Caroline Chisholm by Allira Rolph

1. The life of Caroline Chisholm

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Caroline Chisholm was a 19th-century reformer who dedicated her time to improving the lives of others. Her involvement with the female immigrant welfare in Australia is one of the many reasons why she is seen as one of Australia’s most significant pioneers and on the 16th of May, she was commemorated in the Calendar of Saints.

Caroline Chisholm was born in Northampton, United Kingdom, into a large family which was devoted to living out their faith and Christians practices. Many described her mother, also named Caroline, as a kind and cheerful women. Her father was a pig-dealer and an upright man who respected the Churches religious values. After living in England for 2 years her and her husband moved to Madras, India. It was here that her two sons were born and where she began her first social work. Shortly, after this Caroline was convinced that God was calling her to help those who are less fortunate and those in need.

From caring for the elderly, to establishing schools for daughters of poor soldiers and helping young women in Australia, Caroline Chisholm listened to God’s call, fasted and prayed to discern God’s love and will for her. Caroline’s kind and heartless charisma shone through and her love for her neighbours motivated her commitment to respond and reform. When she moved from India to Australia in1838, it was Caroline’s deep sympathy for the starving and unemployed women of Australia that inspired the work she would become famous for. Rat-infested barracks were given to her to make into a shelter for the vulnerable young girls of Australia. This shelter was both a home and a registry office where Caroline provided motherly protection, jobs and suitable homes for the girls. From 1841 to 1844 Caroline assisted 14,000 people living in Australia. Over this time Caroline Chisholm helped thousands of helpless people by devoting her time to ensure that their social, mental and physical needs were met.

In 1846 Carol Chisholm returned to England where she continued to use her knowledge and influence to improve the lives of others. Upon hearing of the terrible living conditions in the Australian goldfields, Caroline decided to return to Australia in 1854. After arriving in Australia she worked tirelessly to improve the living conditions in and around the goldfields until she fell ill with a kidney disease. In 1866 she returned to England and spent the rest of her life there until she died 1877.

Key Dates

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Born ~ 30 May 1808
Marriage ~ 1830
Immigration to Australia ~ 1838
Charity work ~1840
Work // assisted 14 000 people ~1841- 1844
Returned to England ~ 1845
Back to Australia// work with people on the Gold fields ~ 1854
Back to England ~ 1866
Death ~ 25 March 1877

Caroline Chisholm

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My Place. (2017). Caroline Chisholm. Retrieved from http://www.myplace.edu.au/decades_timeline/1840/decade_landing_16_1.html?tabRank=3

3. Prayers & Spiritual Practices that nourished Caroline Chisholm

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Caroline Chisholm was nourished by many prayers and spiritual practices which influenced her life’s work. In particular, she was inspired by the commandment ‘Love thy neighbour’. This became the motivation for her work as she vowed at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney in 1841 “ I promise to know neither country nor creed, but to try and serve all justly and impartially”. This commandment is also echoed throughout the Parable of the Good Samaritan which many believe also inspired Caroline Chisholm. The Theological virtue of Charity is reflected in Caroline’s work as well as the spiritual practices of daily prayer, participating in the Sacrament of Penance, worshipping God and trying to live as Jesus taught.

4. Analysis of some of the reformer’s writings & those of biographers.

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Caroline Chisholm’s memoirs give us details about her life work and gives insight into the inspiration behind her charity. In London 1842, she wrote about her call to serve others:

I was impressed with the idea that God had, in a peculiar manner, fitted me for this work; and yet I hesitated . . . my delay pressed on my mind as a sin; and when I heard of a poor girl suffering distress and losing her reputation in consequence, I felt that I was not clear of her sin, for I did not do all I could to prevent it.

During the season of Lent that year, I suffered much; but on Easter Sunday I was enabled, at the altar of our Lord to make an offering of my talents to the God who gave them. . . .

. . . I felt my offering was accepted and God’s blessing was on my work
- Caroline Chisholm, Female Immigration Considered in a Brief Account of the Sydney Immigrants Home

Poems, newspaper articles, plays and many other forms of writings dictate the life of Caroline Chisholm and her contribution to Australia as a social reformer. Her impact was profound and spiritual as Herminie Chavanne in 1852 wrote after her meeting with Caroline Chisholm:

Kindness shone from her face, with never a hint of weariness and it was obvious that God had granted her all the courage and energy she needed for this living work for her ‘neighbour’.

This quote shows a strong connection between Chavanne’s observations and the commandment ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ which inspired Caroline Chisholm.

In addition, the poet Henry Kendell, recorded the work of Caroline Chisholm in his poem written in 1862:

God’s servant came forth from the South: she told of a plentiful land;

And wisdom was set in her mouth, and strength in the thews [sinews] of her hand.

She lifted them out of their fear, and they thought her their Moses and said;

“We shall follow you, sister, from here to the country of sunshine and bread.”

She fed them, and led them away, through tempest and tropical heat,

Till they reached the far regions of day, and sweet-scented spaces of wheat.

She hath made them a home with her hand, and they bloom like the summery vines;

For they eat of the fat of the land, and drink of its glittering wines.

This poem recognises Caroline Chisholm’s dedication and the practical nature of her work and how it benefitted others. Furthermore, in 1859, Henry Parkes’ Empire newspaper acknowledged Caroline Chisholm when he wrote:

If Captain James Cook discovered Australia - if John Macarthur planted the first seeds of its extraordinary prosperity - if Ludwig Leichardt penetrated and explored its before unknown interior – Caroline Chisholm has done more – she alone has colonised in the true sense of the term.

These writings clarify her important work in the early days of settlement in Australia and her role in providing justice for the marginalised and disadvantaged.

6. Priestly, Prophetic & Kingly work of Caroline Chisholm

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Caroline Chisholm was an advocate of change who worked to enhance the lives of those affected by unjust situations. She is depicted as a prophet of the laity because of her actions against injustice, her respect for human dignity and her well- known work throughout all aspects of society. An example of this is, her prophetic work within the church communicating many principles of social justice which were innovative of this time. Caroline Chisholm’s dedication to living out her daily Catholic practices and her commitment to living in the image of Jesus displays the priestly side of her work. As Caroline Chisholm gained respect within the community she became the voice of the people and was able to use this to influence to effect changes that promoted better conditions for female immigrants. She wrote letters to leaders and met with the governor of New South Wales in a determined effort to bring about changes in social structures and processes. In this way, she used her leadership and power to echo the kingly work of Jesus Christ. It is clear that Caroline displayed priestly, prophetic and kingly actions throughout her life in order to help those in the community.

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2. Biblical Criticism

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The Parable of the Good Samaritan - Luke 10:25-37

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply, Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

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WORLD BEHIND THE TEXT
To understand “The Good Samaritan” it is important to consider the historical context of this parable. The location, the laws of the time and the history between the Jews and Samaritans all need to be considered. The road where this parable took place was in the desert between Jerusalem and Jericho. This story took place on a part of the road that had mountains on either side which made it very secluded. It was an area that was well known for robberies. Due to these facts, it is reasonable to believe that the priest and the Levite might not have stopped to help the man as they feared that they might also be beaten and robbed. During this time the role of the priest was unlike that, which it is today. The temples where they preached had strict laws about people being clean and unclean. If the priest was travelling to a temple he would not want to touch a dead person as this would break the law of the temple regarding being clean. This could also be a reason why the Levite did not stop either as he too could have worked in the temple and touching this man would make him unclean. In the time of this parable the Jews and Samaritans were hostile towards each other and had a history of not getting along. The power of this parable becomes apparent when you consider this as it is fair to assume that traditionally a Samaritan would not stop for an injured Jew.

WORLD OF THE TEXT
The purpose of the parable of the Good Samaritan was to explain how one inherits eternal life and “who is my neighbour”. This scripture is identified as a parable because of the inclusion of various elements and characteristics.

Parables are written in past tense and have a narrative-like structure they have a beginning, problem and a resolution. The story within the Parable of the Good Samaritan was told by Jesus in past tense and has a distinct narrative-like structure. The beginning introduces the setting which is on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho and introduces the characters which are the injured man, the priest, the Levite and the Good Samaritan. The complication of this parable begins when both the priest and the Levite cross paths with a vulnerable injured man and they do nothing to help him. The resolution to this problem was that although Jews and Samaritans usually despised each other, when the Samaritan came across the injured man helped him and took care of the man until he is safe.

As well as a clear narrative structure parables have a distinct three-part pattern of development that begins with an advent – what people expect will happen, includes a reversal of expectation – in what Jesus says, and concludes with a new vision – of how people need to change. The advent of this parable is that due to the importance of the role and religious faith of the priest and Levite, people would expect them to stop and help the wounded man however when these men of importance do not stop and help, a reversal of expectation takes place. The reversal of expectation is further emphasised when a Samaritan helps the wounded man despite their cultural hostility towards each other. The new vision is expressed when Jesus justifies this story and relates it to how we should love our neighbour and for this, we will inherit eternal life. The key message and moral of the parable is promoted through the new vision section of the development process.

WORLD IN FRONT OF THE TEXT// APPLICATION OF PARABLE IN CAROLINE CHISHOLM'S LIFE
Caroline Chisholm's actions specifically reflect those of the Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37. The endless supply of love expressed for her neighbours is reminiscent of the love displayed by the Samaritan in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, a man is attacked, stripped down and left half dead alongside the road. Both a Priest and a Levite cross paths with the vulnerable man, however, they do nothing. Although Jews and Samaritans usually despised each other, a Samaritan helps the vulnerable, injured man. The Samaritan takes further care of the man and ensures that he is safe and well. It is the Samaritans love for his neighbour which inspired the work of Caroline Chisholm. The vulnerable young females in Australia parallel the injured man as society didn't take notice of them just as the Priest and Levite didn’t take notice of the injured man. These young girls were saved by a Caroline Chisholm whose actions emulate those of the Good Samaritan. Caroline took care of these girls by giving them a home and helping pay for their needs mirroring the care provided by the Good Samaritan. Another example of the application of this is The Story of Flora in which Caroline recounts how she helped a pregnant woman who was about to end her own life because she felt there was no way to escape from her terrible situation. Caroline walked by her side, counselled her and took care of her. Caroline made it her life’s work to love her neighbour and extended this beyond her own community to all she met.
This parable has been analysed many times and the origin of this story has been interpreted by many. There are many possible reasons that have been discussed to justify why the priest and the Levite did not stop to help the injured man. However, it can not be denied that the key purpose and message of this parable was to reinforce the commandment “Love Thy Neighbour”. The relevance of the parable is still significant today and this historical text can be used in our contemporary society.

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Map of Northampton

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Wikipedia Scholar. (2017). Map of Northampton. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northampton

7. Caroline Chisholm Society - 21st Century Organisation

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Caroline Chisholm Society is a 21^st century organisation which mirrors the priestly, prophetic and kingly work of Caroline Chisholm. Inspired by the story of Flora and how Caroline supported her, this organisation helps women in similar situations. They provide a range of support services and assistance for pregnant women, new mothers and their families. The values of this organisation are similar to those which Caroline Chisholm displayed in her life. These include compassion, respect for life, recognition of diversity and the importance of social justice. Caroline Chisholm Society aims to develop a greater awareness and understanding of the welfare rights and the needs of all people including the disadvantaged and marginalised. It is through organisations such as the Caroline Chisholm Society that the spirit, values and work of Caroline Chisholm continues in contemporary society.

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Rerum Novarum

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The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. (2017). Rerum Novarum’s impact 125 years on. Retrieved from http://www.cssr.news/2016/05/rerum-novarums-impact-125-years-on/

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Nappy Collective. (2017). Caroline Chisholm Society. Retrieved from http://www.thenappycollective.com/benefit.html

Caroline Chisholm Society - How they can help

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Caroline Chisholm Society. (2017). Pregnant & Stressed?. Retrieved from http://caroline.org.au/

Caroline Chisholm Society

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<-- Visit the website by clicking this image. Help raise awareness and funds for mothers who are struggling to support their family needs

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DIDUNO. (2017). THE EMIGRANT’S FRIEND and the Christian Connection.. Retrieved from http://diduno.info/the-old-five-dollar-note-and-the-christian-connection/

4. INVESTIGATION OF CHURCH RESPONSES TO 19th CENTURY REFORMER // RERUM NOVARUM

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Caroline Chisholm was a prophetic voice in colonial Australia. She aimed to improve human dignity and implement principles of justice throughout society. Her values, attitudes and beliefs were influenced by her strong Christian faith and the belief that everyone has a right to justice. Caroline’s concern for social justice issues such as family wages and the freedom to migrate were yet to be considered by the institutional Church. However, in 1891, 14 years after her death, an encyclical was issued addressing social justice issues including those she had so strongly fought for during her life. It could be said that her devotion to improving the lives of others and her commitment to improving social justice issues inspired one of the most famous encyclicals ever issued. The encyclical Rerum Novarum meaning ‘of revolutionary change” was issued by Pope Leo XIII in 1891 and marks the start of the what we now call Catholic Social Teachings and the development of human dignity rights.

Bibliography

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Letter - Caroline Chisholm to Madam of 14 King's Square, Gosnell Street, London, 20 Oct 1848. (2017). Museums Victoria Collections. Retrieved 15 June 2017, from https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/1471235

Leader, T. (2017). Caroline Chisholm’s practical faith | The Catholic Leader. Catholicleader.com.au. Retrieved 15 June 2017, from http://catholicleader.com.au/features/caroline-chisolms-practical-faith

Events, N. (2017). Caroline Chisholm - the emigrants' friend. Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne: Church in Melbourne, Australia. Retrieved 15 June 2017, from http://www.cam.org.au/News-and-Events/Reflections/Article/7884/caroline-chisholm-the-emigrants-friend#.WUJ-cROGO-W

To the Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald. - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - 7 Apr 1846. (2017). Trove. Retrieved 15 June 2017, from http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12886379

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Events, N. (2017). Caroline Chisholm - advocate for women and prophet of the laity. Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne: Church in Melbourne, Australia. Retrieved June 2017, from http://www.cam.org.au/News-and-Events/Reflections/Article/7887/caroline-chisholm-advocate-for-women-and-prophet-of-the-laity#.WTsi3hOGO91

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