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Calendar (1800/07/17)

1800 (Jul. 17)

Rillieux, Maria

Proceedings for Maria Rillieux to enter the convent of the Ursulines as a postulant.

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1800 Mar. 17

Rillieux, Maria
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

to Bishop (Luis Penalver y Cardenas)
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

Maria Rillieux of New Orleans, daughter of Vicente Rillieux and Maria Tronquez, was placed in the Convent of the Ursulines as a child as a boarder and returned to it during the divorce proceedings brought by her mother. She decided to embrace the religious life. Her parents and three other persons tried to dissuade her. The day of the divorce her father went to the convent for this purpose but did not succeed then but because of repeated attempts and because her father was gravely ill, several days later she returned home under the promise that she would not be disturbed in her purpose of being a religious. But the three men referred to above were persuaded that she would forget her vocation which they considered the inconstant fervor of youth. Out of the convent, they redoubled their attacks and her father offered her a good husband so that at the end of last year she fled one night and presented herself to (Penalver) at whose request she was returned to the convent. Then her father died and although she wrote three times to her mother for her blessing she received no answer. She went to Father Thomas Hassett to ask him to intercede with her mother who replied that she would not give her permission until Maria was 25. Penalver knows what her deceased father said before him and the pastor of the Cathedral about the religious state. Since she thinks she does not have the fortitude to resist the struggle against the world and does not want to wait from 17 years of age until 25, she asks Penalver to draw up the necessary documents to admit her to the postulancy.

A.L.S. (Spanish)

On the same paper:

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1800 Mar. 18

(Penalver y Cardenas, Bishop Luis)
(New Orleans, Louisiana)

A copy of the baptismal certificate of the petitioner is to be obtained. The attorney-general is to be informed. Father Isidro Quintero as secretary notified Hassett.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Mar. 18

Hassett, Father Thomas
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

Hassett certifies that he visited the petitioner's mother who replied she would not give her consent until her daughter was older.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Mar. 20

(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

(Penalver) would like Hassett to inform him whether the visit he made to Maria Troque, Maria Rillieux's mother was at her request and whether the mother had defined a time.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Mar. 21

Hassett, Father Thomas
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

Hassett made the visit to Mrs. Maria Tronquet at the request of her daughter and the mother did not set a definite time.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Mar. 16

Sedella, O.M.Cap., Father Antonio de
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

Sedella, pastor of the Cathedral, certifies the following extract from the baptismal record: On September 3, 1783, Sedella baptized Maria, born June 9, daughter of Vizente [Vicente] Rillieux and Maria Tronquet; godparents Vizente Rillieux and Maria Eugenia Rillieux.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Mar. 24

Rillieux, Maria
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

to Bishop (Luis Penalver y Cardenas)
(New Orleans, Louisiana)

Notwithstanding that the attorney-general failed to get her mother's consent, she asked Father Fran(cis)co Perez Guerrero to ask but he could not obtain it. She again asks (Penalver) to issue the necessary papers for her admittance to the postulancy.

A.L.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Mar. 24

(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, Louisiana

Guerrero, canon of the Cathedral, is to be informed of the result of the proceedings.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Mar. 24

Guerrero, Father Fran(cis)co Perez
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

Yesterday Mother St. Clara asked him to go to the home of Maria's mother to ask her permission which was refused.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Mar. 26

(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

(Penalver) grants permission to institute proceedings for Maria to enter the Ursuline Convent of New Orleans.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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(1800)

Rillieux, Maria
New Orleans, Louisiana

to Bishop Luis Penalver y Cardenas
New Orleans, Louisiana

Maria presents her Confirmation certificate and her parents' marriage certificate without the baptismal certificate which she presented on March 18. She asks Penalver to hear testimony that she is suited to enter the convent.

A.L.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Mar. 27

Penalver y Cardenas, Bishop Luis
(New Orleans), Louisiana

The testimony is to be taken.

D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Mar. 18

Sedella, O.M.Cap., Father Antonio
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

Sedella certifies the following entry in the Confirmation record: On October 5, 1795, (Penalver) confirmed Maria Melicer Rillieux her sponsor, Maria Luisa Blanc.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Mar. 18

Sedella, O.M.Cap., Father Antonio
New Orleans, Louisiana

Sedella certifies the following entry in the marriage register: On September 1, 1777, before Father Cirilo (Sieni) de Barcelona, vicar- general and pastor of the Cathedral, Vizente Rillieux and Maria Tronquet presented themselves to be married. Vizente was the son of Fran(cis)co Rillieux and Maria Cerret, Maria Tronquet, the daughter of Pedro Tronquet and Glodin Lanchet. Witnesses were Lieutenant Jose de la Pena of the Louisiana Battalion, Andres de Armesto, director of the schools of the city, and Enrique Mecsenguere. Marie Toinet Tronquet signed.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Mar. 17

Quintero, Father Isidro
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

Miguel Fortien, Captain of the Militia, testified that he knew Maria's parents and that Maria's conduct was always good and was inclined to the religious life. He signs as M(ichel) Fortin; he is 49.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Mar. 17

Quintero, Father Isidro
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

Antonio Jung testified that Maria and her parents were of good repute and that Maria wanted to be a religious. He signs as Antonin Jung; he is 74.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Mar. 31

Quintero, Father Isidro
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

Antonio Boudousquie testifies to Maria's conduct and desire for the religious life. He is 79 and signs.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Mar. 31

Penalver y Cardenas, Bishop Luis
(New Orleans), Louisiana

The information presented by Maria is approved. A request is to be sent to the Mother Superior of the convent to admit Maria.

D.S. (Spanish)

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(1800)

Penalver y Cardenas, Bishop Luis
(New Orleans), Louisiana

Penalver requests the Mother Superior to admit Maria as a postulant.

D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Apr. 1

Farjon, Sister Theresa de San Xavier and Sisters
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

Sister Theresa, superioress, in convocation with the religious of her house, agrees to admit Maria as a postulant. Signed by Sister Antonia de Santa Monica Ramos, Sister de Sainte Marie Olivier, Sister Antonia de Santa Rita del Castillo, Sister Fr(abcus)ca de Santa Avoye Dusuau, Sister Maria Josefa de San Miguel Mirabal, Sister Maria Manuela de San Rafael Mirabal, Sister Felicite de Santa Angela Caldez, Sister Maria de Santa Ursula Lopez, Sister Margarita de San Ig(naci)o Duliepore, Sister Francisca de Santa Felicite Alzas, Sister Christina de San Andres Madier, Sister (Adelaida de) Santa Solange Dusuau, Sister Petrona de San Agustin Collazo, Sister Maria Ignacia (de Santa Clara) de Yera, Sister Isabel de San Luis Vasquez, Sister Emelia de San Francisco Jourdan, Sister Rosealia de Santa Escolastica Broutin.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Apr. 1

(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

The permission is to be sent to Maria.

D.S. (Spanish)

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(1800)

Rillieux, Sister Maria
(New Orleans, Louisiana)

to Bishop (Luis Penalver y Cardenas)
New Orleans, Louisiana

The time of her postulancy being at an end in this month, she desires to take her vows.

A.L.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Jul. 1

Penalver y Cardenas, Bishop Luis
New Orleans, Louisiana

The permission is to be sent to the Mother Superior.

D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Jul. 1

Penalver y Cardenas, Bishop Luis
New Orleans, Louisiana

Penalver grants permission to the Mother Superior to offer for consideration to her community to clothe Maria with the habit of their order according to the rules of the Council of Trent which are cited.

D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Jul. 5

Farjon, Sister Theresa de San Xavier
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

Seventeen of the eighteen who compose the Chapter approved Maria's reception. (Signatures of the same sisters as of April 1).

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Jul. 8

(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, Louisiana

(Penalver) commissions his attorney-general to investigate the wishes of Maria.

D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Jul. 8

Quintero, Father Isidro
(New Orleans, Louisiana)

Hassett went to the convent and questioned Maria who answered that she desired to take the habit of her own free will. She is 17.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Jul. 10

Penalver y Cardenas, Bishop Luis
(New Orleans, Louisiana)

The Mother Superior is to be informed that he is in full accord with the person with whom Maria will be entrusted for the two years of her novitiate. Quintero notifies the superioress who gives security for the agreement during Maria's novitiate.

A.D.S. (Spanish)

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1800 Jul. 17

(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

Permission is to be sent to Maria to receive the habit of the Ursulines and to practice the spiritual exercises under the direction of the Mistress of Novices.

D.S. (Spanish)

V-2-k A.L.S., A.D.S., D.S. (Spanish) 28pp. 4to.
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