Daughters of the Holy Spirit
Encyclopedia
The Daughters of the Holy Spirit or White Sisters are a Roman Catholic religious order of women.
The congregation was founded in Brittany
on December 8, 1706 by Marie Balavenne and Renée Burel committed themselves to live together and to devote themselves to the service of the poor, the sick and children. They under the direction of Father Jean Leuduger, a diocesan parish priest, Doctor of Theology and head of the Missions in Upper Brittany
.
Its principal object was the education of children; but it also undertook all kinds of charitable work. They became known as the "White Sisters" from the colour of their habit.
The congregation grew rapidly, and became widespread over north-west France
. It was suppressed in the French Revolution
but it quickly recovered and increased a hundredfold in the 19th century.
The French anti-congregation legislation of 1902 again caused many of the nuns to leave for England, Belgium and the United States, while still possessing their mother-house at Saint-Brieuc
in Brittany, and several other houses in France.
The congregation was founded in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
on December 8, 1706 by Marie Balavenne and Renée Burel committed themselves to live together and to devote themselves to the service of the poor, the sick and children. They under the direction of Father Jean Leuduger, a diocesan parish priest, Doctor of Theology and head of the Missions in Upper Brittany
Upper Brittany
Upper Brittany is a term used to describe the eastern part of Brittany which is predominantly of a Romance culture and is associated with the Gallo language. The name is in counterpoint to Lower Brittany, the western part of the ancient province and present-day region, where the Breton language...
.
Its principal object was the education of children; but it also undertook all kinds of charitable work. They became known as the "White Sisters" from the colour of their habit.
The congregation grew rapidly, and became widespread over north-west France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It was suppressed in the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
but it quickly recovered and increased a hundredfold in the 19th century.
The French anti-congregation legislation of 1902 again caused many of the nuns to leave for England, Belgium and the United States, while still possessing their mother-house at Saint-Brieuc
Saint-Brieuc
Saint-Brieuc is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.-History:Saint-Brieuc is named after a Welsh monk Brioc, who evangelized the region in the 6th century and established an oratory there...
in Brittany, and several other houses in France.