Mary Ward was an amazing woman whose vision for an active religious community of women was realized in the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary–the BVM sisters. She modeled the BVMs on the Jesuits. I was one of the horde of boomer Catholic children whom they taught in the Midwest in the post-war years.
Tim Muldoon wrote about Mary Ward a few years ago. Lisa Kelly has an appreciation here.
Jim Manney
Senior Editor at Loyola Press
Jim Manney is a popular writer on Ignatian topics (God Finds Us, A Simple, Life-Changing Prayer) as well as the editor of many books on Ignatian spirituality, including What Is Ignatian Spirituality? He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for this, I have a note to write more about Mary Ward, who is a hero of mine! So when I saw this, I thought, “hmmm, get back to that note and write more!”
I’m a bit confused here. I thought the initials for the Institute Mary Ward founded (The Sisters of Loretto) are IBVM, while the initials for the Institute Mary Frances Clarke founded (the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary) are BVM. Would you check that out? Thanks.
Neil — You are correct. My mistake: the IBVMs and BVMs are two separate groups. The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) were founded by Mary Frances Clarke in the 19th century. Mary Ward founded the Sisters of Loreto (IBVM) in the early seventeenth century.
It’s worth noting, by the way, that both the IBVM’s and the BVM’s (of which my mother’s sister is a member! Hi Aunt Mary!) have been influenced by the Ignatian tradition.
Thanks for the reply. Theese communities with similar intials have a joke among themselves that goes like this:
The BVMs….the regular, plain version
The IBVMs….the Improved BVMs
The PBVMs…the Perfected BVMs. (Sisters of the Presentation of the BVM)
So much for light hearted trivia. Take care.