Taylor, Frances Magdalen
superior-general and foundress of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God, born 1832, was the daughter of a protestant vicar in Lincolnshire. Her early years were spent in charity and work amongst the poor. In 1854 she went out as one of Miss Nightingale's volunteer nurses to the Crimea, and whilst there she was received into the Church. Returning from the Crimea she spent her energies amongst the poor of every kind in London, and with equal devotion gave her pen to catholic literature. She opened a house and gathered a number of ladies together to work for the poor. It was some years before her scheme took definite shape. At length, in 1879, the brief of praise (or Laud) was received from Rome. In 1885 she went to Rome to obtain the formal approbation, and at the cardinal-vicar's suggestion she founded a house and school in that city. The formal approbation of the rules and constitutions of the order was obtained in 1892, but her health then gave way, and from that time her work was mainly one of pain and suffering. At the time of her death houses of her order had been founded in Italy, France, Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales, each one raised by her efforts. She passed to her eternal reward at the convent in Soho-square, June 9, 1900, aged 68.
Tablet, xcv. 984, 1023 ;
Cath. Times, June 15, 1900.
1. St. Winefride; or, the Holy Well and its Pilgrims." Lond. 8vo; frequently repr.
2. Tyborne and 'Who went thither in the Days of Queen Elizabeth.' A Sketch." Lond. 1878, sm. 8vo, pp. xiii-271, new ed.
3. Eastern Hospitals and English Nurses. Lond. 8vo.
4. Irish Homes and Irish Hearts. Lond. 8vo.
5. Holiday Tales and Conversations. Lond. 8vo.
6. Dame Dolores. Lond. 8vo.
7. The Stoneleighs of Stoneleigh, and other Stories.
8. A Marvellous History ; or, The Life of Jeanne de la None.
9. Lost, and other Tales for Children, adapted from the French.
10. Master Will and Won't, and other Stories. Lond. 1887, 8vo.
11. A Shrine and a Story.
12. Forgotten Heroines, and the Nun's Centenary.
13. Memoir of Fr. Dignam, S.J.
14. Retreats given by Fr. Dignam, S.J. With Letters and Notes of
Spiritual Directions, and a few Conferences and Sermons. "With a preface by Fr. Gretton, S.J." Lond. 1896, 8vo.
15. Conferences given by Fr. Dignam, S.J., with Retreats, Sermons, and Notes of Spiritual Direction. With a preface by His Eminence Cardinal Mazzella, S.J." Lond. 1897, 8vo.
16. The Inner Life of Lady Georgina Fullerton.
17. Communications to the Month, Lamp, Irish Monthly, and other Catholic periodicals.
Notes