I begin this painful account of the last years of SMR in India by quoting from The Life of Mother Mary of Jesus by Fr. Peter Suau, SJ who wrote his book in 1913. He was an historian and had access to documents both from the Jesuit’s archives and from our own congregation.

“The Mother General had given her assistance to the Maduré mission with a generosity that has not been forgotten, and this mission remained dear to her on account of what it had cost her. Maduré was one of the Society’s first foundations. By it the apostolic spirit and the spirit of sacrifice were kept alive. Holy nuns had lived and died there. The work of retreats at Tuticorin had secured for the women converts a Christian education, the effects of which continued to be felt. The orphanage of Adeikalabouram and the Residence of Trichinopoly were centers of zeal and charity. In order to comprehend, to some extent, the heroism which they brought to their task of apostles one should see at Trichinopoly the narrow cells in which the sisters had to live stifled almost to death.

Having been charged to form native Sisters to the religious life, the Reparation nuns gave themselves to that difficult task with a self-denial and devotedness that was complete. In it they met with frequent obstacles and at all times a great deal of suffering. Their courage never waned but on more than one occasion their arduous task was the occasion of painful misunderstandings. The enemy of all that is good was on the watch and made clever use of these opportunities.

The Vicar Apostolic of Maduré had sound sense and was uprightness personified. He was a man of duty and discipline; but while most incapable himself of anything like intrigue, he was not skilled in the baffling plots of others. Now under the pretext of favoring the Reparation nuns there were those who from culpable ambition aimed in secret at supplanting the bishop. The seeds of division had been sown. It is the duty of the religious historian not to pass over these wretched intrigues in silence. They are fruitful in instruction and sanctify those who are the victims of them. In the present instance two souls drew precious gain from them: that of Monsignor Canoz in India, and that of Mother Mary of Jesus in Europe.

Being increasingly assailed with reports and complaints, the Mother General, finding herself powerless to pacify and to satisfy the restless spirits that were at work, resolved in 1874 to recall her nuns. The provincial of Maduré had herself begged to have this done. When taken at her word, however, she pleaded so powerfully in favor of the flourishing works of the mission that the order was revoked. Nevertheless, difficulties went on growing more complicated and aggravating. Two years later, that is, in 1876, the Mother General named a new Provincial to replace her who had held the position for the last nine years. The provincial who was deposed, remained superior of a house situated in a neighboring Vicariate. Her change having been badly received; a Visitor, that is a sister with delegated authority from the General Superior, was sent to India. The Visitor came into collision with a prearranged opposition that ripened into secession. Two thirds of the nuns sided with the deposed Provincial, and in union with her, declared themselves resolved to form a new and independent Institute.”

Fr. Henri de Gensac, SJ (whose book was published almost 90 years later) provides us with a more detailed account of the life, ministries, and difficulties of our sisters.

Marie des Sept Douleurs, superior of the community of Trichinopoly, had insisted that given the tense situation with some of the Jesuits, only sisters mature enough be sent to India. She was surprised when on April 13, 1865, one professed sister, M. de la Sainte Famille, and two novices, M. des Saints Apôtres and M. de la Passion, arrived. Later that year 3 more novices arrived from Europe.

That same year an epidemic of cholera spread throughout India. One sister died and many were weakened by the disease. Wanting to protect the novices, M. of St. Joseph traveled to Tuticorin with M. de la Passion and another novice.

In October 1866 M. of St. Joseph had to return to Europe because of her health. M. des Sept Douleurs replaced her as provincial. M. de la Passion, professed since May 3 was named Admonitrix. She took her role very seriously writing frequently to Emilie about the provincial’s failings and faults.

In the fall of 1867 Emilie asked M. des Sept Douleurs to go to Isle Maurice - where a community had been founded in 1862- as superior of that mission which included La Reunion (another island in the Indian ocean off the east coast of Africa). Some years later she contracted leprosy. Emilie asked her to go to Europe for treatment. However, she died on board ship on June 6, 1876.

In 1867 Emilie replaced M. of Sept Douleurs with M. de la Passion as Provincial in India.

The conflicts with the Jesuits regarding the relationship with the Indian Religious (Cf: “India is Calling” pg. 3) of the Congregation of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, had increased to the point that Emilie said that our sisters would not work with them anymore. Therefore, the ministry returned to the Jesuits. It was decided that our sisters would continue to work with Widows. 

Fr. Beckx SJ, superior general of the Jesuits, named a Visitor, Fr. Lessmann, who immediately began to visit all the Jesuit communities. In his report he was often critical of the Reparatrixes and of the priests that supported them. On December 24, 1873, Emilie wrote to Fr.Beckx, SJ saying that often she had been close to asking the sisters to leave India and return to Europe since she had proof of the inappropriate behavior of several Jesuits, but cardinal Barnabó asked her to wait for the report of the Visitor, and even if the SMRs had to leave, it should be done in a way that was mutually respectful. She also shared that she was bound by her love and attachment to the Society of Jesus.

On February 1874 Emilie told M. de la Passion that she had received the Report of Fr. Lessmann, in which he blamed the Reparatrixes for their independence in the apostolate and of being difficult regarding the Jesuit confessors proposed to them.

On April 24 Emilie wrote to M. de la Passion sharing the letter she had received from the Office of the Propagation of the Faith. It said that Fr. Cabos was going to be named ecclesiastical superior of the sisters; they would have the right to choose their confessors. Also, it would be necessary to name a new Provincial since M. de la Passion had been in charge since 1867. Marie de la Passion, several sisters, and many Jesuits were greatly surprised and wrote to Emilie in an effort to stop the change of provincial. Once again Emilie decided to give the sisters one more opportunity to redress their mistakes.