Henriette DeLille
Encyclopedia
Venerable
Henriette DeLille (1813–1862) founded the Catholic order of the Sisters of the Holy Family
, made up of free women of color, in New Orleans. The order provided nursing care and a home for orphans, later establishing schools as well. In 1989 the order formally opened its cause with the Vatican
in the canonization
of Henriette DeLille. She was declared venerable in 2010.
, in 1813. Her father, Jean-Baptiste Lille Sarpy (var. de Lille) was born about 1758 in Fumel, Lot-et-Garonne, France
. Her mother, Marie-Josèphe "Pouponne" Díaz, a free quadroon, Creole of color of French, Spanish
and African ancestry, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana
. Their union was a common-law marriage typical of the contemporary plaçage
system. Her maternal grandparents were Juan José (var. Jean-Joseph) Díaz, a Spanish merchant, and Henriette (Dubreuil) Laveau, a Créole of color. Her paternal grandfather was Jean-Baptiste Lille Sarpy Sr., who had been born at Fumel to the marriage of Charles Sarpy and Susanne Trenty. Her maternal great-grandmother is said to be Cécile Marthe Basile Dubreuil; she is considered to be a daughter of Claude Villars Dubreuil, born in 1716, who came to Louisiana from France.
Trained by her mother in French literature
, music, dancing, and nursing, Henriette was groomed to take her place in the plaçage
system as the common-law wife of a wealthy white man. As a young woman, under the watchful eye of her mother, she attended many quadroon balls, a chief element of their social world.
Henriette was drawn instead to a strong religious belief in the teaching of the Catholic Church, and resisted the life her mother suggested. She became an outspoken opponent of the system of plaçage, on the grounds that it represented a violation of the Catholic sacrament of marriage.
In 1827, at the age of 14, the well-educated Henriette began teaching at the local Catholic school. Over the next several years, her devotion to caring for and education of the poor grew, causing conflict with her mother.
women, and a young French woman.
Her brother Jean DeLille was strongly opposed to her activities. He, like other members of their family, was light skinned enough to pass for white, as they were octoroons, seven-eighths white in ancestry. His sister's actions within the Créole community exposed his heritage. Estranged from Henriette, Jean DeLille took his family and moved away from New Orleans to a small Créole community in Iberia Parish, Louisiana called La Côte-aux-Puces, now known as Grand Marais
. There Jean DeLille married Amelia Dubreuil-Olivier, the free quadroon daughter of Charles Olivier de Vézin, former major in the French brigades of the Louisiana colony, and Adelaide Dubreuil, a free woman of color from New Orleans.
In 1837, Father Etienne Rousselon secured formal recognition of the new congregation from the Holy See
. In 1842, the congregation changed its name to the Sisters of the Holy Family.
Henriette DeLille continued a life of service to the poor of New Orleans. She died in 1862. Friends attributed her death to a life of service, poverty, and hard work.
At the time of her death, there were 12 members of the order. By 1909, it had grown to 150 members, and operated parochial schools in New Orleans that served 1,300 students. By 1950, membership in the order peaked at 400.
; Washington, D.C; Galveston, Texas
; Little Rock, Arkansas
; California; and the Central American country of Belize
.
Damage from the Hurricane Katrina
in 2005 shut down the New Orleans operations of the order. Members formerly based in New Orleans are serving in other areas of the country.
, which starred Vanessa L. Williams
and Gil Bellows
.
Venerable
The Venerable is used as a style or epithet in several Christian churches. It is also the common English-language translation of a number of Buddhist titles.-Roman Catholic:...
Henriette DeLille (1813–1862) founded the Catholic order of the Sisters of the Holy Family
Sisters of the Holy Family-Louisiana
The Sisters of the Holy Family based in New Orleans, Louisiana, were founded in 1837 as the Sisters of the Presentation by Henriette DeLille. In 1842, the order changed its name to the Sisters of the Holy Family.-External links:*...
, made up of free women of color, in New Orleans. The order provided nursing care and a home for orphans, later establishing schools as well. In 1989 the order formally opened its cause with the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
in the canonization
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
of Henriette DeLille. She was declared venerable in 2010.
Early life
Henriette Delille was born in New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, in 1813. Her father, Jean-Baptiste Lille Sarpy (var. de Lille) was born about 1758 in Fumel, Lot-et-Garonne, 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...
. Her mother, Marie-Josèphe "Pouponne" Díaz, a free quadroon, Creole of color of French, Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
and African ancestry, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. Their union was a common-law marriage typical of the contemporary plaçage
Plaçage
Plaçage was a recognized extralegal system in which white French and Spanish and later Creole men entered into the equivalent of common-law marriages with women of African, Indian and white Creole descent. The term comes from the French placer meaning "to place with"...
system. Her maternal grandparents were Juan José (var. Jean-Joseph) Díaz, a Spanish merchant, and Henriette (Dubreuil) Laveau, a Créole of color. Her paternal grandfather was Jean-Baptiste Lille Sarpy Sr., who had been born at Fumel to the marriage of Charles Sarpy and Susanne Trenty. Her maternal great-grandmother is said to be Cécile Marthe Basile Dubreuil; she is considered to be a daughter of Claude Villars Dubreuil, born in 1716, who came to Louisiana from France.
Trained by her mother in French literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, music, dancing, and nursing, Henriette was groomed to take her place in the plaçage
Plaçage
Plaçage was a recognized extralegal system in which white French and Spanish and later Creole men entered into the equivalent of common-law marriages with women of African, Indian and white Creole descent. The term comes from the French placer meaning "to place with"...
system as the common-law wife of a wealthy white man. As a young woman, under the watchful eye of her mother, she attended many quadroon balls, a chief element of their social world.
Henriette was drawn instead to a strong religious belief in the teaching of the Catholic Church, and resisted the life her mother suggested. She became an outspoken opponent of the system of plaçage, on the grounds that it represented a violation of the Catholic sacrament of marriage.
In 1827, at the age of 14, the well-educated Henriette began teaching at the local Catholic school. Over the next several years, her devotion to caring for and education of the poor grew, causing conflict with her mother.
Founding
In 1835, her mother suffered a nervous breakdown. Later that year, the court declared her incompetent, and granted Henriette control of her assets. After providing for her mother's care, Henriette sold all her remaining property. In 1836 she used the proceeds to found a small unrecognized congregation or order of nuns, the Sisters of the Presentation. The original members consisted of Henriette, seven young CréoleLouisiana Creole people
Louisiana Creole people refers to those who are descended from the colonial settlers in Louisiana, especially those of French and Spanish descent. The term was first used during colonial times by the settlers to refer to those who were born in the colony, as opposed to those born in the Old World...
women, and a young French woman.
Her brother Jean DeLille was strongly opposed to her activities. He, like other members of their family, was light skinned enough to pass for white, as they were octoroons, seven-eighths white in ancestry. His sister's actions within the Créole community exposed his heritage. Estranged from Henriette, Jean DeLille took his family and moved away from New Orleans to a small Créole community in Iberia Parish, Louisiana called La Côte-aux-Puces, now known as Grand Marais
Grand Marais
Grand Marais may refer to:* Grand Marais, Manitoba, Canada* Grand Marais, Michigan, United States* Grand Marais, Minnesota, United States* Grand Marais, Seeland, Switzerland...
. There Jean DeLille married Amelia Dubreuil-Olivier, the free quadroon daughter of Charles Olivier de Vézin, former major in the French brigades of the Louisiana colony, and Adelaide Dubreuil, a free woman of color from New Orleans.
In 1837, Father Etienne Rousselon secured formal recognition of the new congregation from the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. In 1842, the congregation changed its name to the Sisters of the Holy Family.
Henriette DeLille continued a life of service to the poor of New Orleans. She died in 1862. Friends attributed her death to a life of service, poverty, and hard work.
At the time of her death, there were 12 members of the order. By 1909, it had grown to 150 members, and operated parochial schools in New Orleans that served 1,300 students. By 1950, membership in the order peaked at 400.
The order today
The Sisters of the Holy Family remain active today, with over 200 members who serve the poor by operating free schools for children, nursing homes, and retirement homes in New Orleans and Shreveport, LouisianaShreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
; Washington, D.C; Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
; Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
; California; and the Central American country of Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
.
Damage from the Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in 2005 shut down the New Orleans operations of the order. Members formerly based in New Orleans are serving in other areas of the country.
Film treatment
In 2001, the Lifetime television channel premiered a movie based on the life of Henriette DeLille, The Courage To LoveThe Courage To Love
The Courage To Love is a 2000 television History film starring Vanessa Williams, which is also the producer. The premiere was held 24 January 2000 on Lifetime.The film also stars Vanessa's children: Jillian Hervey, Melanie Hervey, Devin Hervey and her brother Chris Williams...
, which starred Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
and Gil Bellows
Gil Bellows
Gil Bellows is a Canadian film and television actor. He is best known for the roles of Tommy Williams in The Shawshank Redemption, Billy Thomas in the television series Ally McBeal and as CIA agent Matt Callan in the television series The Agency.-Early life:Bellows was born in Vancouver, British...
.
Further reading
- Sr. Detiège and Dr. Charles Nolan, No Cross, No Crown. See pages copied from the book which outline Mother Delille’s Creole ancestry and describes who was permitted to join the Order in the years 1842 - 1865.
External links
- The Sisters of the Holy Family
- Mother Delille, New Orleans Native, Declared Venerable, by Eleonore Villarrubia, at Catholicism.org