Mary Oliver (3) (1585–1645)

2280 Mary Ward 1585-1645, by Mary Oliver, I.B.V.M. (read 24 Mar 1990) This 1959 biography of Mary Ward (born 1585, died 1645) is sugary and footnoteless and given to imaginative scenery descriptions, but yet one cannot help but be moved by Mary Ward's tragic story. She was a saint, yet her institute of teaching sisters was suppressed by Pope Urban VIII--never my favorite Pope, and his wishy-washy cave-in to Mary's enemies is just another black mark against him. Her order was finally reinstituted in 1703 but even then Mary Ward could not be called its founder--an injustice not remedied till Pope Pius X. An inspiring story, and I must feel Mary Ward is a saint, though I don't know if she will ever be canonized.… (meer)