CHAPTER XXXIII.
NEW ORLEANS.
The old city of New Orleans was destined to possess the third convent of the Carmelite nuns in the United States. Louisiana had already had the happiness of harboring the sons of the seraphic Mother, but unfortunate circumstances had forced them to abandon their mission. The year 1877 was to witness the Order of Carmel once more re-established on the soil of Louisiana.
Two ladies in that State, well known in New Orleans, had, a few years previous, entered the Carmelite convent at St. Louis. They were Sisters Teresa of Jesus, known in the world as Louise Josephine Roman, and Sister Margaret of the Sacred Heart, Eliza Maria Trémoulet. The former, born in St. James' parish, Louisiana, was a daughter of Jacques Télesphore Roman and Celina Marie Therese Gilié. She was a niece of Governor Roman of Louisiana. She made her profession on August 15th, 1868.
Sister Margaret, born in New Orleans, was a daughter of Anthony Cyprien Trémoulet and Marie Octavie Conand. She was professed on November 14th, 1870. The entrance of these two ladies into the Order paved the way for the execution of the designs of Divine Providence.
Many devout souls had for some time desired the introduction of a contemplative Order into New Orleans, and as the people of that city entertain a great devotion toward the Blessed Virgin and St. Teresa, the Order of Carmel was decided upon.
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Accordingly, in the summer of 1877, a deputation of five ladies, the Misses Aimée Trémoulet and Elizabeth Hoyllsted, Mrs. Althie Ducatel, Mrs. Leopold Aleix and Mrs. Alexander Bonneval waited on Archbishop N. J. Perché to lay their plan before His Grace. The Archbishop approved of the idea and promised to further its accomplishment, as far as lay in his power. He at once conferred with the Most Rev. Peter R. Kenrick, Archbishop of St. Louis, on the subject, and at the same time requested that his two spiritual daughters, formerly of New Orleans, would be included in the number of those who would be sent to the new foundation.
Archbishop Kenrick referred the matter to the decision of Mother Gabriel, Prioress of the convent at St. Louis. The Community acceded to the request of the Archbishop of New Orleans and four professed Nuns were appointed to begin the new foundation, namely, the two we have already mentioned, together with Sister Dolorosa of the Crucifixion and the lay-sister Gertrude of the Heart of Mary. Sister Dolorosa, Margaret Anna Wise, was born in Alton, Illinois, of Peter Wise and Henrietta Sweeringer. She made her profession on November 14, 1870. Sister Gertrude was a native of Kerry County, Ireland. Her father was Maurice Keleher and her mother Jane Collins. She received in baptism the name of Honora Catherine and she was professed September 12, 1867.
Sister Teresa was appointed by Archbishop Kenrick to preside over the new foundation. She thereupon requested the Archbishop of New Orleans to allow the new convent to be under the jurisdiction of the General of the Order. To this the Archbishop consented and wrote himself to Father Luke of St. John of the Cross, the General, to lay before him the wish of the Community. The General, although he appreciated the desire of the Nuns, answered that as there were no Discalced Carmelite Fathers in the United States he could not take the Carmelite Nuns under his jurisdiction, but begged Archbishop Perché to fill his place. The Jesuit Fathers of New Orleans promised their spiritual aid to the
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new Community. Rev. D. S. Phelan, pastor of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, at Baden, Mo., a priest well known throughout the country as the editor of the Western Watchman, who was then chaplain of the convent at St. Louis, was appointed to accompany the Sisters to New Orleans.
On November 19th, 1877, they started on their journey. The parting from the sisters they left behind was very affecting. They travelled in their religious habits with their black veils over their faces. Father Phelan had secured for them the state-room of the Pullman car, thus enabling them to travel in seclusion. Their time was divided between prayer and spiritual reading, with the ordinary two hours recreation.
They arrived in New Orleans on the morning of November 21st, 1877, and were met at the depot by the relatives of Mother Teresa and the Sub-Prioress, who accompanied them in carriages to their new home. The ladies of the Sacred Heart had kindly offered the Carmelites the hospitality of their convent until a fitting one could be obtained. This offer, although not accepted, was highly appreciated by the Carmelites. The house in which the foundation of the Carmel of New Orleans was made was situated on Ursuline street and was rented for them by friends. The front room had been arranged as a chapel and everything was in readiness for the celebration of the Mass. The altar had been loaned from the private oratory of Madame Huchet de Kernion. Although it was near noon Father Phelan celebrated Mass, at which the nuns received Holy Communion.
The Archbishop, who was absent at the arrival of the Carmelites, delayed not in visiting them on his return home. The clergy and people of the city of New Orleans seemed to appreciate the blessing God had bestowed upon them in sending them a Community belonging to a Contemplative Order.
Archbishop Perché always proved himself a true father and faithful friend of the Nuns, and constantly encouraged them in the midst of the many trials inseparable from a new
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foundation. He often declared that the Carmelites were the treasure and ornament of his diocese.
The Rev. Jesuit Fathers were foremost among the practical friends of the Sisters, who owe much to them, especially to their superiors, Rev. Fathers Gautrelet, Butler and O'Shanahan. The Jesuits have been their chaplains and confessors from the beginning.
The several congregations of religious women, especially the Sisters of Mercy, those of the Third Order of Mount Carmel and of the Perpetual Adoration, showed themselves also most kind to the Carmelites. Especial mention is also deserved by the Ursulines and the ladies of the Sacred Heart.
The Archbishop appointed Mother Teresa Prioress and Sister Margaret Sub-Prioress of the new Community.
In order to pay the rent of their house Miss Aimée Trémoulet and other charitable ladies, with the permission of the Archbishop, started a benevolent society under the patronage of St. Joseph and St. Teresa. It was placed under the direction of Father Jourdan, S. J.
For six months the little Carmelite Community dwelt in the rented house on Ursuline street. These were months of severe trials, as the place was little suited to be the abode of Contemplative Nuns.
Shortly after their arrival they received two ladies of mature years, one of whom was a widow, as out-sisters. The out-sisters, or tertiaries of the Discalced Carmelites, have a rule of their own, milder than the one followed by the enclosed religious. They make simple vows.
Finally, after much suffering and anxiety, it pleased Divine Providence that a more suitable abode should be found for the Sisters through the influence of St. Joseph and St. Teresa, and with the assistance of kind friends, they were enabled to exchange their little dwelling on Ursuline street for their present convent situated at 134 Barrack street. They took possession of their new home on May 11th, 1878. This monastery is an antique, low brick house, consisting of one floor
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and an attic, with a single room wing in the rear, faced by a gallery overlooking the yard. It is well worn by wind and weather and is situated on a narrow street in the old part of New Orleans, known as French Town, and covers, what a century ago used to be a portion of the garden of the Ursuline Nuns. It was built by a Spaniard, more than fifty years ago, in the original style of the times.
The following poem, composed by Mrs. Mollie Moore Davis, a non-Catholic, refers to this house. It was written by her after a visit to the monastery and will be read with interest. Hearing that the Carmelites had offered prayers for her recovery from a severe illness, she brought a bunch of Annunciation lilies as an offering to the chapel altar:
A step away from the narrow street,
With its noisy echoes of passing feet,
Yet lapped in the holiest stillness,
Swept by the shadow and cooled by the breeze,
It looked that day to my world-worn eyes
Like a dream of some long-lost Paradise.
Against the Convent in flakes of gold,
The sunlight sparkled, and fold on fold,
The rose vine covered the arches bare;
And over the bars a restful prayer
Stole from the chapel, where, bent on knee,
The holy Carmelites prayed for me.
There, 'mid the lilies with fragrance fraught,
And sweet as those by the angel brought,
When he came to Mary of old, I stood,
And the restless fever that stirred my blood
Was soothed into peace, as the wild unrest
Of a child is soothed on its mother's breast.
Oh! patient nun of the prayer-like face,
And eyes down-dropt with an old-time grace,
Who plucked the blossom that shone at my knee,
And gave with a kindly smile to me.
Oh! more than that lily, white and sweet,
I bore that day from the Carmelite!
Racked by sorrow and pierced by pain,
I walk in the world's wide ways again,
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But sometimes pausing my weary feet
I turn for a space to this still retreat.
Deep in my inmost heart it lies,
A dream from some long-lost Paradise.
I see the prayer-like face of the nun,
And the lilies that stand up white in the sun;
I hear, in fancy, the restful prayer,
Steal softly out on the noontide air,
And I bless the Sisters on bended knee,
Hidden and holy who pray for me.
In the little vegetable garden attached to the monastery stands a quaint wooden statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, holding the Divine Infant in her arms, who with a long cross is crushing the serpent’s head that projects from the pedestal. The Blessed Virgin is clothed in the Carmelite habit, and holds the scapular of the Order suspended from her arm. There is something attractive about this statue, say the nuns, that inspires confidence. It was carved many years ago by a saintly Redemptorist lay-brother, and was given to the Carmelites by Rev. Father Moorman, a priest of the diocese of Natchez, now deceased. The nuns hold it in great veneration.
Alterations and reparations needed by the old house on Barrack street were made in the midst of the most dire poverty, but a kind Providence never failed those who had unreservedly consecrated themselves to the service of God. Although the poverty of the Sisters was great it was generally unknown, as many were under the impression that the nuns could still live from the dowries that some of the Sisters had taken to the Convent of St. Louis. They forgot that the bank in which these dowries had been deposited had failed, and that the money had consequently been lost. The Carmelite Nuns have always preserved the deepest sentiments of gratitude towards those true friends who assisted them under these trying circumstances.
On February 1st, 1878, the Community was legally incorporated by the legislature of Louisiana under the title of
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“Monastery of St. Joseph and St. Teresa of the Discalceated Carmelite Nuns of New Orleans, La.”
Soon after the nuns took possession of their home on Barrack street, it was blessed by Very Rev. J. M. Millet, Vicar-General of New Orleans assisted by Rev. Father Jourdan. S.J.
When in the summer and autumn of 1878 the yellow fever visited New Orleans, the Sisters were spared, but one of the postulants, an out-sister, was stricken down. The Mother Prioress with the other out-sister nursed her day and night until she recovered. During this time the nuns were greatly assisted by the charity of some young ladies who, in turn, acted as portress, attended to their chapel and rendered them other services. During the prevalence of the epidemic public prayers were daily recited and chanted by the Carmelites.
From the arrival of the nuns in New Orleans, there was a constant stream of applicants for admission into the order, but the nuns refused to receive any subjects as choir-religious, or lay-sisters, until strict enclosure could be observed.
On Sunday, November 24th, 1878, to the great joy of the good nuns, the enclosure was established in their Convent by Archbishop Perché. On this occasion the Archbishop delivered an eloquent sermon on the object of the Carmelite Order, and its salutary influence upon the world at large.
In February, 1879, the celebrated French preacher of the Order of St. Dominic, Pere Mothon, who had been invited to New Orleans to preach the Lenten discourses in the Cathedral, delivered an eloquent sermon in the chapel of the Carmelites, on the occasion of the blessing of a beautiful statue of St. Joseph, the gift of some devout persons.
On December 21st, 1880 the reception of the habit by two Carmelite novices took place for the first time in New Orleans. A large concourse of people was present. The postulants were Miss Alice Mary Moore, of Mobile, Alabama, eldest daughter of Edmund E. Moore and Rose Anna Poyntz; and Miss Catherine Anne Byrnes, of New Orleans, youngest daughter of Miles Byrnes and Sarah Nelson. Both became choir-sisters.
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The Archbishop gave them the habit. Miss Moore took the name of Sister Mary of the Infant Jesus, and Miss Byrnes that of Sister Catherine of St. Joseph.
On Wednesday, May 10th, 1882, Sister Mary of the Infant Jesus and Sister Catherine of St. Joseph, were admitted to their profession. They took the vows privately according to the constitutions, and in the afternoon received the veil from Rt. Rev. F. X. Leray, then coadjutor, afterward Archbishop of New Orleans. The sermon on this occasion was delivered by Rev. Father O'Connor, S. J.
In the year 1882 the three hundredth anniversary of Saint Teresa's death was commemorated. In the early part of that year, the Carmelites of New Orleans, with the approbation and encouragement of their Archbishop, made an appeal to Catholics throughout the United States to obtain their aid in the erection of a Convent and chapel as a memorial of this tri-centennial year. Through the courtesy of the Catholic press in the United States the appeal was widely circulated and the work began under the happiest auspices. However, the Rt. Rev. Bishop, who was administrator of the temporal affairs of the diocese, did not countenance the plans of the committee that had been formed for the purpose, and thus it had to be abandoned.
Archbishop Perché, however, did all in his power to aid the nuns and sent a letter to his Vicar-General for publication in order to secure contributions in aid of the good Carmelites. Donations were received for them in the churches of the Jesuits and Redemptorists, in the Cathedral, St. Peter and Paul, and St. Mary's. Archbishop Elder also recommended them to the charity of the diocese of Cincinnati, of which he was then coadjutor.
The appeal to the Catholics of the United States had failed, and when the Feast of the Holy Foundress arrived, the nuns were not in a position to commence the erection of a memorial chapel and convent as they had desired, nor was there any prospect of their being able to do so in the near future. The
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contributions received were used to purchase adjoining lots for the site of the future chapel.
Several months before the Feast of the Saint, Triduums were celebrated by her daughters in New Orleans. They began on the twelfth of each month and closed on the fifteenth. On October 1st the month of St. Teresa was solemnly opened in the Carmelite chapel. The feast itself was preceded by a novena, during which several eloquent sermons were delivered.
The feast was celebrated with all possible solemnity. The panegyric of the Saint was delivered by Rev. H. Begly, S. J. The Archbishop, whose bodily health was daily declining, was, to the great grief of his Carmelite children, prevented from being present.
On Sunday, October 22nd, another solemn Triduum was commenced in honor of St. Teresa, and on each of the three days a sermon was preached.
Amongst those who greatly interested themselves in favor of the Carmelites of New Orleans, especial mention must be made of the poet-priest, the late Rev. Abram J. Ryan. He did all in his power to aid them in the accomplishment of their cherished design—the erection of a memorial chapel.
On December 27th, 1883, the Carmelites sustained a severe loss when the venerable Archbishop Perché was taken away by death. He died crowned by the confidence, respect and filial affection of his devoted flock.
Napoleon Joseph Perché was born at Angers, in France, January 10th, 1805. Having been educated at the theological seminary of Beauprean, he was ordained priest, and in 1837 came to America, where he labored under the saintly Bishop Flaget. He was soon after transferred to the diocese of New Orleans at the instance of Archbishop Blanc, of that city. In 1870 he became coadjutor of Archbishop Odin, with the right of succession. Archbishop Odin died soon after and Bishop Perché became Archbishop of New Orleans. During the years of his administration he accomplished much for the glory of God and the good of souls.
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Becoming in the latter years of his life embarrassed by financial difficulties, he asked and obtained a coadjutor. Bishop Leray, of Nachitoches, was appointed as such in 1879. The Archbishop lived in ill health until 1883. His funeral is said to have been the grandest that ever took place in New Orleans.1
Shortly before his death, Archbishop Perché obtained from the Holy See a rescript granting to the Carmelites of New Orleans the canonical erection of the Monastery and conceding to the religious of said Monastery all the privileges enjoyed by religious who make solemn vows. This rescript is dated January 9th, 1883.
Archbishop Perché was succeeded by his coadjutor, Bishop Francis Xavier Leray, a native of Brittany, where he was born on April 20th, 1825. He came to America in 1843, and joined the Congregation of the Sulpitians. He was ordained on March 19th, 1854, became Bishop of Natchitoches in 1877, and, in 1879, coadjutor of New Orleans. He showed himself a kind father to the Carmelites during the years of his administration.
In 1884 another appeal was made in favor of the memorial chapel, this time to the Catholic societies of the United States, who responded nobly. This contribution enabled the nuns to clear the debt on their little Monastery.
During the Centennial Exposition of New Orleans many non-Catholic visitors were attracted to the Carmelite convent, and not a few went away with changed ideas of the time-worn tales of nuns being unwilling and unhappy prisoners behind locks and bars. Protestants even frequently asked the prayers of the Carmelites.
On October l5th, 1886, three out-sisters were received as postulants: they were Miss Josephine Haeffner, of Baltimore, Miss Susanna Kerr, of Augusta, Ga., and Miss Mary Stanton, of Loughrea, Ireland. They took respectively the names of
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1Clarke
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Josephine of the Infant Jesus, Simon of St. Teresa and Nicholas of the Mother of God.
On October 21st of the same year five young ladies entered the Order. Four of them became choir religious and one a lay-sister. They were Miss Sarah Whitston, of Quebec, Canada, in religion Sister Francesca of the Five Wounds; Miss Mary Agnes Macy of Mobile, Ala., Baptista of the Immaculate Conception; Miss Annie E. McCann, of Dubuque, lowa,Veronica of the Holy Face; Miss Annie Blair Lancaster, of New Orleans, La., St. Pierre of the Blessed Sacrament; Miss Sarah E. Stanford, of Washington, D. C., Magdalene of the Angels.
The Carmelites of New Orleans are especially known to the Catholics of the United States on account of the Confraternity of the Holy Face that was erected in their chapel in the year 1883. An authenticated facsimile of the Veil of Veronica, sent them by the Carmelites of Tours, was among the first pictures placed in their choir. The Carmelite chapel at New Orleans was the first place in which the Confraternity of the Holy Face was established in this country. Archbishop Perché himself took the greatest interest in this devotion. The Carmelite chapel became a centre from which the devotion gradually spread throughout the United States. The names of Archbishop Perché and his coadjutor were the first inscribed on the register of the Confraternity that now numbers over 12,000 members, including several Archbishops and Bishops and a large number of priests and religious.
A zealous Passionist, Rev. Father Guido, inaugurated the "Work of the Reparation," connected with the devotion to the Holy Face, in the Carmelite chapel, on March 12th, 1883. Rev. Father O'Callaghan, S. J., was appointed director of the confraternity.
Archbishop Leray, whose health had for some time been failing, exchanged time for eternity on September 23rd, 1887, at Chateau Giron, his native parish in France. He had gone to Rome to pay his visit ad limina, but was never to return to his diocese.
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After his death the See of New Orleans remained vacant for a considerable time.
On October, 1887, the community obtained from unknown benefactors the valuable gift of a frame house on the corner of Barrack and Rampart streets. It was received through the instrumentality of Messrs. P. E. Theard & Sons, Attorneys-at-Law.
On August 7th, 1888, Most Reverend F. Janssens was promoted to the See of New Orleans. He was born at Tilburg, in Holland, October 17th, 1843. Having determined to become a priest he came to America and entered the diocese of Richmond. He successively filled the posts of Rector of the Cathedral, Vicar-General and administrator of the diocese. In 1881, he was appointed Bishop of Natchez, whence he was promoted to New Orleans. In Archbishop Janssens the Carmelites received a superior who, while Bishop of Natchez, had already proved himself a great friend of the devotion to the Holy Face.1
The profession of the five novices who had received the habit in 1886 was delayed on account of the See of New Orleans being vacant. When, however, Most Rev. Archbishop Janssens had entered into possession of that See permission was granted them to make their profession. They accordingly made their vows on November 21st, 1888, together with two out-sisters: Sister Josephine of the Infant Jesus and Sister Simon of St. Teresa. They received the black veil at the hands of Rt. Rev. J. O'Sullivan, Bishop of Mobile.
On March 17th, 1889, Miss Mary Harrison, of Detroit, Michigan, received the habit as out-sister or tertiary of the Order, and took in religion the name of Sister Joanna of the Cross.
On July 8th three young ladies received the habit. They were Miss Victoria Weich, of Brooklyn, N. Y., in religion Sister Aloysia of the Blessed Trinity; Miss Anne Clara Orr,
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1Pastoral letter of the Synod of Natchez.
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of San Francisco, Cal., Sister Mary Elias of the Precious Blood; and Miss Mary Elizabeth Ries, of New Orleans, Sister Alberta of the Holy Angels.
The Community of New Orleans at present (1889) numbers nine professed choir-nuns, two professed lay-sisters, two professed out-sisters, three choir-novices, and one novice out-sister.
May these faithful spouses of Jesus Christ continue bravely to accomplish the work they have begun to the honor of the Sacred Face of our Divine Redeemer!