Mother Catherine Spalding (1793-1858)

Today marks the death of Mother Catherine Spalding (1793-1858), co-foundress of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Kentucky. Founded in 1812, the Sisters were the third community of women religious founded in the United States. (The first two were Mother Seton’s Sisters of Charity, and the Sisters of Loretto.) Born to an old Catholic family in Charles County, Maryland, she moved with her family to Kentucky as a young girl. At age nineteen, after hearing a sermon on vocations one day at Mass, she decided to join the religious life. Together with Teresa Carrico and Elizabeth Wells formed a new community. Their first convent was a log cabin in Nelson County, Kentucky. In 1822 they bought property in Nazareth that became their motherhouse. Catherine was elected Mother Superior four times. In addition to schools, the Sisters started orphanages in Bardstown and Louisville. (The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth are an offshoot of the Nazareth Sisters.) In 1858, Mother Catherine fell ill after visiting some poor people who needed her help, and died at age 65, having been in religious life for over 45 years. By the time of her death the community had fourteen convents and 142 members. She is considered “one of the great antebellum women religious leaders.” Her relatives included several priests and nuns, along with two bishops. Spalding University in Kentucky was named in her honor.