Foundress

Besides the trial to their feelings, the separation from their Foundress was a source of serious pecuniary embarrassment to the Ursulines.

The Life of the Venerable Mother Mary of the Incarnation A Religious of the Ursuline Community

Besides the trial to their feelings, the separation from their Foundress was a source of serious pecuniary embarrassment to the Ursulines.

The Life of the Venerable Mother Mary of the Incarnation Anonymous 1880

Foundress, the Mother of the Incarnation relapsed into violent illness.

The Life of the Venerable Mother Mary of the Incarnation A Religious of the Ursuline Community

She could not bear to be addressed as the Foundress, saying that she was a worthless creature who did nothing but offend God.

The Life of the Venerable Mother Mary of the Incarnation A Religious of the Ursuline Community

If the Foundress occasionally happened to be absent for a short time on some errand of mercy, they were inconsolable until her return, which they greeted with joyous acclamations.

The Life of the Venerable Mother Mary of the Incarnation A Religious of the Ursuline Community

The amiable Foundress had gained the affection and esteem both of the Sisters and the pupils, cheerfully sharing the labours and privations of the one, and devoting herself in the self-sacrificing spirit of true charity to the care of the others: all loved and regretted her, nevertheless she departed, impelled by the desire to accomplish what she considered a more useful work.

The Life of the Venerable Mother Mary of the Incarnation A Religious of the Ursuline Community

On board the 'St. Joseph,' as the safest and most commodious of the ships, was the Ursuline colony, five in number, including the Foundress with her secular companion, and three Hospital

The Life of the Venerable Mother Mary of the Incarnation A Religious of the Ursuline Community

"In these critical times," said the holy Foundress, "let us place models of virtue in the midst of the corrupt world itself, and oppose living barriers to the ravages of heresy and the inroads of vice."

The Life of the Venerable Mother Mary of the Incarnation A Religious of the Ursuline Community

Foundress, and accepted by the Sisters, received the unqualified approval of the Bishop of Brescia, and on the 18th of March, 1537, she was unanimously elected first Superior of the Society, notwithstanding her earnest petition to be allowed to labour until death in the lowest rank, which she said was the only one suited to her.

The Life of the Venerable Mother Mary of the Incarnation A Religious of the Ursuline Community

She was the last pupil to whom the venerated Foundress rendered the final services.

The Life of the Venerable Mother Mary of the Incarnation A Religious of the Ursuline Community