The Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary is a Roman Catholic religious institute founded in Ghent, Belgium, on November 4, 1803 by the Rev. Canon Peter Joseph Triest, the pastor of Lovendegem at that time. Triest, who was to found two other religious institutes for the relief of the poor, recruited a group of young women, from among whom the co-foundress Mother Placida van der Gauwen came. Mother Placida later became the first superior of the congregation.
The Congregation has as its main apostolate helping the needy and the sick, as an enclosed religious order. Late in the 19th century, they established missions in the Belgian Congo and India. They were also invited to open a house in England by Cardinal Herbert Vaughan. Their traditional habit was a white tunic with a black veil and scapular.
From this Congregation came Sister Marie Louise Habets, the Religious Sister portrayed as Sister Luke / Gabrielle Van der Mal in the book by Kathryn Hulme entitled The Nun's Story. Her character was played by Audrey Hepburn in the film adaptation of the book.
Famous quotes containing the words sisters, charity, jesus and/or mary:
““Woe to my sister, false Helen!””
—Unknown. Binnorie; or, The Two Sisters (l. 55)
“Having levelled my palace, don’t erect a hovel and complacently admire your own charity in giving me that for a home.”
—Emily Brontë (1818–1848)
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”
—Bible: New Testament, Mark 1:24.
Man with an unclean spirit.
“Never be intimidated when you deal with men. Curse, don’t cry.”
—Anonymous, U.S. professional woman. As quoted in Aspirations and Mentoring in an Academic Environment, ch. 4, by Mary Niles Maack and Joanne Passet (1994)