Canonization of St. Louise de Marillac, 1934: Introduction

On March 15, we celebrate the feast of Louise de Marillac. Louise’s canonization took place on March 11, 1934. We are fortunate to have in our collection detailed first-hand accounts from Sisters who traveled to Rome for St. Louise’s canonization. Over the coming days, we will feature passages from these accounts. Each day, from March 8 through March 15, we will highlight the account from the corresponding day in 1934.

In 1934 there were two American provinces of the Daughters of Charity: the Eastern, or Emmitsburg, Province, and the Western, or St. Louis Province. Both Provinces sent delegations to the canonization, but nearly all of the accounts in our collection come from the Emmitsburg Province. Sisters attending the canonization from the Emmitsburg Province were: Sister Paula Dunn, Sister Gertrude Eiseli, Sister Winifred Kerwin, and Sister Delphine Steele. Sisters attending from the St. Louis Province were Sister Mary Barbara Regan, Sister Gertrude Foley, and Sister Alphonsine Casey.

The Sisters from Emmitsburg sailed from the US on February 15, arriving in Naples on the 22nd. The following days were spent visiting churches and historic sites throughout Italy; they arrived in Rome on the 28th. We don’t know the precise itinerary for the St. Louis Sisters, though they were in Italy by the 9th of March.

The account will begin in the following post with March 8, 1934