No Cross, No Crown - Black Nuns in Nineteenth-Century New Orleans

Among New Orleans' most compelling stories is that of the Sisters of the Holy Family, which was founded in the 19th century and still thrives today. The community's difficult early years are portrayed in a remarkable account by one of the sisters, Mary Bernard Deggs. While Deggs did not officially join the community until 1873, as a student at the sisters' early school she would have known Henriette Delille and the other founders. It was not until 1852 that the sisters were able to take their first official vows and exchange their blue percale gowns for black ones, and it was 1873 before they were permitted to wear a formal religious habit. This community of mixed race faced almost insurmountable obstacles, but the women remained unflagging in their dedication to the poor, to education, and to the care of the elderly and the orphaned-to the needs of "their people."

List of contents

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part I. Mothers Henriette Delille and Juliette Gaudin

Chronology

Text

Part II. Mother Josephine Charles

Chronology

Text

Part III. Mother Marie Magdalene Alpaugh

Chronology

Text

Part IV. Mother Marie Cecilia Capla

Chronology

Text

Part V. Mother Mary Austin Jones

Chronology

Text

Notes

Index

illustrations follow pageX

About the author

Virginia Meacham Gould teaches history at Our Lady of the Holy Cross College in New Orleans and is author of Chained to the Rock of Adversity.Charles E. Nolan is Archivist of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Summary

The founding of a religious community by women of African and Creole descent in the antebellum South.

Product details

• Authors: Mary Bernard Deggs, Sister Mary Bernar Deggs, Sister Mary Bernard Deggs, Deggs Sister Mary Bernard
• Assisted by: Edited by Virginia Meacham Gould and Cha (Editor), Virginia Gould (Editor), Virginia Meacham Gould (Editor), Charles Nolan (Editor), Charles E Nolan (Editor), Charles E. Nolan (Editor)
• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 05.08.2002
• EAN: 9780253215437
• ISBN: 978-0-253-21543-7
• No. of pages: 282
• Dimensions: 160 mm x 235 mm x 21 mm
• Weight: 445 g
• Series: Indiana University Press
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Christianity; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories; Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika, USA, Amerikanische Geschichte, Geschichte der Religion, RELIGION / Christianity / Catholic, RELIGION / Christianity / History, Religion - Catholicism, HISTORY / United States / State & Local / General