SERVANTS. - A name common to many female religious Congregations, followed by other determining titles.
I. S. OF THE POOR (Angers)
Founded at Angers in 1874 by Fr. Camille Leduc, a Benedictine of Solesmes. Purpose: to care for the poor free of charge in their homes, to direct patronages for young women, dispensaries, etc. Decree of praise in 1887; temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1912, definitive in 1928. In 1949 the religious numbered 304; mother house at Angers (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, A. 27).
II. S. OF THE HEART OF JESUS OF SAINT-QUENTIN (Metz)
Founded at Strasbourg in 1865 by Marie Olive Ulrich, but then taking refuge, following the Prussian persecution (Kulturkampf), at St-Quentin. Purpose: eucharistic reparation associated with charitable activities: care of the sick, direction of girls' orphanages, boarding houses for young ladies. Decree of praise in 1903; temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1910, definitive in 1931. At present they have 7 houses with 166 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congr. of Religious, S. 10; M. Heimbucher, Die Orden u. Kongreg. der kath. Kirche, II, 3rd ed. Paderborn 1934, p. 430).
III. S. OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY ANNUNCIATE (Sabaria)
Formerly Daughters of Mercy of St. Vincent de Paul, established in 1915 at Sabaria (Hungary) and erected in 1924 as an autonomous congregation by Bishop John Mikes. Purpose: care of the sick in hospitals and direction of domestic services in ecclesiastical institutes. Decree of praise and temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1924, definitive in 1942. In 1941 there were 19 houses with 202 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congr. of Religious, S. 62).
IV. S. OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD (Tarnovia)
Founded in 1850 at Podzzecza (diocese of Gnesen, Poland), by Edmund Bojanowski and transferred in 1882, because of the Prussian persecution, to Dębica (Tarnovia). Purpose: care of the sick; care of children, and service in sacristies and churches. Decree of praise and temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1929, definitive in 1937. In 1949 there were 314 sisters in 82 houses (cf. Arch. of the S. Congr. of Religious, T. 40; M. Heimbucher, op. cit., II, pp. 537-38).
V. S. OF THE HOLY INFANCY OF JESUS (Würzburg)
Founded in 1895 at Oberzell (diocese of Würzburg) by Antonia Werr. Purpose: re-education of fallen or endangered girls and other charitable works. Decree of praise and temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1936, definitive in 1948. At present there are 139 houses with 1096 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, V. 104; F. Schuck, Kloster Oberzell: Gründung u. Entwicklung der Kongreg. der Dienerinnen der hl. Kindheit Jesu, Würzburg 1932).
VI. S. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Steyl)
Founded in 1889 at Steyl (diocese of Ruremonda, Holland) by Fr. Arnold Janssen together with the mothers Maria Stollenwerk and Josepha Stenmanns. Purpose: to help the propagation of the faith in the missions, particularly in those held by the Missionaries of the Divine Word and then also in territories where the faith is in greater danger. Decree of praise and temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1925, definitive in 1938; revision in 1950. At present the sisters number about 4000 (cf. anonymous, Uno sguardo nella Congregazione missionaria delle S. dello Spirito Santo, Mödling 1950).
VII. S. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PERPETUAL ADORATION (Ruremonda)
Founded in 1889 at Steyl (diocese of Ruremonda) by Fr. Arnold Janssen. Purpose: dedicated to the contemplative life, they cooperate with a life of immolation and with perpetual adoration in the apostolate of the missionaries, particularly of the two missionary Congregations founded by the same Fr. Janssen. Decree of praise and temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1933. In 1950 the sisters were 266 in 9 houses (cf. Arch. of the Congr. of Religious, R. 79; A. Freitag, Tabernakelschaft und Weltmission, Steyl 1921; M. Heimbucher, op. cit., II, p. 409).
VIII. S. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF MARY IMMACULATE (San Antonio, Texas)
Founded at San Antonio, Texas, in 1883 by Margaret Mary Hely, widow Murphy. Purpose: Christian education of youth with particular regard to the poorest classes and to negroes; charitable works, such as the care of the sick in hospitals and in their homes. Decree of praise and temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1930, definitive in 1938. In the United States there are 35 houses with 165 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congr. of Religious, A. 61).
IX. S. OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS (Versailles)
Founded at Paris in 1866 by the priest Victor Braun. Purpose: care of the sick, especially the poor, also in their homes: education of orphans and of endangered girls. Decree of praise in 1899; temporary approval of the Constitution in 1917, definitive in 1934. There are 65 houses with 652 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congr. of Religious, V. 50; M. Heimbucher, op. cit., II, pp. 545-46).
X. S. OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS (Vienna)
The same as the S. of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Versailles, which, introduced in 1883 by the same founder at Vienna, formed in 1893 an independent province, approved by the Holy See in 1896. Decree of praise in 1900; temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1926, definitive in 1934. At present there are 54 houses with 1079 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congr. of Religious, V. 51; M. Heimbucher, op. cit., II, p. 546).
XI. S. OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS OF RAGUSA (Syracuse)
Founded at Ragusa in 1889 by Maria Schininà of Arezzo. Purpose: exercise of the works of spiritual and temporal mercy. Decree and temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1936, definitive in 1946. There are 27 houses with 261 sisters (cf. Arch. of the Congr. of Religious, S. 68).
XII. S. OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS AND OF THE POOR (Angelopoli, or Puebla de Los Angeles, Mexico)
Founded in 1885 in the diocese of León (Mexico) by the priest Joseph Yermo y Parres. Purpose: care of the sick and education of girls, particularly orphans. Decree of praise in 1907; temporary approval of the Constitution in 1910, definitive in 1925. There are 38 houses with 451 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, A. 36).
XIII. S. OF THE SACRED HEART OF MARY (Versailles)
Founded at Paris in 1860 by Fr. Delaplace of the Congreg. of the Holy Spirit and of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Purpose: Christian education of youth, with particular regard to the poor class; care of the old and the poor. Obliged in 1902 to leave France, they settled in North America. Decree of praise in 1902; temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1914, definitive in 1932. At present there are 73 houses with 944 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, P. 54).
XIV. S. OF THE SACRED HEART OF MARY IMMACULATE VIRGIN (Montpellier)
Founded at Béziers (diocese of Montpellier) in 1848 by the priest Peter Gailhac. Purpose: care of young women, direction of orphanages, of houses for young converts, of houses of perseverance, of colleges. For the young penitents desirous of embracing the religious life, the Institute of the Oblates of Mary Most Holy was founded with annual vows. Decree of praise in 1873; temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1889; definitive in 1925. At present there are 59 houses with 1282 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congr. of Religious, M. 30).
XV. S. DEL S.MO SACRAMENTO (Caracas). - Founded in 1881 in Caracas by the priest G. B. Castro. Purpose: they devote themselves to the contemplative life and to perpetual adoration; they also prepare children for their 1st Communion and make sacred vestments. Decree of praise and temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1930, definitive in 1931. At present there are 11 houses with 145 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, C. 66).
XVI. SERVANTS OF JESUS (Warsaw)
Founded in Warsaw in 1884 by the Capuchin Honorat Koźmiński; aggregated to the Third Order of the Capuchins, they wear the secular habit. Purpose: material and moral protection of persons in domestic service. Decree of praise in 1907; temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1908; definitive in 1924. In 1939 there were 14 houses with 295 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, V. 62).
XVII. SERVANTS OF JESUS OF CHARITY (Vittoria)
Founded in 1871 in Bilbao by Sister Giuseppa Maria del S. Cuore di Gesù Sanchez. Purpose: care of the sick in hospitals and at home and care of foundlings in foundling hospitals. Decree of praise in 1880; temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1927, definitive in 1937. There are 55 houses with 1108 sisters.
XVIII. SERVANTS OF JESUS AND MARY (Ottawa)
Founded in Masson (diocese of Ottawa) in 1894 by the priest Alexis Louis Mangin and Eleonora Potvin. Of the two classes into which they are divided, choir sisters and auxiliary sisters, the latter are subdivided into "internal" and "external". Purpose: perpetual adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Decree of praise and temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1936, definitive in 1949. At present there are 4 houses with 162 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, O. 11; S. H. Barabé, Une pierre d'angle, mère Marie Zita de Jésus, fondatrice des Servantes de Jésus-Marie, Hull-Ottawa 1945).
XIX. AUGUSTINIAN SERVANTS OF JESUS AND MARY (Rome)
Founded in Frosinone in 1827 by Teresa Spinelli and affiliated to the Third Order of the Hermits of St. Augustine. Purpose: education of young women in boarding schools, day schools, orphanages, homes and cooperation with parish priests for catechists and Catholic Action. Decree of praise and temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1902, definitive in 1936. At present there are 21 houses with 200 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, V. 55; anonymous, La Congreg. delle Suore Agostiniane S. di Gesù e Maria, Rome 1950).
XX. SERVANTS OF JESUS IN THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT (Toulouse)
Founded in 1875 in Toulouse by Onésime Quibert. Purpose: to promote eucharistic worship and reparation. Besides the two classes of choir sisters and coadjutrix sisters, a third class is aggregated to them: the "auxiliaries", with optional private vows, who remain in the world and seek to carry out the aim of the Institute. Decree of praise in 1876; temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1936; there are now 15 houses with 135 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, T. 20).
XXI. SERVANTS OF JESUS IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT (Buenos Aires)
Founded in Buenos Aires in 1871 by Maria Benedetta Arias. Purpose: to spread devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the practice of frequent Communion in schools and in the care of the sick. Decree of praise in 1911; temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1928, definitive in 1943. There are now 17 houses with 186 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, B. 78).
XXII. SERVANTS OF JESUS IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT (Guadalajara)
Founded in Guadalajara (Mexico) in 1904 by the priest Silviano Carrillo, later bishop of Sinaloa. Purpose: eucharistic adoration and education of youth. Decree of praise and temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1933, definitive in 1940. At present there are 27 houses with 309 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, G. 44).
XXIII. SERVANTS OF MARY, MINISTERS OF THE SICK (Rome)
Founded in Madrid in 1851 by the blessed Maria Soledad Torres Acosta. Purpose: care of the sick in hospitals and at home, and by way of exception colleges and nurseries for the education of youth. Decree of praise and temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1867, definitive in 1876. There are 102 houses with 2162 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, T. 52; E. Federici, La b. Maria della Solitudine Torres Acosta, Rome 1950).
XXIV. SERVANTS OF MARY OF OUR LADY OF REFUGE (Bayonne)
Founded in 1836 in Anglet (diocese of Bayonne) by Louis Édouard Cestac. Purpose: education and instruction of young women, in colleges, workshops, patronage centers, rehabilitation homes and care of the sick. Decree of praise and temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1870, definitive in 1911, revision in 1923. There are now 94 houses with 644 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, B. 36).
XXV. SERVANTS OF MARY OR MANTELLATE (Westminster)
Founded in 1844 in the diocese of Langres under the direction of Msgr. Parisis and aggregated to the Third Order of the Servites. Purpose: special devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows and education of young women in colleges and schools, etc. Decree of praise and temporary approval of the Constitution in 1864, definitive in 1892, revision in 1924. At present there are 31 houses with 400 religious (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, N. 22).
XXVI. SERVANTS OF MARY THE REPARATRIX (Adria)
Founded in Vidor (diocese of Vittorio Veneto) by some sisters of the Third Order of the Servites and transferred shortly afterwards to Adria. Purpose: devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, instruction and education of girls, in nurseries, schools, orphanages and care of the sick and the elderly in hospitals, hospices and at home. Decree of praise and temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1931, definitive in 1941. There are now 75 houses with 438 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, A. 62).
XXVII. SERVANTS OF MARY MOST HOLY OF SORROWS (Florence)
Founded in Florence by Sister Maria Veronica della Croce. Purpose: education and instruction of young women, especially the poor, with schools, boarding schools, work rooms, nurseries, oratories; assistance in seminaries, shelters, hospitals; direction of women's workshops. Decree of praise in 1913; temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1924. There are now 171 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, F. 18).
XXVIII. SERVANTS OF ST. JOSEPH (Salamanca). - Founded in 1874 in Salamanca by the priest Gioachino Hluchy Ganica, later archbishop of Seville and cardinal. Purpose: exercise of works of charity and instruction and education of girls; making of sacred vestments, embroidery and women's work; lodgings for ladies and young ladies. Decree of praise in 1901; temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1930, definitive in 1942. There are now 36 houses with over 300 sisters (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, S. 21).
XXIX. SERVANTS OR VICTIMS OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS (Namur)
Founded in 1857 in the diocese of Grenoble by Mother Veronica of the Heart of Jesus, in the world Catherine Lioger. Purpose: expiation and reparation through a life of contemplation and penance; and external works of zeal: catechism classes, work for poor churches and for the poor of the parishes; the work of retreats. Decree of praise and temporary approval of the Constitutions in 1908, definitive in 1931. There are now about 120 religious (cf. Arch. of the S. Congreg. of Religious, G. 8).
Candido Bona - Agostino Pugliese