“See that the Sisters have a comfortable cup of tea

when I am gone.”

Catherine McAuley, on her deathbed, November 11, 1841

 Catherine McAuley faced many hardships during her lifetime, 1778-1841:

1. Her father, James, died in 1783 when Catherine was five. At that time in history men
were the sole providers. Women depended on men for survival.
2. Catherine’s mother sold all of the family possessions to keep up with the social circle
of Ireland leaving the family penniless.
3. Catherine’s mother, Elinor, died in 1798 when Catherine was twenty.
4. Catholics in the late 1700s and early 1800s were considered the lowest class and not
accepted in society even though Catherine was from a wealthy family.
5. Catherine went to live with relatives when her father died. They forbid her to practice
her Catholic faith.

Catherine always remembered that her family was dependant on

others for food, clothing, and shelter because her family, once
wealthy, was now poor.
 Learning from experience:
“We should have compassion
for those who have seen
better days, and are ashamed
to make known their indigence.
We should assist them
privately.”
Catherine McAuley
 The Callahan’s, the last family Catherine lived with,
left her a sizable inheritance when they died.

Catherine believed those in need

required organized effort to aid
and uplift them: hostels,
schools, orphanages, employment
On September 24, agencies, sale of work depots.
1827 Catherine
McAuley opened her Above all they needed to be
mission on Baggot given skills and the power to
Street in the heart of
a wealthy help themselves, to be given
neighborhood in dignity and a belief in their own
Dublin, Ireland.
self worth, to lift themselves
Today we remember
this day as Mercy Day. out of their penury and idleness
As a symbol of Mercy and servitude.
Day tea is served.
When Catherine McAuley was a young women in
the late 1700s, tea was the most popular drink
among the wealthiest class.
 Tea was smuggled into Ireland in the late 1700s.
Eventually all classes were drinking tea.

Tea was invaluable because it was cheap, non-alcoholic, and mixed with milk
and sugar it provided sustenance for people working long hours in factories.
 Hospitality was not always given to Catherine from relatives. When she
was poor she was considered a burden to her family, but Catherine
looked to her faith instead of anger and chose to help others.

A cup of tea indirectly brought about a time for people to gather, talk, and
build friendships.
An entire economic enterprise was brought about because of tea.
China sets, tea
gowns, tea chests, Tea was also
tango tea parties, tea instrumental in the
rooms, tea furniture. start of temperance
Tea was one of the movement in Europe.
most important
household food item
to both rich and poor.
 “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through
experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened,
ambition inspired, and success achieved.”

Catherine McAuley developed her character when she was young because
she lived both a life of wealth and one of extreme poverty.
Catherine learned from those experiences and gave back to the
community through compassion, sacredness of life, justice, human dignity,
excellence, and service.

Starting with….
a simple gesture of offering those in her care a cup of tea.
What can you do to bring people together?

“No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted.”