Infant Jesus, Daughters of the Congregation of The

Infant Jesus, Daughters of the Congregation of the

is an order in the Romish Church which has its seat at Rome. It owes its origin to Anna Moroni, a native of Lucca, who, having come to Rome entirely destitute, succeeded by her industry and economy in securing a competency. In more advanced years, her charitable feelings prompted her to establish an institution where poor girls should be instructed in. such female work as would enable them to earn a livelihood. A priest, Cosmus Berlintani, and other members of the clergy, approved of her plan, and afforded her much assistance. By their joint efforts it was finally established as a regular institution, and in 1673 pope Clement X acknowledged the existence of the society, gave it bylaws, and endowed it with sundry particular privileges, under the appellation of "Daughters of the Infant Jesus." The number of the "Daughters" allotted to each convent was fixed at 33, in commemoration of the number of years Jesus lived upon earth. The novitiate lasts three years; the sisters make vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Such' as may wish to leave the convent are allowed to do so before taking the vows, but, in that case, they are to leave to the convent all they brought to it at their admission. Prayers and fasts are strictly enforced. The regular habit of the order consists of a wide, dark brown dress, and a white hood. There also existed in former times an organization whose members bore the name of "Sisters of the good Jesus;" these, in the earlier part of the 15th century, were transformed from a lay association into a regular order, and supported themselves by suitable avocations. — Herzog, Real-Encyklopadie, 6, 615.