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The Sisters of Mercy were founded by Catherine McAuley. There are many sisters all over the world that serve at Mercy Homes, to care, educate and look after homeless girls and women, of all ages, over the world. That work began in 1827 with the opening of the House of Mercy which Catherine had built and equipped with her own inheritance. Dedicated to Mary the Mother of Mercy and given over to Works of Mercy, it was a centre to which people came for refuge and from which Catherine and her friends went daily into the streets and hovels caring for the sick and dispossessed (sisters of mercy, 2017)

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Catherine's Prophetic, Kingly and Priestly 

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Catherine's Prophetic, Kingly and Priestly 

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Catherine participated in the Prophetic, Kingly and Priestly work of Christ when she spoke, acted and work for dignity & freedom. Catherine was an equal and caring women who was determined to make our world a better place for the poor and needy. Although her father died when she was at a young age, his compassion influenced her entire life. After her mother teaching her independence, dignity and charm Catherine new she felt a strong call, to devote her life to the service of the poor, the sick and the uneducated. At the centre of her life she fully pledged her goal of opening a mercy centre and after many years of hard work, after she passed away, having established 14 houses.

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Catherine McAuley did not have any precise biblical criticism but there were many parables and writings that influenced and reflected her life. During the time period this parable was written, Catherine followed the rules of which were expressed in the following parable. The parable of the Good Samaritan is about a traveler who is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left half dead alongside the road. First a priest and then a Levite comes by, but both avoid the man. Finally, a Samaritan approaches the traveler and takes his in. This world behind the text. is the historical situation of the writer and what prompts the message. This parable is teaching people to, care for other regardless of their race, beliefs or even sexuality. Catherine in her life, reached out to other human beings regardless of who they were, she created equality between people and restore dignity to all (Adams-Jones, 2017). The world of the text, is what the story is saying. The story of the Good Samaritan reaches beyond the bounds of race and prejudice. The text has used a real life situation to build emotion for the reader. This reflects Catherine's life when she took in poor girls to get them a good education. She used it as a shelter for the girls and women to sleep in, eat and to be taken care of. The world in front of the text, is the response the reader has towards the writing. When reading this parable it conveys a message of sympathy, convincing the reader to do the good/ right thing. Throughout Catherine's life she inspired many people all over the world because of her role in look after helpless girls. This encouraged many due to the emotional journey and life experiences she went through.

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Rerum Novarum - The common good and Protection of the poor

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Rerum Novarum - The common good and Protection of the poor

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Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo, 15 May 1891, translates to 'revolutionary change'. It was an open letter, passed to all Catholic Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops and bishops, that addressed the condition of the working classes. It also discussed the relationships and mutual duties between labor and capital, as well as government and its citizens. Rerum Novarum, consisted of 7 principles, two of which were 'the common good' and 'protection of the poor'. Catherine McAuley's life reflected this letter, the common good was written to encourage, watch over and reward the ones that contribute to the common good. Throughout Catherine's life, she shared her caring, selfless and religious life to the those who needed it more. "So that they who contribute so largely to the advantage of the community may themselves share in the benefits which they create-that being housed, clothed, and bodily fit, they may find their life less hard and more endurable" (Rerum Novarum). Although this was stated in Rerum Novarum letter, Catherine did not do these deeds for a benefit but for the poor, homeless and uneducated women and young girls who wouldn't have been able to live, with out the help from her. Rerum Novarum consists of many discussions, that Catherine responded to in a positive way, but these are two specific writings that relate back to her life. Protection of the poor, discusses the classes and levels of the rich and poor. It informs the reader that government should be specially caring and protecting the needy due to their importance in society. "And it is for this reason that wage-earners, since they mostly belong in the mass of the needy, should be specially cared for and protected by the government" (Rerum Novarum). This text reflects the actions Catherine made throughout her life. Especially when she put all of her own earnings into improving the lives of others rather than her selves.
Catherine dedicated her life to working with poor, uneducated girls, consisting of many ages. She was never asked to do this but she committed to developing society into a peaceful, religious and respectful environment.

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Throughout Catherine's life, her actions were motivated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and who discovered early in her life that her love for Christ was inextricably bound to her love of others (Mercy World, 2010).

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Images
Birmingham London. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://i3.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article5432651.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/7366802232_d41ff878d5_k.jpg

Catherine McAuley. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cms.catholic.edu.au/files/1483-210x302.jpg

Dublin. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/ed/75/8f/ed758f2ea8f1e045e91965405b76013e.jpg

Mercy International. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mercyhurst.edu/sites/default/files/0020_Mercy_International_16feb11_767_510.jpg

Mercy World. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mercyworld.org/_uploads/_ckpg/images/Baggot_Street_early.jpg

Mercy World. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mercyworld.org/_uploads/_ckpg/images/suscipe.jpg

Mercy.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://institute.mercy.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/founding-Mothers.jpg

Sisters of Mercy. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sistersofmercy.org/resources/spirituality/prayer/catherines-prayers/

References

Bible Gateway. (2017). The Parable of the Good Samaritan. Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A+25-37&version=NIV

Catherine McAuley School. (n.d.). Catherine McAuley's Story. Retrieved from http://www.cms.catholic.edu.au/about-our-school/history/catherine-mcauley-s-story

David Adams-Jones. (2017). Spirituality of Catherine McAuley [PowerPoint].

Mercy International Association. (2010). Introducing Catherine McAuley. Retrieved from http://www.mercyworld.org/foundress/story.cfm?loadref=49

Mercy International Association. (2010). Learn about Our History. Retrieved from http://www.mercyworld.org/the_centre/index.cfm?loadref=34

Mercy International Association. (2010). Venerable Catherine McAuley. Retrieved from http://www.mercyworld.org/spirituality/view-reflection.cfm?uuid=D0C1B78A-F777-3C09-C7AF3BFEE7C4CDA6

Mercy Sisters. (2017). Catherine McAuley. Retrieved from http://www.mercy.org.au/history/

Wikipedia. (2017). Catherine McAuley. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_McAuley

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By May 1841, Catherine almost sixty-three, was worn out by her many labours and started to get sick with a persistent cough.

After visiting a physician, her right lung was declared, "diseased." On, November 11, 1841, fully aware of the fatigue and sorrow of those around her bed, she made one last request: she asked a sister to tell the community to "get a good cup of tea-I think the community room would be a good place-when I am gone & to comfort one another-but God will comfort them." After being bed ridden for a month, she died that evening and was buried the following Monday, in the newly created cemetery at Baggot Street. A handmade sign was hung in the House of Mercy, concern of the poor girls and women whom she so loved: "Pray for the soul of poor Catherine McAuley."

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Catherine McAuley was born in 1778 into a loving, wealthy, Catholic family in Dublin. She was a dedicated Irish nun who grew up surrounded by her catholic parents until they past away not long after she was born. After her parents died, she learned lessons of personal poverty and daily dependence on the mercy of others. She then grew up with a elderly, wealthy couple, Mr & Mrs Callaghan. They, did not approve of Catherine's Catholicity but were willing to financially support her charitable work. So, for 20 years, Catherine gave catechetical instruction to the household servants and the poor village children from Coolock House, the Callaghan's home. She also taught needlework to young women and ran a small shop to sell their goods.

Upon Mr & Mrs Callaghan's death (1819 and 1822) they appointed Catherine their sole heir, which enabled her to provide social services for poor women and children and educate young girls. Sisters to "educate poor girls, to lodge and maintain poor young women who are in danger and to visit the sick poor founded the Sisters of Mercy.

In 1824, she built a large house in Dublin, as a school for poor girls and shelter for homeless servant girls and women.

In August, 1827, a month before, The House of Mercy opened, her sister, Mary died which left huge responsibilities left of looking after 5 children for Catherine. But not long after, Catherine's brother-in-law died, suddenly she was the legal guardian of nine children. As the number of co-workers in Baggot street increased, so did clerical criticism of The House.

By 1830, Catherine and co-workers realised that the stability of the works the performed called for revision. So on September 8, Catherine, Anna Maria Doyle, and Elizabeth Harley entered the Presentation Convent in Dublin to begin formal preparation for founding the Sisters of Mercy.

They returned immediately to Baggot Street, where seven more women received the habit and by Spring three hundred poor girls were attending the school along with countless women and girls were welcomed into the shelter.

She then founded 9 additional autonomous Convents of mercy. She traveled with the founding parties, lasting the exhaustion and inconvenience such travel required, and remained at least a month with each new community, anxious to "begin well," so the poor could be immediately served, and claiming: "God knows I would rather be cold and hungry than that the poor in Kingstown or elsewhere should be deprived of any consolation in our power to afford.

Catherine's niece died in 1837 followed by her nephews in 1840 and 1841. In the middle of these sufferings, she wrote hundreds of affectionate letters to the sisters in the new foundations, and submitted to officials in Rome.

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Since Catherine McAuley was young she had always devoted her life for others and was willing to assist the ones less fortunate, since she had been through similar. Throughout her life she continued that passion and her mission of educating young women in all areas of social need. Later in her life she inspired the Sisters of Mercy, and are now spread throughout the world and number in their thousands. During this time period, the majority of whom were Catholics, they spent themselves and their resources trying to confront the causes of chronic poverty and to alleviate its demeaning effects such as ignorance, ill health and homelessness. And while their outreach was to all, they had a special care for young women and girls vulnerable to exploitation (sisters of mercy, 2017)