 Catherine McAuley was a remarkable woman for her time. She was born on January 29, 1778 to a wealthy Catholic family. Her father was a respected builder and the family lived comfortably in a house in the north of Dublin. At this time in Ireland it was very unusual and, indeed, difficult to be wealthy and Catholic. Many wealthy Catholics abandoned their faith in order to be accepted in Protestant society; James McAuley held to his beliefs. Catherine grew up in an Ireland where Catholics were generally poor. They had suffered for years under the yoke of the Penal Laws, which caused suffering for the poor. There were no schools to go to; most Catholics could not read or write. Many knew little about their faith. Catherine's father helped the poor of Dublin materially and whenever he could helped them to understand and appreciate the Catholic faith and its values. Catherine was greatly influenced by her father's concern for the poor. It was an example that shaped her character.
In late July of 1783, Catherine's world was shattered when her father died. Her mother was grief stricken. Eventually, the family moved, finally settling on Queen Street in the heart of Dublin. With the passage of time and the encouragement of her friends, Mrs. McAuley slowly began to rejoin Dublin's social circle. Although she believed in educating her daughters and fostering their intellect, she did not give the same weight to their religious education. Neither did she hold the same value as her husband when it came to charity to the poor. She was extravagant; bit by bit her fortune lessened. Both Catherine's mother and her older sister were concerned with a busy social life, full of fun and parties. Catherine's passion was for the poor. She went with her cousin, Ann, to visit the poor; she brought them whatever food that was available.
In 1798 tragedy struck again. Catherine's mother died on October 21st, leaving Catherine and her siblings without guardians. A distant relative of Catherine's mother, William Armstrong and his wife offered their home to the McAuley children. The Armstrongs were not particularly religious; Catherine knew this would lead to tension about religion. She decided to accept an offer from her Catholic uncle to live with his family; she had always been close to her cousin Ann Conway. However, this meant she would be separated from her sister and brother. Listening to her inner voice, Catherine moved in with the Conways. In Ann she found a companion to help her feed and clothe the poor of Dublin. They made clothes out of old drapes, and begged and borrowed from well off neighbors and friends. It was during this time that she met Father Betagh, who helped her more fully understand her Catholic faith.
Unexpectedly, Catherine's uncle went bankrupt. His family struggled to make ends meet. Catherine felt she was a burden and returned to the Armstrongs. They introduced her to very good friends, the Callaghan's. Mrs. Callaghan was a Quaker and Mr. Callaghan was Protestant, as were all the Armstrong's friends and dinner guests. After a short while Catherine became a regular visitor to the Callaghan house; eventually, they invited her to live with them. She brought a delightful charm into the home; although the Callaghans disapproved of her commitment to Catholicism, they welcomed her work among the poor in Dublin. They supported her efforts with generous contributions. However, the Rebellion of 1798 and its consequences made it unsafe for the middle class to walk the streets. The changing social atmosphere in Dublin forced the Callaghans to move to the country. Catherine was saddened. She so wanted to help the city's poor. Mr. Callaghan assured her she could continue her work.
At her new home in Coolock, Catherine befriended Father Nugent, who introduced her to the poor of the area. He shared her passion for helping those in need. The priest recognized Catherine was special. In a short time Catherine was visiting the sick and dying and bringing food and compassion to the needy. Catherine also took an interest in servant girls, who were frequently mistreated by their masters. It was her dream to one day buy a house and give them safe shelter.
After a number of years, Mrs. Callaghan was no longer able to run the household. Catherine assumed most of the duties, including entertaining. She somehow managed to squeeze this in with her aid to the poor. Catherine was a wonderful hostess; her mother had trained her well.
Sadly, the Callaghans died. To Catherine's surprise, she was the sole heir to their estate. She now had the wealth to continue and expand her works of mercy. Little by little she took in orphans and she cared for her cousin Ann's children when Ann died. She even picked up a dirty old lady, Mrs. Harper, from the streets of Dublin and gave her shelter. She continued to be a part of the lives of the poor. As time passed, Catherine remembered her concern for the servant girls. She decided to build a grand house in a good location and open a school for young girls and children. The girls and children would receive a good religious education, learn how to read and write, and acquire suitable skills. In July of 1824 work began on The House of Mercy, which was situated on the corner of Herbert and Baggot Streets in the heart of an exclusive residential area.
In August of 1827, Mary, Catherine's sister died. Catherine took on the role of mother to Mary's five children. The next month on the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy, the House of Mercy opened, Catherine's dream was complete. Catherine's enthusiasm, faith, commitment to the poor, and charism attracted many followers, who continued to offer their services to the poor. Some were willing to live at Baggot Street. Anna Doyle, Catherine Byrne, Frances Warde, and Ann O'Grady were part of the core group. They were joined in residence by Catherine in 1828. They prayed several times during the day and began to call themselves Sister.
Time passed quickly. One day, Archbishop Murray arrived to speak to Catherine. He told Catherine she had started a Convent without knowing it. Catherine was astonished. She and her associates were merely living together and supporting one another in their concern and care for the poor, sick, and uneducated. She knew nothing about nuns. He encouraged her to talk to her associates. The Archbishop said: "I realize you never considered becoming a nun, that this was never in your plan; but, it looks very much like it is God's plan."
Catherine talked to her associates. With the aid of the Archbishop, Anna Maria Doyle and Elizabeth Harley agreed to go with Catherine to learn the ways of religious life. They spent the next fifteen months studying at Presentation Convent. On December 12, 1831, at the age of fifty-three, Catherine and her two friends became Sisters of Mercy. There was a song in her heart that day: "My God, I Am Yours For Time and Eternity." From that day on the House on Baggot Street would be known as the Convent of Mercy.
The Sisters of Mercy became known as the "Walking Nuns" because of their concern for the poor. Slowly but surely, word of their work spread and they were asked to expand to other areas in need. And respond they did. By June 1841, there were 142 sisters and the Pope decided to approve the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy.
Catherine McAuley realized her dream and more. Her love for the poor colored her daily actions. On November 11, 1841, Catherine passed to her eternal reward. As always, even on her death bed, Catherine's concern was for others. She wanted her Sisters to know her peace. She said; "I am very happy, I am not afraid." In 1978 the cause for Catherine's beatification began. In 1990, Pope John II declared her Venerable.
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