A woman ahead of her time

Margaret Anna Cusack
Originally uploaded by susanrose.

June 5 is “Founders Day” for the groovy sisters and the “feast” day for Margaret Anna Cusack – the founder of the congregation. The more I learn about her, the more I discover she’s a woman who takes after my own heart (or vice versa?). She was a troublemaker (in a GOOD way), spoke truth to power, and as such will never become a “Saint.” Nonetheless she’s included in The People’s Companion to the Breviary from the Carmelites of Indianapolis for June 5th. They include some biographical info from the book Peace Pays a Price by Dorothy Vidulich, csjp:

“Margaret Anna Cusack was born May 6, 1829, in Dublin, Ireland. A strict Anglican, Margaret Anna eventually entered an Anglican convent of Sisters. Influenced by the Oxford movement, Margaret Anna converted to Catholicism in 1858 and shortly thereafter entered a Poor Clare community in Ireland. She dedicated herself to writing, especially on behalf of the liberation of women and children who were victims of oppression in the Church and society. In 1874 she wrote, ‘Give women their rights then, for these rights are justice – justice to men as well as women, for the interests of men and women cannot be separated. Let women have the possession and the control of their property; it is necessary right for the rich as well as for the poor’ (Women’s Work). To broaden the scope of her work, she founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace and went to the United States to help young Irish women arriving there. Conflict with the Archbishop of New York led other bishops to reject the new community. To preserve it, Margaret Anna severed canonical connections with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in 1888 and returned to England. Abandoned by the Roman Catholic Church, she died with the blessing of the Anglican Church and was buried in Leamington cemetery. Her coffin had a simple inscription, ‘Margaret Anna Cusack fell asleep, June 5th, 1899, aged 70 years’.”

There’s so much more to her story and to the women who followed her, but that gives you a taste. I’d like to end with the Carmelites Prayer for Margaret Anna:

“O God, we thank you for the life of Margaret Anna Cusack who suffered so much for the cause of justice because she risked to speak the truth to those who did not want to hear it. Like Jesus, she endured rejection and alienation from those in authority, and like the gospel, the work that she began has continued to flourish and bring life. Bless all who work to change unjust structures, that they may have the courage and the humility to continue their efforts in spite of opposition so that all peoples of the earth may have a better quality of life. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

And I’d like to add a prayer of thanksgiving to Margaret Anna for founding the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace and loving them so much to sacrifice her own happiness for their future. Her spirit lives on as they continue to pursue social justice as a path to peace. And I pray that as I continue on this discernment journey, I may find my own way to contribute to and live out that spirit for all God’s people as well.