while Superior, she received a novice who had not been able to obtain the consent of her family to follow her vocation. Shortly after her entrance into the community, one of her relatives came in great wrath to the convent, determined to take her away by force. He threatened to have recourse to law, and in his excitement declared he would break down the grating and force the doors. Mother Teresa, seeing his agitation, handed him a miraculous medal, and begged him to put it in his pocket. The gentleman, awed by her calm dignity, did as she requested, and in a moment his excitement ceased. She then reasoned with him quietly, and he at length went away perfectly satisfied.
The following incident of her devotion to the Blessed Virgin is related. For many years she had suffered from rheumatism, so that she was unable to kneel, except for Holy
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Communion. Being very weak and infirm, a young Sister was often sent to aid her when she was about to retire for the night. She was very grateful for her services, for she was one who appreciated any little attention; but she always managed to send the Sister away before actually retiring, and thus to have the last few moments of her day alone. One night, however, as she was unusually feeble, and suffering greatly, the Sister in attendance was told to give her every possible care and to see her safely in bed before leaving. She made several excuses in order to be left alone, but finding that her companion was determined to remain she hesitated a moment and then said very pitifully: “Well, if you won't go I suppose I must submit,” and holding on to the bed and table she succeeded in getting to the floor, and, kneeling on the bare boards, remained some time in silent prayer. Being raised from her painful position she said, as if apologizing for her devotion: “Well, child, you would not leave me and I could not go to bed without saying my Hail Mary.” When asked if she said it every night, she answered: “Yes, dear, ever since I was a little child.”
Like a true daughter of St. Teresa she had a great devotion to the glorious St. Joseph, and earnestly recommended to her Sisters, who suffered from any interior trial, to have recourse to his protection.
She had an intense love for the Blessed Sacrament, and did all in her power to encourage timid and scrupulous souls to receive Holy Communion frequently. During the last years of her life she suffered greatly from thirst and found it difficult to rise early, yet she never failed to appear in time for Holy Communion. This fidelity was singularly rewarded during her last illness, which kept her confined to the infirmary for eighteen months, for throughout all this time she enjoyed the unusual privilege of having Holy Communion brought to her twice every week.
She had a joyful spirit and childlike confidence in the mercy of God, and used to say she would go straight to Him when she died and not wait for purgatory, for our Blessed
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Lady could not fail to let her gain a plenary indulgence at the hour of death, while there were so many granted to Carmelites by the church. We may hope that her confidence was rewarded, for God never abandons those who put their trust in Him.
Finally the supreme moment arrived when her long career was to be brought to a close. For eighteen months she had been confined to the infirmary and deprived of the use of her limbs. She endured intense sufferings with the greatest patience and her characteristic cheerfulness. She was as docile as a child to those who had care of her and most grateful for the smallest service rendered to her. She had the happiness of receiving the last Sacraments and died the death of the just on the 11th of February, 1878, leaving to her Sisters the sweet recollection of her virtues.
The following account of her funeral is taken from a contemporary article of the Catholic Mirror:
“On Thursday, Feb. 14th, the obsequies of Mother Teresa of Jesus were conducted in the private chapel of the Carmelite Convent. The remains were clad in the habit and the Scapular, and enclosed in a plain pine coffin, devoid of ornaments or lining except a quantity of beautiful flowers placed there by her loving Sisters. In the hands of the deceased were clasped a crucifix and a scroll of parchment, on which were recorded the vows taken by her on entering the Community sixty years before. Upon her breast was laid a leaden plate bearing her name and age, the number of years she had been in the Order, together with the date of her death. About nine o'clock the mournful tones of the convent bell were heard tolling for the dead, as Rev. John Hespelein, accompanied by a number of other clergymen, preceded by acolytes and cross bearer, entered the chapel from the sacristy.
"Standing around the coffin were the veiled nuns, each holding a lighted taper in her hand, while the priest read the solemn Office for the Dead, and in low, plaintive notes they chanted the Miserere and the Dies irae.
“The Office being ended, the coffin was closed and borne to the outer chapel, where a Requiem Mass was celebrated.
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“At the conclusion of the Mass, the Most Rev. Archbishop Gibbons pronounced the Absolution. The services were concluded by Rev. P. L. Chapelle, D. D., then pastor of St. Joseph's, who delivered a short address to the Sisters and assembled mourners, in which he spoke of the virtues of the deceased, of her life-long devotion to the service of God, and of the sacrifices she had made for His sake. He condoled with the members of the Community in the loss of their Mother who had cherished them all as her daughters, yet bade them not to grieve on account of her departure from this life, for as she had been a mother to them on earth, so she would continue to be a mother to them in heaven. The simplicity of the life of the departed was touchingly referred to, which simplicity, he said, was the result of her gentle, loving disposition, and came from that purity and innocence that cannot be known to those who live in the world.
“The Reverend speaker concluded by admonishing his hearers to live in the commandments of God and in His holy will, so that when the hour of death came they might be numbered among the children of heaven, and hear the voice of the Saviour exclaim: 'Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess the kingdom prepared for you.'
"Among the clergymen present were Rev. Fathers Lee, McManus, Dauenhauer, Trimpel and Jordan. Messrs. J. Malloy, Hon. W. J. O'Brien, Pierre Dugan, E. Tormey, J. W. Jenkins, Edw. Jenkins, F. Tormey and J. C. Thompson were the pall-bearers.
“The remains were conveyed to the new Cathedral Cemetery. The Messrs. Tormey were related to the Rev. Mother, as were also Messrs J. C. and Theo. Lay, from Washington, who were present at the funeral.
“ Mother Teresa was the last of the three nuns who celebrated their golden jubilee together. The other aged Sisters were Sister Ambrosia and Stanislaus, both of whom died some years ago.
“Mrs. Kearney, a niece of the deceased, and widow of the late Colonel Kearney, Chief Engineer of the United States Corps, is the nearest living relative.”