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Home , Carmelites, Francis Kenrick, Patrick John Ryan, Peter Richard Kenrick, Sisters of Mercy, Warned Off

spring/summer ’20

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“by unexpected means”— The Founding of St. Joseph at St. Louis, 1863-1878 by dana delibovi

Today, in Ladue, , seventeen Discalced Carmelite devote their lives to , in a beautiful, cloistered convent. This serene setting hides a difficult founding in the turbulent year of 1863. In the fall of that year, five nuns traveled to St. Louis from to create a “Foundation”—the Carmel of St. Joseph. They came at the behest of the first of St. Louis, Peter Kenrick, of the Archbishop of Baltimore, . Their Foundation was the first branch of Carmel in America, from which sprouted eleven other .1

Archbishop Kenrick accompanies the on arrival to St. Louis, painted in 1975 by Mother Virginia of the Carmel of St. Joseph. (Image: Dana Delibovi) pg. 4

B & O Railroad advertisement from 1864 highlighting replacement and improvement of destruction wrought by Confederate attacks. (Image: Wikicommons)

Map created in 1860 showing train routes between Baltimore and the West. The sisters would most likely have taken the B & O from Baltimore to Parkersburg, West Virginia, then crossed the Ohio River to on the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad, and finally onto the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad to St. Louis. Riverboat service was also available starting in the Wheeling or Parkersburg, West Virginia, termini of the B & O. (Image: Library of Congress) spring/summer ’20

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Why did these nuns risk founding a monastic convent at such an inauspicious time and place?

These nuns made their mission practical reason may have been “I Want an Order at the height of the Civil War. conflict at the Baltimore to Pray for Priests” They traveled on the Baltimore from which the & Ohio (B & O) Railroad, a line Carmelite sisters hailed. In Archbishop Peter Richard often subject to Confederate addition, the search for an answer Kenrick founded the Carmel attacks. They settled in St. elucidates three aspects of in St. Louis in communication Louis, a city still threatened by social and intellectual history. with his brother, the Archbishop cholera outbreaks following the of Baltimore, Francis Patrick devastating epidemic of 1849, First, it illuminates the role Kenrick. Peter Kenrick became where anti- aggression of religious women as workers in Archbishop in 1847, the initial still smoldered after its zenith the relatively new, often troubled year of the newly constituted and in the mid-1850s. They endured Archdiocese of St. Louis under vast Archdiocese of St. Louis, fifteen years of hardship in their the leadership of Peter Kenrick. which ranged from the Mississippi quarters at the Clay Mansion, on Second, it evokes the to the Missouri River plains. By the grounds of today’s Calvary experience of life in the border 1863, he already presided over an Cemetery. The sisters tried states of the Civil War— area well populated with religious farming and crafts to support and Missouri included. women, including several orders themselves, rarely succeeding in Of special note are implications installed under his tenure.6 these efforts. Despite the poor for what has been termed the Yet, the Archdiocese lacked the conditions, the Carmel of St. public “posture” of neutrality in presence of a contemplative order, Joseph hung on, finally moving the borderlands.4 It is certainly which Kenrick wanted to remedy. in 1878 to its first, true Carmel 2 true that, when the issue is slavery, As described in the archdiocesan monastery in Soulard. neutrality is immorality, but record, “Our own Archbishop Why did these nuns risk a neutral public stance was an Kenrick, thorough man of the founding a monastic convent at expedient chosen by many, active life, yet at the same time, such an inauspicious time and including Peter Kenrick. An a lover of quiet meditation, is place? That question recurred aspect of this posture was a focus reported to have answered the in the research process for this on church business as usual, which query: Why introduce an Order article, articulated by Sister could include the founding of that does nothing but pray: with Constance Fitzgerald, archivist a convent in 1863. the words: ‘I have a number of at the Carmelite Monastery of Orders for the works of charity Finally, the founding of the Baltimore, the cloister from and education, but I want an convent at such a difficult time which the sisters set forth in 1863. Order that will pray forever for and place shows how practical 7 “The interesting thing in the my priests.’” history synergizes with the archived materials on the intellectual history of the Although priests surely needed foundation is that they say nothing Carmelites, particularly the in the early 1860s, it about the Civil War,” notes 3 virtues of detachment from was not an ideal time to start a Sister Constance. “But why?” worldly concern and the spiritual monastery in St. Louis. Anti- Why did the Civil War not determination extolled by the Catholic bigotry, a nationwide worry, or not matter, to the order’s architect, St. Teresa problem, had peaked in St. Louis Carmelites? Although this of Ávila. in 1854 with rioting triggered by question has no definitive, single the nativist Know-Nothings. This In the words of the prioress response, one practical reason group was hostile to immigrants of the fledgling St. Louis Carmel, appears to be the zeal of Peter from , , and Mother Mary Gabriel, “We must Richard Kenrick, first Archbishop “Romanist” cultures, which the only be patient & remember of St. Louis, and Mother Mary Know-Nothings believed defied that this earth is not our home. Gabriel Boland, first prioress of the Protestant-American When God wishes he will give us principles of individualism and the St. Louis Carmel. Another 5 a Carmel by unexpected means.” private prayer. Among the pg. 6 Of course, these difficulties were compounded by the looming war.

mischief wrought in the 1850s grew more arduous. Sectarian her brother John: “Our dear Lord by nativists was a threat to the violence, and eventually battles of is so good. He comes every day, Old Cathedral by the war, erupted in the Archdiocese, & your lovely flowers are on the riverfront, thwarted by an which at that time still contained altar. . . . Be of good heart—God Irish-Catholic immigrant.8 all of skirmishing Missouri and can raise me up.” According to Kansas. Peter Kenrick, like his Mother Mary Joseph Freund, Cholera remained a scourge brother Francis in border-state current prioress of the St. Louis in the Mississippi Basin following Maryland, refused to take Carmel in Ladue, a convent the disastrous St. Louis epidemic sides in the war, although his anecdote backs up Mother of 1849, reported to have killed ownership of several slaves Gabriel’s spirited character: 145 victims per day during June belied his public neutrality.10 “Mother Gabriel would say that, and July alone. Conditions in when she was a girl, she prepared St. Louis did not change after Despite the circumstances, for life as a Carmelite by going 1849, and the city remained what Peter Kenrick maintained a strong to dances all the time.” 12 Father Pierre-Jean De Smet will to bring the Carmelites to called a “natural ‘slop-bowl’,” St. Louis as soon as possible. Then and now, electing a around which “you find breweries, He corresponded with his brother Carmelite prioress under age distilleries, oil and white lead in 1860 or 1861 to discuss the thirty was a curiosity, requiring factories, flour mills and many St. Louis Foundation.11 But special dispensation. Sr. private residences of Irish and Kenrick’s was not the only Constance Fitzgerald notes, Germans—into this pond goes formidable will involved. Mother “Mother Gabriel was elected everything foul—this settles the Mary Gabriel Boland, prioress of prioress in 1861 with only ten opinion as to the real cause of Baltimore’s Carmel, championed years in the convent. . . . I have to all the dreadful mortality here.” the mission with a zeal to match stress that this is very unusual.” Outbreaks continued to plague the St. Louis Archbishop’s. This election came after several the city until the start of the years of leadership instability twentieth century, including Mary Gabriel of the in the Baltimore Carmel, which another major epidemic in 1866. was born followed the closing of a convent Cholera strained the resources Ella Boland in Virginia in 1834. school and the controversial, of the clergy, who were already In 1863, she was only 29 years forced resignation in 1858 of a pushed to the limit by the old, but she had been serving as beloved prioress, Mother hemorrhaging finances of the the prioress of the Baltimore Teresa Sewall.13 Archdiocese, which Peter Carmel since her election Kenrick could not staunch until to a three-year term in 1861. These events, along with around 1869.9 This testifies to the drive that others in the archival records, propelled her to St. Louis and suggest that discord as well as Of course, these difficulties enabled her to steer the devotion may have inspired the were compounded by the looming Foundation cheerfully despite founding of the new Carmel in war. The Archdiocese was forced years of infectious illness in this St. Louis.14 Although the idea of to adjust the war’s affect on “slop-bowl” city. During her time mission motivated Mother projects and communications. in St. Louis, Mother Gabriel Gabriel and her four companions, Diocesan plans for a regional suffered from tuberculosis, which so did the need to resolve tension. synod in 1860 were scrapped out was complicated by malaria, A historical analysis prepared by of concern for the “unfavorable bouts of cholera, and probably the Baltimore Carmel states atmosphere” of pre-war Missouri mercury poisoning from the drug that “a sad peculiarity of this and other border states, where calomel, a nineteenth-century foundation, made during the division existed between pro- panacea that she took for years. Civil War, was that a period of slavery secessionists and anti- Her letters, however, even at life’s community conflict and unrest slavery unionists. Communication end, remain hopeful, sometimes was resolved when the five between St. Louis and other states ebullient. Three weeks before foundresses, led by Mother dying, Mother Gabriel wrote to spring/summer ’20

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The Carmelites Leave for St. Louis

“On the Feast of St. 29th September 1863. Five Sisters left this Convent of Baltimore, for a Foundation given by the Most Rev. Arch Bishop Kenrick of St. Louis—For the new Convent of St. Joseph, near St. Louis. We gave the following members, Rev. Mother Gabriel (alias Ella Boland), Mother Alberta Mary Jane Smith, Sr. Bernard Elizabeth Dorsey, Sr. Agnes Jane Edwards— Sister Catherine, our sister Mary Kearney. Our Community gave them $3000, with a liberal supply of clothing. This was more than they could well afford, or was thought necessary, when the Foundation bodes so promising—but they wished to strengthen as they could this first branch of our Order in America. The Foundation took place during the time that Rev. H. B. Coskery was Administrator of our Diocese.” 1 (Image: Sr. Constance Fitzgerald) pg. 8 Gabriel . . . departed Baltimore.” 15 diocesan administrator, Father Parkersburg, West Virginia, and A good deal of circumstantial H.B. Coskery, and board a switch there for a patchwork evidence exists for this, plus two westbound train with four other of trains to Cincinnati and onward valuable supporting documents. sisters to start the Carmel of to St. Louis.20 St. Joseph.18 Mother Gabriel The first of these is the written would have her will, and Taking the B & O during the record from sisters’ departure Peter Kenrick would have his Civil War was dangerous, though day, September 29, 1863 (see the contemplative order. the owner of the B & O, John sidebar, The Carmelites Leave W. Garrett, tempered the risk for St. Louis). In the record, as much as possible. A hybrid resentment is palpable. Money “From How Many of Southern Democrat and and supplies were given grudgingly Dangers He Saved Us” Unionist and a practical to the sisters, not for their border-state businessman, welfare, but the greater Garrett kept his political The sisters who journeyed good of strengthening the opinions to himself and 16 to St. Louis were diverse in age St. Louis Foundation. maintained a laser-like focus but universally unaccustomed on protecting his railroad. to worldly risks. In addition to The second is a letter, dated Nevertheless, the Confederacy or Mother Gabriel were three October 19, 1861, from Francis its guerrillas attacked, damaged, Carmelites: Sr. Mary Alberta of Kenrick to his brother, regarding and looted the B & O frequently St. Alexis (1829–1879), who was so Peter’s request for a Carmelite throughout the war. “The rupture sheltered even before taking her Foundation. Francis wrote: “As to of the B & O railroad . . . would vows that she “appeared to know the Carmelites [women], I do not be worth to us an army,” absolutely nothing” about the wish to bar them, though I hardly General Robert E. Lee said. In wider world; Sr. Mary Bernardine dare praise them where they do 1861, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson of St. Teresa (1835–1907); and not agree in their plans and aims. and his troops began marauding Sr. Agnes of the Immaculate As to the rest, they are generally on the B & O in Maryland; later Conception (1814–1883), a fervent [religious], and serve in the war, Confederate regular Philadelphian, with “all the God sincerely. In the present state and guerrilla attacks continued, proverbial characteristics . . . all of things it is hardly practical including attacks on passenger that steady reserve of manner” of to think of introducing new trains. The year 1863 saw several 17 the city’s scions. Also along on the institutes into a diocese.” With major raids on the B & O, mission was Sr. Mary Catherine this letter, Francis Kenrick tapped including a springtime raid of the Sacred Heart (1820–1916), the brakes on a Carmelite convent conducted by Confederate a non-cloistered “out-sister” who in St. Louis. He warned his brother commanders William “Grumble” could leave the convent enclosure 21 of the disagreement among the Jones and John Imboden. Carmelite sisters, withholding to attend to the material needs of his recommendation from the other sisters. Accompanying Violent activity targeting the those involved. He stressed the the sisters was the chaplain railroads was well known, the subject impracticality of a St. Louis of the Baltimore Carmel, of sensationalized accounts in 19 Foundation given the “present Father J. Dougherty. some of the Northern press as state of things” in 1861, which well as more temperate coverage After departing on September most likely alludes to both the in the Times. Attacks Civil War and the conflict among 29, it took two days for the sisters were such common knowledge the Carmelite sisters. to travel from Baltimore to St. that the B & O ran advertising Louis, arriving on October 1, 1863. trumpeting the replacement of But Francis Kenrick’s voice of “There is no diary of their trip,” “Cars and Machinery destroyed” caution would soon be silenced. says Mary Ann Aubin, archivist on the line. “Living in 1863,” He died during the night of of the Carmel of St. Joseph and suggests archivist Mary Ann July 6, 1863. Within three months librarian of the Kenrick-Glennon Aubin, “the nuns, being cloistered, from that date, a determined seminary in St. Louis. “They took didn’t know all that was occurring Mother Gabriel would write the B & O railroad part of the outside. But they did have a to Archbishop Peter Kenrick, way, but whether they crossed the priest [Father Dougherty] obtain his invitation to create Mississippi by rail or by ferry is accompany them from Baltimore a Foundation in St. Louis, get uncertain.” In 1863, a likely route to St. Louis. You’d think he would the approval of Baltimore’s from St. Louis would be to take have known more of what the B & O from Baltimore to spring/summer ’20

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The Colonel Henry Clay Mansion at Old Orchard Farm, 5239 West Florissant Avenue, St. Louis, was the summer house of Archbishop Peter Kenrick and the first home (1863-1878) of the Carmel of St. Joseph. The mansion was built in 1836 (demolition date not published). (Image: Library of Congress)

was going on.” 22 Despite this Mansion, located on the current persisting up to ten years. Early known risk, the five sisters grounds of the continually on, there is no plan for creating went ahead with their travel to expanding Calvary Cemetery. an archive.” 27 Fortunately, church St. Louis. A quarter of a century Kenrick’s administration had historians William Currier (1890) later, Mother Gabriel would write purchased its original 323 acres and John Rothensteiner (1928) to her brother in hindsight: “As to address the shortage of gathered Archdiocesan and you journey along, you can think graves produced by the 1849 personal records to paint a picture of our journey through life—how cholera epidemic.25 of life in the new monastery we ‘pass by’ everything, sorrows at St. Louis. and joys, darkness and light. And The sisters got down to of the happy meeting that will business right away. On the The sisters endured, in be when our good Father, God, morning of October 2, Archbishop Currier’s words, many “privations welcomes us home. I used to think Kenrick celebrated in the and sufferings.” Winter 1863–1864 that way as we traveled out West. convent. On October 5, the sisters was bitterly cold in St. Louis; . . . From how many dangers He held elections. Everyone got a nuns from temperate Baltimore saved us, and guided us to the job: Mother Gabriel was elected were not prepared for this, and right way.” 23 prioress, and other Carmelites one had a “frozen nose” (probably, were elected clavaries.26 But these frostbite). They “succeeded glowing reports of the convent’s badly” in their efforts at “The Bull is first week were soon replaced with self-support, which included Very Troublesome” reports of hardship. agriculture, sewing, and making artificial flowers. A poem written No letters or diaries from the by one of the sisters—who is not Upon their October 1 arrival, Carmel of St. Joseph in St. Louis identified in the record—invokes Archbishop Peter Kenrick are extant before 1874. According God to heal her heart’s losses: personally escorted the travelers to Baltimore archivist Sr. “Here bereft of all it cherished/ to their first convent home: Constance Fitzgerald, “Lack of Thou its every wound wilt cure.” Kenrick’s summer house at Old letters and annals is typical for The best that could be said was Orchard Farm.24 This house was first years of a foundation, that none of the sisters died in the former Colonel Henry Clay 28 these early years. pg. 10

Isolation vexed the convent.

Letter from Mother Mary “very few persons Gabriel Boland to her seemed to care brother, John, January 3, 1877, including thanks, to make the some family news, and a acquaintance of mention of a visit to John’s store by Sr. Mary (most the poor praying likely non-Carmelite out-sister Mary Catherine, women who who could leave the lived out beyond cloister to do errands). (Image: Archives of Calvary Cemetery.” the Carmel of St. Joseph, St. Louis, Missouri)

Isolation vexed the convent. relying on a body of lore about the how to preserve tomatoes and People living in the vicinity of the St. Louis Carmel handed down purchase a wagon (1874).32 Clay Mansion could attend mass through the years.31 That is why While asking around about relatively nearby, at the residence the preserved letters of Mother animal husbandry, Mother of the convent’s chaplain. But Gabriel, written mainly to her Gabriel was referred by a “Mrs. the area was sparsely populated, Missouri-dwelling brother, John Hudson” to her own brother, and “very few persons seemed to Boland, from 1874 until her death John, to whom she sent queries care to make the acquaintance in 1893, are such an important on October 10, 1874: of the poor praying women historical trove. These letters who lived out beyond Calvary document two persistent problems I have taken the management Cemetery.” Some may have at the Carmel in its founding of the farm myself lately. The Sister in charge wished me to questioned the utility of an order years: self-support, by work 29 do so. . . . I thought it would devoted to prayer. or by charity, and the threat of be better to kill pigs enough disease. But the letters also show to last all year. Is it better to It might seem counterintuitive Mother Gabriel’s commitment buy the pigs now & fatten that isolation would trouble to persevere despite worldly them or to buy them already a convent cloistered from the killed? The bull we have is problems, illuminating her very troublesome. He kills outside world, but today’s prioress faith and character. or cripples every horse he at Ladue, Mother Mary Joseph, can get at. He is apt to break insists that isolation is detrimental Mother Gabriel wrote of through in the fields of our to any monastery. “The isolation struggles with agriculture at Old neighbors, etc. Don’t you think we had better sell him & buy a of the Carmel for its first fifteen Orchard Farm. She made no gentle one in the spring? We years,” she notes, “had to be specific mention of help. Since are offered only thirty dollars, difficult. Too much isolation from Archbishop Kenrick owned slaves, and he is a young bull. Do you 33 the larger community isn’t ideal as did other organs of the Roman think it enough. for a cloistered order. Monastery in St. Louis, it and community—it works both is possible, but unverified, that From 1874 to 1877, Mother ways. We need to know who we slaves assisted on the property Gabriel corresponded frequently pray for, and when people in the to Missouri emancipation to her brother about a second community see our monastery or in 1865; Mother Gabriel did say in income stream—sales of sewing hear our bell, they are lifted to 1875 that she must supply “meat and craft projects that included God. There is a practical aspect, for the men,” who may have been dresses, pillowcases, “drawers,” too. When a monastery is part workers. Still, after eleven-plus and shirts. Often, these letters of the community, people help years in St. Louis, the Carmel suggest that John Boland was us with donations.” 30 was still trying to get the hang of an engine of aid to the convent, farming. There were problems whether helping to sell craft work Much of the material in Currier with the timing for buying ducks or sending gifts outright. John and Rothensteiner is anecdotal, (1877) and questions about Boland had a store, and so he was spring/summer ’20

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Angel from the Soulard convent, where the sisters moved in 1878. (Image: Dana Delibovi)

Cloister at 18th Street in Soulard, completed in 1878, where the sisters made their first true convent home. It is now an apartment building called “.” (Image: Jim Hess)

in a good position to trade and Starting in the 1880s, she wrote “temptation of drink” to which procure goods for the Carmel. of her malarial and tubercular two people she knew (“M.C. & Mother Gabriel also asked and symptoms and worried about L.”) had succumbed. She also negotiated for money. The words contracting cholera from food. knew about politics. On October of a brief letter from 1876 are She chronicled her travails with 31, 1876—a week before one of typical: “Some one [g]ave me this the “blue mass”—the mercury- the most contentious elections box of fancy paper, will you please laden drug calomel, which “Dr. in U.S. history—she told her buy it from me (it is too nice for Papin” prescribed for her ills. She brother, “Go to confession before Carmelites) and I am in need of a also remarked about her brother’s election day. You might get killed. little money. Only give your usual chills in a letter of September 25, Go home early that day.” 36 price. Love to all.” 34 1876, which will depart with the “first hard frost”—evidence of her Despite hardships, the Carmel Mother Gabriel would not attribution of infectious cause. 35 gradually became established. By have been surprised about the 1877, the convent had increased in need to provide so much Mother Gabriel’s letters size, allowing four sisters to leave self-support. Since the St. Louis express two of life’s most pressing for New Orleans and begin a new Archdiocese had faced financial problems: poverty and illness. Yet, Carmelite Foundation. Private troubles through at least 1869, its the tone of the letters is hopeful donations eventually eased ability to supplement the convent overall, and they are full of the burdens of self-support and was limited. In 1876, Mother concern for family members. isolation. Construction began on Gabriel enjoined her brother “not There is no complaint about the order’s first, true cloistered even to speak to the Archbishop,” having to juggle agriculture and monastery—an apartment on what seems to the provision crafts with the daily schedule of building today. It was built on land of better circumstances for the mass, verbal prayer, , given by a “Mrs. Patterson” at the monastery. To do so, she told and reading that is the primary corner of Victor and Eighteenth John, “would only bring you into job of Carmelite nuns. From Streets in Soulard, supported by trouble.” She added this clear-eyed the earliest, the letters include financial donors that included observation, which was also the reminders to rise above worldly some familiar names: Dr. S. L. first of several indications in her troubles, to guard against “weak Papin, Mrs. E. Hudson, and, of letters that the Carmel had a stake faith” that is “easily overcome by course, Mr. John Boland. The (with tax liability) in the property the fear of the world’s frown, or Carmel of St. Joseph moved into at Old Orchard Farm: “The the desire of its smile,” as she told their new Soulard monastery foundation is a bad job from the John in 1876. But transcending in summer, 1878. 37 first. I doubt if it will ever sell to worldly things did not mean much advantage.” Mother Gabriel ignorance of worldly things. Only one letter from Mother was equally sanguine about Mother Gabriel knew about Gabriel to her generous brother infectious disease in St. Louis. infection risks and about the survives from that busy year, penned December 22, 1878. “You pg. 12

have furnished our Christmas welcomed religious women to convent played out in the first table nicely,” she wrote, and “all St. Louis; Kenrick introduced fifteen years of the Carmel of the Nuns thank you and wish eleven orders under his tenure St. Joseph, where the sisters had you a happy Christmas.” 38 The as Archbishop. 40 Kenrick’s to perform their main work—a founding years were over; motivation for bringing religious rigorous schedule of morning- “unexpected means” had finally women to St. Louis was decidedly to-night prayer—while farming, delivered a real convent to the unsentimental. He wanted women selling crafts, and finding Carmel of St. Joseph. to work and to manage the work benefactors. The Carmelites, of others. Of the St. Louis like other religious women in St. founding of the Sisters of the Louis, were working women with “Why?—We Just Do Good Shepherd, an order that heavy responsibilities. Mother What We Do” housed and rehabilitated “strayed” Gabriel made this role plain in women, Kenrick wrote: “The her letters. From the cloister, she Exactly why the Carmelite inmates of the establishment quizzed her brother on farming, sisters made their Foundation will, under the direction of the committed to craft projects in 1863—at the height of war, religious ladies already (“We will attend to her work as instability, and disease—remains mentioned, occupy themselves directed”), bargained on payments opaque. Archivists Mary with every species of work (“just let me know how much over Ann Aubin and Sr. Constance suitable to their sex and situation; $5 it will be”), and even asked her Fitzgerald call it a “historical and thus will be enabled to brother to mail a missive she had mystery.”39 Although Archbishop contribute to the support of a written to address sales and Kenrick wanted the Carmel very house to which they will owe so taxation of a lot. These letters much, he was warned off the much.” The carried no hint of resentment at Foundation by his own brother, came to care for the sick and to having to work hard, but they Archbishop Francis Kenrick. educate poor girls and women; were stalwart and grateful: “[W]e Was it only Peter Kenrick’s firm the and the School- might have had great trouble will, plus the persistence of Sisters de Notre Dame came to & even lost the property from teach German, Irish, and its [the tax bill’s] not being paid Mother Gabriel, that drove him 41 to go against his brother’s other immigrant children. in due time. So we must thank our Lord.” 43 recommendation in 1863? Was The requirement of self- the interpersonal conflict among support multiplied the nuns’ Mother Gabriel was willing sisters at the Carmel in Baltimore work. Archbishop Kenrick, from to work, but, as her early drive really so much worse than any risk need and from temperament, kept toward mission attests, she was of travel and resettlement during a tight rein on the of not willing to be subordinate. The the Civil War? What additional the Archdiocese, and he expected fact that a twenty-nine-year-old factors may have motivated orders to solicit donations and prioress felt quite entitled both archbishop and prioress? take in paid work. He gave the to contact the Archbishop of Reflecting on the mystery Sisters of Mercy the “moderate St. Louis to ask for a Foundation leads to insight on three aspects support” of $800 a year, arguing subverts any notion that religious of social and intellectual history that “small as is this sum, the women were wholly disempowered that may have helped to spur Sisters will have no reason to in the nineteenth century. Equally the Carmel’s founding in complain of insufficient support” important, Archbishop Kenrick’s an inauspicious time: the role because the Catholic Community direct assent to her request shows, of religious women in the of St. Louis would be “disposed to much to his credit, that he was nineteenth-century Archdiocese assist them.” The Sisters of Mercy not put off by an assertive woman. of St. Louis; the experience of life were forced to take in sewing Kenrick embraced the role of in the borderlands of the Civil and laundry in addition to their religious women as workers, and War; and the relationship between and educational duties, Mother Gabriel embraced the the intellectual tradition of prompting the Mother role of a working, managerial the Carmelites, embodied by from their home convent in New woman. These attitudes may have York to suggest returning if life counterbalanced concerns about St. Teresa of Ávila, and the life 42 ways of Carmelite sisters. in St. Louis was too strenuous. making a Foundation during the Civil War. There was work to The historical record shows This pattern of primary work be done, and religious women clearly that Peter Kenrick plus the work of supporting the had to do it. spring/summer ’20

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Trunk brought from Baltimore to St. Louis Carmelite doll wearing a on the Carmelite habit sewn by Mother sisters’ journey in 1863. Gabriel. Craft-making, (Image: Archives of including the sewing of clothes the Carmel of St. Joseph, and linens, was a self-support St. Louis, Missouri) activity of the Carmel of St. Joseph from 1863 to 1878. The grille at the right is a small open door from behind which cloistered Carmelites received visitors. (Image: Archives of the Carmel of St. Joseph, St. Louis, Missouri)

Moreover, in wartime Missouri business as a source of “common aloof from politics . . . because and Maryland, getting to work prosperity” and ran “a Southern he believed that, in the peculiar may have been an aspect of coping -leaning railroad headquartered in circumstances of Missouri as a with war by sustaining neutrality. a slave-holding border state that border state, the interests of This is a highly speculative for half a century had developed religion would be best forwarded claim, but the attitudes of Peter profitable trade with the by a prudent silence.” 46 Kenrick, viewed in historical North and West.” Baltimore’s Archdiocesan business-as-usual context, support the notion that Archbishop Francis Kenrick went hand in hand with fulfilling daily responsibilities may also typified this attitude: doing public neutrality. have helped to further his public the job of ministry was part stance of neutrality—a stance and parcel of staying neutral. Kenrick often exhibited his adopted by many in the Civil “[O]wing to his own position as resolve to remain neutral and War border states. Starting a head of a border-state diocese,” attend to work. During the war, Carmelite Foundation in 1863 was Francis Kenrick tried to give “no he concerned himself with one one more way to do just that. offense to either side: he simply of his pet projects (and peeves), acted as the minister of religion . the “prompt dispatch of business” Historians William E. Gienapp . . whose sole object should be to from Vatican leadership (which, and Christopher Phillips have hasten the work of peace by every to his frequent annoyance, still emphasized the range of nuanced means that seemed available to held sway over administrative opinions peculiar to the Civil that end.” 45 Another example: decisions in the ). War borderlands—Delaware, Archbishop Peter Kenrick. He also dealt with illness, injury, Maryland, West Virginia, and damage to churches wrought , and Missouri, where Archbishop Kenrick’s position by fighting in Missouri. In 1865, slavery and Unionism coexisted. on the Civil War has been called he refused Union orders to fly Phillips has argued that people “obscure.” He diligently remained the flag from church steeples. He and organizations in these states agnostic on the matter, even also forbid priests from taking the were often driven to make avoiding news reports to help him Union loyalty oath required by compromises and to adopt a steer clear of opinion. Given that the Missouri Constitution that carefully curated persona or Kenrick owned slaves, he may went into effect on July 1, 1865. “posture” of neutrality, frequently have been inclined toward the Kenrick ultimately won both masking actual opinions. In some Southern cause, although he never battles, informally and in court. 47 cases, the persona may have stated this publicly. Throughout involved a focus on conducting the war years he remained neutral, In this context, Kenrick’s 1863 business as usual whenever stubbornly keeping his attention go-ahead for the Carmel seems possible to sustain evolving on the work of ministry. He like one more way he focused borderlands “trade patterns” wished, as he wrote to his brother on “the interests of religion” as that embraced both North in 1862, “to get involved as little as an aspect of neutrality during and South. 44 possible in these turmoils,” and to the war. “Keep neutral and “be of service to the end.” According carry on” is the roughest of A prime example was John to Archbishop conjectures to help explain why, W. Garrett, owner of the B & O , “During our at the height of the Civil War, it railroad, who concentrated on his Civil War, he [Peter Kenrick] kept made sense to those involved to pg. 14

“It doesn’t matter which Sr. Stella Maris Freund, currently of the Carmel of St. Joseph in Ladue Carmelite community you are in. It can be St. Louis or anywhere— our life is God alone.”

start a new Carmel. It is a piece businesslike mystic”—a She mentioned the words of the of the psychosocial history of description reminiscent of multiple times in her letters the border states, illuminated by Mother Gabriel. Teresa offers and promised to lend out a copy the Carmel’s founding, that the metaphor of a determined of Teresa’s autobiography. She made warrants further investigation. spiritual journey, which speaks many comments about the need directly to sisters who traveled for determination, in one letter Mother Gabriel preserved to St. Louis. Carmelite nuns proclaiming, “Let us have patience no letters that speak of war or must have “a very determined and look to the end when things neutrality, but her surviving determination to persevere… look dark to us.” Here, “end” was letters are imbued with Carmelite whatever work is involved, emphasized because it means spirituality. This tradition was whatever criticism arises, whether eternal life in God, against which endowed to the order by they arrive or die on the road.” 48 all worldly things—and worldly St. Teresa of Ávila. Two core worries—prove inconsequential, Teresian principles—detachment Determination comports meriting only detachment. from the world and spiritual with another virtue, detachment “[T]he evil one so loves to worry determination—shine through from the world, which is made us with thoughts of what will never Mother Gabriel’s letters. This possible for Carmelite sisters by come to pass. Saint Teresa calls intellectual legacy informed the the full reliance upon God. A the Imagination the ‘fool’ of the decision to found and persevere finds the determination to follow home (of our being). [S]he says if with the Carmel of St. Joseph. the path of prayer and mission we want to be in peace and happy because she practices detachment we must pay no regard to the The founding of the St. Louis “from all created things”—money, fool who roves the world over.” 50 Carmel follows the injunctions food, bodily health, physical safety, and example of St. Teresa to her and the like. “It doesn’t matter In the final analysis, the sisters. In her book of counsel to which Carmelite community Carmelite sisters came to St. her nuns, The , you are in,” says Sr. Stella Maris Louis during the tumult of the Teresa advised sisters to “begin Freund, currently of the Carmel Civil War because they were heirs with great determination” on the of St. Joseph in Ladue. “It can be to the Teresian tradition. This path of prayer so that “[t]hey St. Louis or anywhere—our life tradition stressed determination know that come what may they is God alone.” Current prioress to press on with spiritual aims, will not turn back.” For Teresa, Mother Mary Joseph traced detached from worldly concerns. the path of prayer included this “back to the original formal For nuns with such an intellectual mission work. Her reform of the founding. We are outside of the history, war was a worldly “created Carmelite order included the world—outside of our location. thing,” so it need not affect the founding of convents in her native It doesn’t matter where you are— spiritual mission to found a , requiring her to combine we come to pray.” 49 monastery. “You ask why they her life of intensive prayer and started this Carmel during the meditation with travel, finance, Mother Gabriel, like all Civil War,” declared Sr. Stella law, writing, and negotiation. She Carmelite sisters, was intimately Maris. “Well, it’s because we just has been called “an extremely familiar with St. Teresa’s writings. do what we do, and pray.” 51 spring/summer ’20

pg. 15

The Carmel of St. Joseph in St. Louis today, the home of the Carmelite sisters since 1928. (Images: Dana Delibovi) pg. 16

ENDNOTES

Acknowledgment: Thanks to Mother 8 Sarah Hinds, “In Defense of the 15 The Carmelite Nuns of Baltimore, Mary Joseph Freund, Sr. Stella Maris Faith: The Catholic Response to Anti- “History of Our Community,” Freund, Mary Ann Aubin, Sr. Constance Catholicism in Early Nineteenth-Century accessed October 26, 2019, https:// Fitzgerald, and Dan Zink for their St. Louis,” The Confluence (Fall/ www.baltimorecarmel.org/ help with this article. Winter 2015), 15. Miller, “Peter Richard history-of-our-community/. Kenrick,” 60. 1 Charles Warren Currier, Carmel in 16 Descriptive notes, September 29, 1863, America (Baltimore: John Murphy & Co., 9 Paul W. Brewer, “Voluntarism on Trial: Archives of the Carmelite Monastery of 1890), 265–66. Note on terminology: St. Louis’ Response to the Cholera Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, Record Group Carmelites use the terms convent and Epidemic of 1849,” Bulletin of the History IV, Series 1, Folder 1, Box 2. monastery to describe their cloistered of Medicine 49, no.1 (Spring 1975), 102; dwellings; this article will use that G. J. Garraghan, “Some Early Chapters in 17 Kenrick-Frenaye, 465. terminology interchangeably. the History of St. Louis University,” St. Louis Catholic Historical Review 18 Currier, Carmel in America, 265–66. 2 Kathleen Waters Sander, John W. 5, nos. 2–3 (April–July 1923), 114; G. F. Garrett and the Baltimore and Ohio Pyle, “The Diffusion of Cholera in the 19 Book of the Dead, Foundation, Railroad (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins United States in the Nineteenth Century,” Necrology, 1–6, 8; Currier, Carmel in University Press, 2017), 157; Walter J. Geographical Analysis 1, no. 1 (January America, 266, 284, 288. Daly, “The Black Cholera Comes to 1969), 65–74; Archdiocese of St. Louis, the Central Valley of America in the “1843–1903: The Immigrant Church,” 20 Freund-Aubin Interview; B & O 19th Century—1832, 1849, and Later,” accessed October 25, 2019, http://www. Railroad Museum, “Baltimore & Ohio Transactions of the American Clinical and archstl.org/history/immigrant-church; Railroad, 1860,” accessed October 28, Climatological Association 119 (2008), Miller, “,” 2019, http://www.eduborail.org/NPS-4/ 144. The first prioress of the Carmel of St. 27–28, 56–59. Map-1-NPS-4.aspx. See also: William G. Joseph in St. Louis, Mother Mary Gabriel, Thomas, The Iron Way: Railroads, the wrote in letters of cholera contraction 10 Miller, “Peter Richard Kenrick,” 26, Civil War, and the Making of Modern and mortality risk during the 1880s and 63–65. See also corroborating America (New Haven: Yale University 1890s; see Correspondence from Mother evidence: Carte Ecclésiastique des Press, 2011), overleaf. Route validated by Gabriel Boland to Her Brother John: Etats-Unis d’Amerique (: Les Dan Zink (Archivist at the Baltimore 1874–1893, Archives of the Carmel of St. Missions Catholiques, 1877), archived & Ohio Railroad Museum), personal Joseph, St. Louis, MO, 82, 125, 183, 248; June 11, 2017, https://imgur.com/ communication to Dana Delibovi, Samuel J. Miller, “Peter Richard Kenrick, WbbTmnr; John Joseph O’Shea, The Baltimore, November 4, 2019. Bishop and Archbishop of St. Louis, Two Kenricks (Philadelphia: John J. 1806–1896,” Records of the American McVey, 1904), 200. 21 Sander, Garrett, 115, 117; Thomas, Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia Iron Way, 111; Edward Hungerford, The 84, no. 1 (March, June, September 1973), 11 The Kenrick-Frenaye Correspondence Story of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad: 60; Historic American Buildings Survey, (Philadelphia: Cathedral Archives of 1827–1927 (New York: G.P. Putnam & District of Missouri, “Colonel Henry Clay Philadelphia, 1920), 465. Dates of Peter Sons, 1928), 2:5–19, 32–34. Mansion,” Project no. Mo-18, 1937, U.S. Kenrick’s overture to Francis Kenrick National Parks Service, Washington, D.C.; are estimated based on a response by 22 Report of Brig. Gen. Benjamin S. Mary Ann Aubin, The Past is Prologue: Francis in the fall of 1861. Roberts, U.S. Army, of Operations April 150 Years of Carmel in St. Louis (St. 24–May 5 (Charlestown: West Virginia Louis: Carmel of St. Joseph, 2013), 7, 8. 12 Transcription of the Book of the Dead, Archives and History, May 21, 1863), Foundation of St. Louis, and Necrology, accessed October 28, 2019, http:// 3 Sr. Constance Fitzgerald (Archivist of aggregated 2019, Archives of the Carmel www.wvculture.org/history/ the Carmelite Monastery of Baltimore), of St. Joseph, St. Louis, MO, 4, 8. See sesquicentennial/1863jonesimboden. phone interview by Dana Delibovi, also: Inno McGill, “Our Lady of Mount html; Thomas, Iron Way, 112–13; Woods’ Baltimore, September 19, 2019. Carmel,” The Indian Sentinel 2, no. 1 Baltimore City Directory, Advertisements: (January 1920), 119; Currier, Carmel Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Re-Opened 4 Christopher Phillips, The Civil War in in America, 261; Gabriel Boland, (Baltimore: John W. Woods, 1864), the Border South (Santa Barbara, Calif.: Correspondence, 105, 175, 229, 248; 52, accessed October 28, 2019, ABC-CLIO, Inc., 2013), 17. Mother Mary Joseph Freund (Prioress https://archive.org/details/ of the Carmel of St. Joseph), Sr. Stella woodsbaltimoreci1864balt; 5 Gabriel Boland, Correspondence, 4. Maris Freund (Sister in the Carmel of Freund-Aubin interview. St. Joseph), and Mary Ann Aubin 6 Katharine T. Corbett, In Her Place: (Archivist of the Carmel of St. Joseph), 23 Gabriel Boland, Correspondence, 85. A Guide to St. Louis Women’s History interview by Dana Delibovi, St. Louis, (St. Louis: Missouri Historical Society August 24, 2019, October 28, 2019. 24 Currier, Carmel in America, 266–67. Press, 1999), 68, 72. 13 Fitzgerald interview. 25 Archdiocese of St. Louis, “Calvary 7 John E. Rothensteiner, History of the Cemetery,” accessed October 29, 2019, Archdiocese of St. Louis: in Its Various 14 Ibid. https://cemeteries.archstl.org/locations/ Stages of Development from A.D. calvary#485743-historical. 1673 to A.D. 1928 (St. Louis: Blackwell Wicklandy Co., 1928), 331. spring/summer ’20

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26 Currier, Carmel in America, 267. 40 Rothensteiner, Archdiocese, 27, 31, 33, 47 Miller, “Peter Richard Kenrick,” 66–70; “Clavary,” literally, one with a key, is a 329. The orders were: Ursulines (1848), See also Rothensteiner, Archdiocese, Carmelite sister with administrative Sisters of the Good Shepherd (1849), 211–13, 215–19. Peter Kenrick’s legal responsibilities. Elections were held, by Sisters of Mercy (1856), the School battles against provisions of the 1865 rule, every three years, and it appears Sisters de Notre Dame (1858), the “Drake Constitution” (nicknamed for that positions cycled among the sisters; Carmelites (1863), the Little Sisters of firebrand St. Louis Unionist Charles for example, Sister (then Mother) Alberta the Poor (1869), the Sisters of St. Mary Drake) is a valuable subject of study, was prioress of the St. Louis Carmel (1872), the Sisters of St. Francis well chronicled by both Miller and three times before her death in 1879, and (1872), the Sisters of Provence Rothensteiner. Argument and decision Mother Gabriel is documented to have (1880), and the Sisters of the of the United States Supreme Court on been prioress (after her initial stint in Precious Blood (1882). Cumming v. State of Missouri (1866)— 1863) in 1876 and 1890. See: Book of which overturned Missouri’s conviction the Dead, Foundation, Necrology, 2; 41 Peter Richard Kenrick, Lenten of a Catholic priest for refusal to take Gabriel-Boland, Correspondence, 12, 160. Regulations; Seminary Needs; the loyalty oath required by the 1865 Arrival of Sisters of Good Shepherd in Missouri Constitution—is available at 27 Fitzgerald interview. St. Louis, February 2, 1849, Archives of https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme- the Archdiocese of St. Louis, St. Louis, court/71/277.html. Archbishop Kenrick 28 Currier, Carmel in America, 267–69. MO, Record Group RG 01 C, Series paid legal expenses for this case in 03. See also: Rothensteiner, Archdiocese, excess of $10,000 (Miller, 70.). 29 Ibid., 267–68; Rothensteiner, 28; Rothensteiner, Archdiocese, 31; Archdiocese, 114. Community- Corbett, In Her Place, 67–68. 48 St. Teresa of Ávila, The Way of attended mass at the residence of the Perfection, ed. Kieran Kavanaugh first chaplain, Father Edmund Saulnier, is 42 Rothensteiner, Archdiocese, 32, 33. (Washington, D.C: ICS Publications, chronicled; however, Father Saulnier 2000), 251, 253; Cathleen Medwick, died in May of 1864, and public masses 43 Gabriel Boland, Correspondence, 1–18. Teresa of Ávila: The Progress of a Soul with other chaplains are not reported. (New York: Image Books, 1999), x; 44 William E. Gienapp, “Abraham Lincoln St. Teresa, Way of Perfection, 229. 30 Freund-Aubin interview. and the Border States,” Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association 13 (1992), 49 St. Teresa, Way of Perfection, 107–9. 31 Currier, Carmel in America, 266–69; 13, 18; Phillips, Civil War in the Border Freund-Aubin interview. Rothensteiner, Archdiocese, 331–33. South, 9, 17, 18; Phillips, Civil War in the Border South, 15, 17, 18, 23; Gienapp, 50 Gabriel Boland, Correspondence, 35, 32 Gabriel Boland, “Lincoln and the Border States,” 13. 36, 50, 51, 72, 102, 131, 133, 144, 162, 163. Correspondence, 1, 2, 15. 45 Sander, Garrett, 116, 119; O’Shea, Two 51 Freund-Aubin Interview. 33 Ibid., 1–2. Kenricks, 200. Care must be taken when considering Francis Kenrick’s 34 Ibid., 2, 3, 5–7, 13, 15, 6. mindset, since he did, as noted, withhold recommendation of the Carmel in St. 35 Ibid., 3–5, 13, 15, 44, 45, 52, 54, 56, Louis in 1861; in that particular at least, 61, 68–72, 75, 77, 81–83, 85, 86, 90, 93, he did not evince as strong an attitude 95–96, 99, 122, 133, 141–42, 155, 158, 171, of pressing on with that work than 175, 195–96, 221, 229, 233, 252, 261, 267. did his brother, Peter.

36 Ibid., 7, 9, 11. The disputed presidential 46 Miller, “Peter Richard Kenrick,” 64–70; election of 1876 pitted Hayes See also Rothensteiner, Archdiocese, (Republican) against Tilden (Democrat); 210–19; Patrick J. Ryan, “Most Reverend see William H. Rehnquist, Centennial Peter Richard Kenrick, D.D,” American Crisis: The Disputed Election of 1876 Catholic Quarterly Review 21 (January to (New York: Knopf Doubleday, 2007), 99. October, 1896), 426.

37 Rothensteiner, Archdiocese, 332. Currier, Carmel in America, 317.

38 Gabriel Boland, Correspondence, 19.

39 Freund-Aubin interview; Fitzgerald interview.