wOMEN'S GLOBAL NETWORKS OF PATRONAGE
Since the earliest days of Christianity, pious noblewomen have played central roles as patrons of monastic institutions. These remarkable women have been fundamental in fostering the growth and development of religious communities.
One such example is found in the patronage of the Sisters of St. Joseph by Félicité de Duras, Countess de la Rochejaquelein. Not only did she provide the necessary funding for their travel expenses, but she used her extensive social connections to arrange for their establishment in Missouri.
It is through her efforts that the Sisters of St. Joseph were able to embark on their American mission and contribute to the religious and educational landscape of St. Louis.
Through her connection to Father Cholleton, the Vicar General of Lyon, the Countess began corresponding with Bishop Giuseppe Rosati of St. Louis in 1835, urging him to support her vision of sending the Sisters of St. Joseph to America. Undeterred by his initial lack of response, she persistently advocated for the Sisters in a second letter dated to June 10 where she emphasized the importance of their mission and the potential impact they could have in Missouri:
Translation of the Countess de la Rochejacquelein’s letter to Bishop Rosati
Dublin Core
Collection
Bishop Joseph Rosati, C.M. Papers, 1774-1990 (RG 01 B)
Color
Contributor
Creator
Bishop Joseph Rosati
Date
1835 June 10
Description
Folder #/Title
EXEC/01/C000084, Correspondence D surnames, general 1816-1841
Format
Identifier
EXEC/01/C3004103
Misc. notes
Provenance
Publisher
Rights
Request permissions to publish from the Archdiocese of St. Louis Archives.
Rights Holder
Archdiocese of St. Louis
Series #/Object ID
Size
Subject
Title
Correspondence from Countess Marie Louise Victoire De la Rochejaqueline to Bishop Joseph Rosati, 1835 June 10
Type
See these other relevant sources from the Archdiocese of St. Louis Archives:
- Rosati Papers
- Rochejacqueline
- Cholleton – 1836 Jan 2
- Cholleton – 1836 Oct 19
- Cholleton – 1837 Apr 4
- Cholleton – 1837 Apr 5
- Mother Catherine Thiefry, RSCJ – 1837 Jun 23
- Rochejacqueline
- Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne
- correspondence from her and her superior and founder of the RSCJ, Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat in France
- Rosati Papers: Correspondence, Women Religious
- Visitation Sisters, 1832-1840, Georgetown and Kaskaskia, English
- 1832 October 18 from Mother Madeleine Augustine L’Arreger, Georgetown
- 1832 November 19 from Mother Madeleine Augustine L’Arreger, Georgetown
- 1833 March 13 from Mother Teresa Lalor, Georgetown
- 1833 End-of-year report for Kaskaskia convent
- 1835 March 25 from Sister Mary Ambrosia, Kaskaskia
- 1835 June from Sister Mary Ambrosia, Kaskaskia
- 1836 August 10 from Sister Mary Genevieve King, Kaskaskia
- 1837 February 9 from Sister Mary Charles, Kaskaskia
- 1837 May 19 from Sister Mary Josephine Barber, Kaskaskia
- 1837 End-of-year report for Kaskaskia convent
- 1837 photocopy of an end-of-year report for Kaskaskia monastery and academy
- 1839 September 16 from the Sisters, Kaskaskia
- 1839 December 1 from Sister Mary Isabella King, Kaskaskia
- 1839 December 24 from the Sisters, Kaskaskia
- 1840 April 5 from Sister Mary Isabella King, Kaskaskia
- Circa 1840, 2 copies of Regulations for the Association of the young friends of Knowledge and Virtue, Kaskaskia
- 1840 Act to Incorporate the Menard Academy of Kaskaskia
- No date, sample draft of a grant from the bishops for the establishment of a monastery in their respective dioceses
- Barber, Mother Mary Austin, V.H.M. 1834-1839, Kaskaskia, English
- 1834 November 24
- 1836 September 9
- 1837 February 5
- 1837 August 25
- 1837 November 19
- 1837 December 5
- 1839 February 15
- 1839 March
- 1839 March 10
- 1839 July 23
- 1839 December 14
- Brent, Mother Mary Agnes, V.H.M. 1833-1836, Kaskaskia, English
- 1833 April 26
- 1833 July 10
- 1833 August 5
- 1833 December 16
- 1834 January 7
- 1834 April 2
- 1834 April 13
- 1834 June 25
- 1834 July 11
- 1834 October 21
- 1834 October 23
- 1834 December 27
- 1835 January 5
- 1835 March 17
- 1835 April 7
- 1835 April 23
- 1836 March 28
- 1836 April 27
- Flanigan, Mother Mary Helena, V.H.M. 1836-1839, Kaskaskia, English
- 1836 July 2
- 1836 July 4
- 1836 November 6
- 1836 December 11
- 1837 January 9
- 1837 February 5
- 1837 February 20
- 1837 March 2
- 1837 June 18
- 1837 December 21
- 1838 January 17
- 1838 February 9
- 1838 March 27
- 1838 March 3
- 1838 April 11
- 1838 April 16
- 1838 November 23
- 1838 November 29
- 1839 January 23
- 1839 February 7
- 1839 March 26
- Wickham, Mother Mary Seraphina, V.H.M. 1839-1840, Kaskaskia, English
- 1839 May 28
- 1839 May 31
- 1839 June 11
- 1839 October 17
- 1839 December 2
- 1839 December 12
- 1839 December 17
- 1839 December 22
- 1839 December 30
- 1840 January 22
- 1840 March 12
- 1840 April 18
- Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, 1837-1841, Carondelet, French
- 1837 November 24 from Sister St. Jean
- 1837 December 9 from Sister St. Jean
- 1838 from Sister St. Jean
- 1838 March 18 from the Sisters to Rosati for St. Joseph Feast Day
- 1838 March 22 from Sister Mary Francis Joseph, English
- 1839 September 29 from Sister Celestine
- 1839 December 27 from Sisters
- 1840 March 1 from Sister Celestine
- 1840 April 20 from Sister Celestine
- 1841 January 29 End-of-year report for 1840 from Sister Celestine
- Fontbonne, Mother Marie Delphine, C.S.J. 1836-1839, Carondelet, French
- 1836 October 10
- 1837 August 11
- 1837 December 2
- 1837 December 19
- 1837 December 27
- 1837 End-of-year report for Carondelet convent
- 1837 End-of-year report for Cahokia convent
- 1838 January 10
- 1838 February 6
- 1838 February 9
- 1838 April 16
- 1838 May 22
- 1838 End-of-year report for Carondelet convent
- 1839 May 5
- Fontbonne, Mother Febronie, C.S.J. 1836-1840, Cahokia, French
- 1836 November 9
- 1837 February 17
- 1837 September 6
- 1838 February
- 1838 March 13
- 1839 January 13
- 1839 March 5
- 1839 December 29
- 1841 February 6, End-of-year report for Cahokia convent