MARY WARD Biographi=
cal
Detail: Mary Ward (1585-1=
645)
Born in Yorkshire, England She wanted to be =
free to
serve people instead of being enclosed in a convent. Her congregation,=
which
would be led by women would be apostolic and based on the constitutions=
of
St. Ignatius of Loyola. Her concept of an
apostolic congregation of women was not acceptable during her
lifetime. She worked and tr=
avelled
tirelessly across Europe to speak with authorities in allowing her to o=
pen
schools for girls. Today, her congre=
gation
of schools exist worldwide under the names of the Congregation Jesu (CJ)
and the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM) She is the founde=
r of the
Loretto Sisters worldwide. - Important ideas: -Mary
ward inspired women to learn, attend school and do good deeds in their
communities through
their expression of catholic faith. -She
set up schools for women across Europe at a time when it was unaccepted=
by
the church to do so. In f=
act,
she spent time in jail, walked across countries to visit with the Holy =
See
personally and try to change his mind. Today
there are 46 countries where her schools and following have been
established. -Encouraged
women to practice their faith by serving people in their communities and
thus, changed and enhanced the role of women in society. Annotated Bibliography: B=
est,
Michael. "Citing this
site." Shakespeare's Life and Times. Internet Shakespeare
Editions, University of Victoria: Victoria, BC, 2001-2005.
<http://ise.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/intro/introcite.html>. Visited [J=
uly
1, 2009) S=
uccessful
in establishing schools for girls modeled after the Jesuit boys
schools. Mary Ward and her
followers did not wear a habit, but wore modest clothes and the schools
were primaly focused on secular humanist traditions. <=
o:p> Giles, Elizabeth. =
"Mary
Ward." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Applet=
on
Company, 1912. 1 Jul. 2009 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15551c.htm>=
. Gives a summary of her upbringing and toils in opening schools f=
or
women across Europe. It
describes her stewardship and determination to get approval from the Ho=
ly
See in Rome. Littlehales, Margaret Mary, Mary Ward Pilgrim and
Mystic, Continuum International Publishing
Group, 2001 First
biography of Mary Ward. It gives a chronological order of her life and
times. An important book for learning of her achievements both before a=
nd
after her death. Some sayings: What disturbs me inwardly and makes me troubled does not come fr=
om
God, for the spirit of God always brings with it freedom and great peac=
e. How happy a thing it is to love God and serve Him and seek Him in
truth. O my God what would I be if you had not done everything for me!<=
o:p> A person should not be half-hearted in giving herself to God but
whole and entire. On her deathbed: I would all were here…..I commend to you the practice of y=
our
vocation, that it be constant, efficacious and loving.