Ursulines

the name borne by the nuns and Theatines of a charitable .order in the Church of Rome, which was founded Nov. 25, 1535, at Brescia by Angela Merici (q.v.), and became prominent among the benevolent orders instituted in the 16th century to impede the progress of the Protestant Reformation." Their original rule did not require ascetical retirement from the world nor the wearing of a peculiar dress. Even the obligation to chastity was rather recommended than imposed. But, after the papal confirmation of the order had been; obtained (June 9, 1544), the rule became more strict. Formal congregations-were organized, whose members, for the most part, lived together in convents. A girdle of leather to symbolize virginity was added to the garb. More extended measures to uniform and regulate the order were taken under the direction of cardinal Borromeo, who was from the first its zealous patron. By the end of the 16th century the order had become established in France, and rapidly increased the number of its convents. The single congregation of Paris possessed over eighty such houses. In time this congregation devised a new rule which was approved by pope Paul V, and has become the: model for the rules of the congregations of Bordeaux, Dion, and Lyons (see Constituf. d. Reliqeuses de S. Urs. de la Congreg. de Paris, 1648, and Reglement, 1673). It adds to the three solemn vows of Augustine a fourth, which requires the instruction of female youth. The garb consists of gray skirt, black robe, leather girdle with iron buckle, black cloak without sleeves, a head-cloth with short white veil, and a large black thin veil over all. The French congregations originated the Ursuline order in Germany. In the time of its greatest extension the order consisted of about it enmity loosely connected congregations, having, perhaps, 350 convents and 15.000 to 20,000 nuns, the maximum number of inmates being 60 nuns and 20 lay-sisters to a convent. The Ursulines are distinguished by a conscientious performance of the obligation to instruct tile young. In Italy and Switzerland the conritegafted or non-regulated Ursulines compose the body of the order, and they observe a more ascetical rule than the regulatedl nuns. They devote eight days annually to the spiritual exercises prescribed by Loyola, teach young girls daily, catechize adults on Sunday, visit the sick, dispense alms, and hold conferences every Friday. Their novitiate extends over three years the different houses are almost everywhere under the direction of the diocesan bishops. See Les Chroniques de l'Ordre des Urslines (Paris, 1676 ), vol. 2; Journal des Illustr. Reli(euses de 1'Or7dre de S. Urs: 4:1690; Mayer, Ursul. Oi'dez (Wirzburg, 1692); Helyot, Geschichte aller Kloster u. Ritter-Orsden, 4:178 sq.; Crome, Gesch. d. Monchs Orden, ch. 4. Herzog, Real- Encyklop. s.v. The first Ursuline colony in America was founded by Marie Guvart at Quebec in 1639; and there are now convents of this order also at Trois Rivires and Chatham, in Canada; and in the United States at Morrisania, N. Y.; at: Cleveland, Toledo, and Favetteville, O.; at Springfield and Alton, Ill.; at Columbia, Savanniah, and Augusta, Ga.; at New Orleans, San Antonio, Galveston, Louisville, and St. Louis. But they have ceased to exist in Italy, Switzerland, and Germany since 1871.