Teresa Lalor
Encyclopedia
Teresa Lalor, V.H.M., (b. circa 1769 in Ballyragget
, County Kilkenny
, Ireland
; d. 9 September 1846, in Washington, D.C.
) was an Irish immigrant to the United States, and a nun
, co-foundress, with the Most Rev. Leonard Neale
, S.J.
, the second Archbishop of Baltimore, of the first monastery
of the Visitation Order in the United States.
, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Ossory, made arrangements for her entrance into a convent of his diocese which her family opposed. She however, instead agreed to accompany her sister, Mrs. Doran and her husband, an American merchant to America, during the winter of 1794. They arrived in America 5 January 1795.
Moving to Philadelphia in 1797, she became acquainted with Fr. Neale, then the pastor
of St. Joseph's Church
in that city, and under his direction she devoted herself to works of piety and charity with a small group of associates. The group went on to open an academy for the instruction of girls; but an epidemic of yellow fever
carried off Miss Lalor's companions.
Father Neale was transferred in 1799 from Philadelphia, to become President of Georgetown College
; she also went to Georgetown, D.C., and was for a time domiciled with a small community of Poor Clares, exiled from France. On the departure of the Poor Clares from America, Neale purchased a house for Miss Lalor and two companions to open a school of their own, a house which stood within the grounds of the later Visitation Convent, Georgetown
, the oldest monastery of the Order in the United States .
The "pious ladies", as they were called, aspired to become Religious Sisters; Bishop Neale wished to affiliate them with the Visitation Order. The disturbed condition of affairs in Europe, due to the Napoleonic Wars
, prevented this until 1816, when he obtained a grant from Pope Pius VII
for the community to be considered as belonging to the Order of the Visitation. Mother Teresa and the two other Sisters were professed on the Feast of the Holy Innocents (December 26th) of that same year, and became the first Mother Superior
of the Georgetown monastery.
She lived to see three other houses of the Institute founded, offshoots of the mother community: Mobile, Alabama
in 1832; Kaskaskia
(afterwards transferred to St. Louis), in 1833; and Baltimore
, in 1837.
She died assisted in her last hours by Archbishop
Samuel Eccleston
, P.S.S., aged around 77. Her remains, with those of Archbishop Neale, are in the crypt beneath the chapel of the monastery which they founded.
Ballyragget
Ballyragget is a small town in County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated along the river Nore in the north of the county. It is located in the province of Leinster in the south-east of the island of Ireland. Ballyragget situated on the N77 north of Kilkenny and has a population of 1,451...
, County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
; d. 9 September 1846, in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
) was an Irish immigrant to the United States, and a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
, co-foundress, with the Most Rev. Leonard Neale
Leonard Neale
Leonard Neale, S.J. became, in 1800, the first Roman Catholic bishop ordained in the United States, and the second Archbishop of Baltimore...
, S.J.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, the second Archbishop of Baltimore, of the first monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of the Visitation Order in the United States.
Life
Her childhood was spent in Ireland with her sisters. At her request, John LaniganJohn Lanigan
About him...
, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Ossory, made arrangements for her entrance into a convent of his diocese which her family opposed. She however, instead agreed to accompany her sister, Mrs. Doran and her husband, an American merchant to America, during the winter of 1794. They arrived in America 5 January 1795.
Moving to Philadelphia in 1797, she became acquainted with Fr. Neale, then the pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Joseph's Church
Old St. Joseph's Church
Old St. Joseph's Church was the first Catholic church in Philadelphia. When it was founded in 1733, Old St. Joseph's Church was the only place in the English-speaking world where public celebration of the holy sacrifice of the Mass was permitted by law. In 1734, the right of Catholics to worship...
in that city, and under his direction she devoted herself to works of piety and charity with a small group of associates. The group went on to open an academy for the instruction of girls; but an epidemic of yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
carried off Miss Lalor's companions.
Father Neale was transferred in 1799 from Philadelphia, to become President of Georgetown College
Georgetown College (Georgetown University)
Georgetown College, infrequently Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences, is the oldest school within Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The College is the largest undergraduate school at Georgetown, and until the founding of the Medical School in 1850, was the only higher education division...
; she also went to Georgetown, D.C., and was for a time domiciled with a small community of Poor Clares, exiled from France. On the departure of the Poor Clares from America, Neale purchased a house for Miss Lalor and two companions to open a school of their own, a house which stood within the grounds of the later Visitation Convent, Georgetown
Visitation Convent, Georgetown
The Visitation Convent, Georgetown is a nunnery of the Visitation Order, located in the District of Columbia, United States of America.-History:...
, the oldest monastery of the Order in the United States .
The "pious ladies", as they were called, aspired to become Religious Sisters; Bishop Neale wished to affiliate them with the Visitation Order. The disturbed condition of affairs in Europe, due to the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, prevented this until 1816, when he obtained a grant from Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...
for the community to be considered as belonging to the Order of the Visitation. Mother Teresa and the two other Sisters were professed on the Feast of the Holy Innocents (December 26th) of that same year, and became the first Mother Superior
Mother Superior
A mother superior is an abbess or other nun in charge of a Christian religious order or congregation, a convent or house of women under vows.Mother superior may also refer to:*Mother Superior , a rock band who became ¾ of Rollins Band circa 2000...
of the Georgetown monastery.
She lived to see three other houses of the Institute founded, offshoots of the mother community: Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
in 1832; Kaskaskia
Kaskaskia
The Kaskaskia were one of about a dozen cognate tribes that made up the Illiniwek Confederation or Illinois Confederation. Their longstanding homeland was in the Great Lakes region...
(afterwards transferred to St. Louis), in 1833; and Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, in 1837.
She died assisted in her last hours by Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Samuel Eccleston
Samuel Eccleston
Samuel Eccleston, P.S.S. was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the fifth Archbishop of Baltimore from 1834 until his death in 1851.-Early life:...
, P.S.S., aged around 77. Her remains, with those of Archbishop Neale, are in the crypt beneath the chapel of the monastery which they founded.