Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, Institute of the

FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES OF MARY, Institute of the. - It was founded by Hélène de Chappotin de Neuville, b. at Nantes on 21 May 1839. Having come to Rome in 1877, she laid the foundations of the new Institute and took in religion the name of Mother Mary of the Passion.

In 1882 the Institute was adopted by the Order of Friars Minor. On 12 Jan. 1885 it obtained the decree of praise and on 30 Jan.

of the same year the minister general of the Friars Minor confirmed the adoption by his Order. On 17 July 1890 the Institute was definitively approved and on 11 May 1896 the constitutions were also definitively approved. After the publication of the CIC the constitutions were approved by decree of the S. Congregation of Propaganda Fide dated 8 July 1922. By a letter of the same date the constitutions were also approved for the indigenous oblate sisters, who take vows and assist the Franciscan sisters in the various works.

Because of its essentially missionary purpose it depends on Propaganda and is composed of two classes of sisters who combine the contemplative life with the active one. As of 31 Dec. 1949 it counted 392 houses scattered throughout the five parts of the world and 8,600 sisters belonging to 64 nationalities and devoted to the most varied works of education and charity. The seven sisters martyred on 9 July 1900 at Tai-yuan-fu (China) were beatified on 24 Nov. 1946, and the cause of beatification of the foundress and of Sister Mary Assunta Pallotta is in progress.