The Ursulines are a religious order founded at Brescia, Italy by St. Angela of Merici in November 1535, primarily for the education of girls and the care of the sick and needy.

History

St. Angela spent 17 years leading a group of women known as The Company of St. Ursula, who regularly met for conferences and devotional practices, but did not live together. They were recognized in 1544 by Pope Paul III; in 1572 Pope Gregory XIII, at the instance of St. Charles Borromeo, Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, declared it

In the following century, the Ursulines were powerfully encouraged and supported by St. Francis de Sales. In most cases, especially in France, the sisters adopted enclosure and took solemn vows; they were called the religious Ursulines as distinct from the congregated Ursulines, who preferred to follow the original plan. There were Ursulines in Canada in 1639, who taught catechism to Indian children, and subsequently helped to preserve a religious spirit among the French population and to westernize the Indians and Métis.

Towards the beginning of the 18th century, the period of its greatest prosperity, the order embraced some 20 congregations, with 350 convents and from 15,000 to 20,000 nuns. The members wore a black dress bound by a leathern girdle, a black sleeveless cloak, and a close-fitting headdress with a white veil and a

Role in education

In the United States, the Ursulines have founded two well-known Catholic women's colleges, Ursuline College in Ohio and the College of New Rochelle in New York.

In 1919, in London, Ontario, Canada, they also founded a university-level liberal arts college for women. Currently called Brescia University college (Brecia College at its foundation), it remains the only university-level college for women in Canada and is affiliated with the University of Western Ontario.

Ursuline secondary education schools have sprung up all over the United States. The first school, Ursuline Academy, was built in New Orleans, LA. The Ursuline School in New Rochelle, New York is a school for girls in Grades 6-12. It is closely affiliated with the nearby College of New Rochelle. Another Ursuline secondary education school is Ursuline Academy of Dallas, an all girl's school in Dallas, Texas. Another is Ursuline Academy, an all girl's school located in Wilmington, Delaware. Ursuline High School in Youngstown, Ohio, founded in 1905, has recently produced a number of state championships in various sports.

See also

Arcadia College, Missouri

References

• This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, a publication in the public domain.

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