HOLY SEPULCHRE 3g0 HOLT XJKION
the zealous and prudent devotion of Fr. Jean David out the Custody of the Holy Land, it nevertheless Reichard, pastor of Niederbronn, who later resigned failed to mark the end of their humiliation in hav- his parish to devote himself entirely to the con- ing Mohammedan doorkeepers at the Tomb of gregation. The Bishop of Strasburg, 'Msgr. Raess, the Saviour. General Allenby, on assuming formal gave his paternal interest and entire sympathy to possession of the Holy City, regarded this galling the work from its beginning. The congregation condition in the light of a quasi-religious ri^t obtained legal rights and recognition by imperial belonging traditionally to certam Turkish families, decree of 6 November, 1854. The Holy See granted and conftrmed their position until such time as the it the decree of praise 7 March, 1863, the decree of status of the religious questions in Pal^ine should approbation 11 April, 1866, and approved its con- be defined. This difi&cult task was entrusted by the stitutions 30 July, 1877. By decree of the Sacred Treaty of Versailles to a commission to be appointed Congregation of Religious of 3 December, 1919, it for the purpose. Remarkable deliberation has been was divided into four provinces, two French and maiiifested in this important matter, for after two two German. The constitutions, changed to con- years' delay no visible progress has been made form to this new division and to the new Code toward the bare nomination of the commission. of Canon Law, have been submitted to the Holy Until the decisions of this future body are approved See for approbation. by the League of Nations, the many injustices to The congregation spread rapidly in the Diocese Catholic rights that came into being during the of Strasburg, and since 1851 nas been established long Turkish rule in the Holy Land are to remain in other dioceses of France, in Germany, Austria, unremedied. Belgium, and Luxemburg. In 1866 a schism sep- arated from the mother-house of the congregation Holy Union of the Sacred Hearts, Congreoation the houses in the Dioceses of Wurzbur^ in Bavaria, of the, founded in France, in Cambrai, by Jean Vienna in Austria, and Oedenbur|; in Hungary, Baptiste Debrabant, secular priest of that diocese, which the respective bishops constituted as mde- As early as the year 1824 the work had been begim pendent and autonomous congregations. In 1880 in Douai, under the protection of Monsignor Wicart, the mother-house with the novitiate was transferred afterwards Bishop of Laval. In 1826 the Abbe from Niederbronn to Oberbronn. The congregation Jean Baptiste Debrabant, animated with zeal for has at the present time three novitiaties; one at the glory of God and deeply affected by the great Oberbronn in the Diocese of Strasburg for the two mor5 evils brought about by the principles of the French provinces of Alsace-Lorraine and of the French revolution, accepted the spiritual and tem- Interior; another at Buhl in the Diocese of Frei- poral responsibility of the work already begun in burg-im-Breisgau for the German province of 1824, and established in the Diocese of Cambrai a Baden-Hesse ; the third at Neumarkt in the Diocese pious Congregation of Sisters who should procure of Eichstatt for the German province of Bavaria, the glory of God and the salvation of souls, by The three novitiates have a total of 207 novices, the sanctification of its members and the Catholic The number of members of the congregation has and social education of youth. Thus the Abbe steadily increased since its origin. Professed Sis- became the founder of the congregation to which ters numbered 600 in 1872, 1800 in 1900, 2424 in he gave the name of "The Holy Union of the 1910, 2871 in 1922. The number of houses in the Sacred Hearts." The congregation spread rapidly, four provinces is 367. There were 268 in 1900, 122 and at the present day it has convents in several in 1880, 72 in 1860, and 9 in 1850. The primary parts of the world. After a laudatory brief, given work of the congregation is the care of the sick, on the recommendation of the bishops, the congrc- especially the sick poor, in their homes, in hos- gation received its first decree of approbation from
Sitals, and in convalescent homes. The Sisters also the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars,
ave under their care orphanages, hospices, and 30 May, 1853. On 18 December, 1877, another
refuges for the poor, workrooms for youns girls, decree of the same sacred congregation granted the
housekeeping schools, kindergartens, ana day final approbation of the Holy See. This important
nurseries. decree facilitated its extension in foreign countries.
Already established in France, Belgium, England,
Holy Sepulchre, Canokessbb Requlab of thb. and Ireland, it was in 1882 introduced into South
See Canoxbssbs Regular. America, in 1886 into North America, and in 1890
into the West Indies.
Holy Sepolchre, FaANascAN Guabdianb of the It was on the recommendation of Rt. Rev. J. (cf. C. E., VII-427b). — ^A band of six or seven McNamee, of Brookl3m, that this congregation was Franciscan Fathers and as many Brothers chosen introduced into the United States. This worthy from the community of St. Saviour to keep watch priest, having a near relative a member of the over the Holy Sepulchre and the sanctuaries of the congregation, advised the late Rev. M. McCabe, basilica, to which they conduct a daily pilgrimage, of Fall River, Mass., to invite the Sisters to take The Friars lead a difficult confined life. At mid- up the work of the parochial school in his parish night, while chanting their Office, they go in pro- of the Sacred Heart. The invitation was accepted, cession to incense the tomb of the Saviour whilst and the Sisters came to Fall River from Douai in they intone the Benedictus. The rest of the com- October, 1886. In December of the same year a munity of St. Saviour, which generally numbers young ladie^ academy was opened on Prospect about 25 Fathers and 55 Brothers, are engaged in Street, and later on a boarding school was estab- the various activities of the convent, which com- listed. Other foundations succeeded each other in prise, besides the church of St. Saviour (the Latin due course: in Taunton, Mass., Pawtucket, R. I., parish church of Jerusalem), an orphanage, a parish North Cambridge, Mass., South Lawrence, Mass., school for boys, a printing office, carpenter^ and and Chelsea, Mass. The novitiate for the American ironmonger's shops, a mill run by steam, and the province is in Fall River, Mass. The congregation largest library in Palestine. While the taking of is placed under the authority of a superior general, Jerusalem from the Turks by the Briticdi forces on who is elected by the general chapter and who 9 December, 1917, tended to alleviate the severe resides in Toumai, Belgium. Before the expulsion privations suffered by the Guardians of the Holy of the religious from France, in 1902, the mother- Sepulchre in common with their brethren through- house was situated in Douai. The superior ifl
