HOSPITAL SISTERS OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS AND OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. — Institute founded by Fr. Benito Menni (v.), to provide care for poor women with mental illnesses. A few years later, defective, rachitic, or impoverished orphan girls and young women were also admitted.
The life of the Institute began in 1880; on 31 May 1881, under the authority and with the approval of the archbishop of Toledo, the first house was inaugurated at Ciempozuelos, a locality that later came under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Madrid. Final approval was granted on 29 November 1901 for the Institute, and on 16 March for the Constitutions, which, brought into conformity with the Code, were approved anew on 22 March 1923. The sisters observe the Rule of s. Augustine. The motherhouse is at Ciempozuelos, the cradle of the Institute. In 1948 there were 1,147 sisters and 101 novices, distributed among 31 houses.