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By
the mid-seventeenth century, the reorganization of the
Ursulines as a monastic order had generally been
accomplished.
As Ursulines spread to France and
dedicated themselves to the ministry of catechetics and to the
instruction of children, many also moved together into a shared life
as they responded to various needs in society.
Eventually the Ursulines began to live a cloistered life and took
solemn vows. They lived according to a revised Rule, no longer
Angela's, but basically the Rule of the Order of St. Augustine.
In response to the needs of the time, Ursulines sometimes made
the request to the bishops to change to a monastic form of life
while at other times the bishops requested the Ursulines to make the
change to a monastic form. Ursulines were torn between a
desire to make religious profession and to respond to the demands of the
apostolate. The adaptation to a monastic form of life
safeguarded their vocation as educators and brought about a great
expansion of the Ursulines.
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 | Ursulines adapted the monastic form of life in order to
fulfill their duties as educators. The apostolic
nature of their vocation was crucial to them and as they
became more specialized, the monasteries became centres for
education. As Ursulines changed and adapted to the
times according to Angela Merici's spirit, a new form of
religious life appeared in the Church. |
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By
the mid-seventeenth century, the reorganization of the
Ursulines as a monastic order had generally been accomplished.
This transformation from a non-cloistered order to a cloistered
order represents a narrowing of Angela's original
aims. Her fundamental openness to "the
world" is unquestionable. At the same time,
the Ursulines developed into the first female teaching
order. They were to make a major impact on
the religious education and upbringing of young people
in Europe and eventually in the Americas. |
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| Most
North American Ursuline foundations sprang up as
European sisters responded to the needs in their
day. Ursuline pioneers brought many
"firsts" to their new settings: first women missionaries;
first Catholic schools for girls; first schools and
colleges for women in many regions. Everywhere,
they carried education in the Faith and personal
formation blending contemplation and action. |
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A
new land made new demands. Mother Mary Xavier le
Bihan arrived in Chatham, Ontario in 1860 to realize her
dream of bringing the Good News of the Gospel to both
the original and new settlers of the area. In
order for the dream to take shape she had to adjust her
original plan of living a cloistered lifestyle since
that
approach was not suitable for meeting the needs of the
Chatham area. |
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| As Ursulines in the period following Vatican II searched for
their roots and original inspiration, they came closer to the spirit
of Angela Merici and became more aware of and responsive to the needs of their
time. |
| Ursulines of Chatham Union today live in cities and towns in
Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta as well as other parts of North and
South America. They continue to respond to the needs of women,
the marginalized and Earth, and to maintain the
balance of contemplation and action that is their life-spring. |
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Ursuline
Sisters |Villa Angela| 20 Merici Way | Chatham | Ontario| N7L 3L8 |
Canada| 519-352-5225 |