Sister Ignatia
Encyclopedia
Sister Mary Ignatia Gavin, C.S.A., (January 2, 1889–April 1, 1966) of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine
, was known as The Drunk's "Angel of Hope"
as Bridget Della Mary Gavin on 2 January 1889 at Shanvalley, Burren, in County Mayo
.
, in 1914 she entered the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine in Ohio
, at which time she took the name Sister Mary Ignatia. A superb musician, she was assigned to teach music. She did this for about ten years, but found it "too hectic" and suffered a nervous breakdown. When she recovered, she began working as a nurse. On August 16, 1935, Sister Ignatia was in charge of admissions at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, Ohio
. She and Dr. Bob Smith
admitted the first alcoholic patient who would be the first of millions to participate in the Twelve-step program
of recovery, the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous
.
Many of ideas of Alcoholics Anonymous
— including the use of tokens to mark milestones in sobriety — were introduced by Sister Ignatia. She would give alcoholics leaving St. Thomas Hospital a medallion of the Sacred Heart
, instructing them that the acceptance of the medallion represented commitment to God, to A.A. and to recovery. She added that if they were going to drink, they should first return the medallion.
She was the first to recognize the use of coffee for alcoholics, insisting that it be freely available in every stage of recovery.
Between 1935 and 1965 she successfully treated thousands of alcoholics. Sister Ignatia pioneered the recognition of alcoholism among priests and Religious Sisters
. She was remembered for her kindness, honesty and non-judgmental love.
In 1961, given an award by U.S. President John F. Kennedy
, she accepted the award not for herself but in the name of her religious congregation and profession.
In 1954, she was awarded the Catherine of Siena Medal by the Theta Phi Alpha
Fraternity. She was honored for her "outstanding achievement in one of our major problems affecting our country today — alcoholism."
"The alcoholic is deserving of sympathy. Christ-like charity and intelligent care are needed so that with God's grace he or she may be given the opportunity to accept a new philosophy of life." -Sister Ignatia
Sister Ignatia retired in May 1965. She died eleven months later, on April 1, 1966.
The March 10, 2008 edition of Modern Healthcare magazine reported that Sister Ignatia had been honored as a 2008 inductee into their "Health Care Hall of Fame."
Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine
The Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, a Roman Catholic religious congregation of women, have served health, education and social service needs in the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio, since 1851.- Foundation :...
, was known as The Drunk's "Angel of Hope"
Early life
Sister Ignatia was born in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
as Bridget Della Mary Gavin on 2 January 1889 at Shanvalley, Burren, in County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
.
Career
Having moved to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, in 1914 she entered the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, at which time she took the name Sister Mary Ignatia. A superb musician, she was assigned to teach music. She did this for about ten years, but found it "too hectic" and suffered a nervous breakdown. When she recovered, she began working as a nurse. On August 16, 1935, Sister Ignatia was in charge of admissions at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
. She and Dr. Bob Smith
Bob Smith (doctor)
Robert Holbrook Smith was an American physician and surgeon who co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous with Bill Wilson, more commonly known as Bill W. He was also known as Dr. Bob. He was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where he was raised, to Susan A. Holbrook and Walter Perrin Smith...
admitted the first alcoholic patient who would be the first of millions to participate in the Twelve-step program
Twelve-step program
A Twelve-Step Program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems...
of recovery, the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
.
Many of ideas of Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
— including the use of tokens to mark milestones in sobriety — were introduced by Sister Ignatia. She would give alcoholics leaving St. Thomas Hospital a medallion of the Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart
The Sacred Heart is one of the most famous religious devotions to Jesus' physical heart as the representation of His divine love for Humanity....
, instructing them that the acceptance of the medallion represented commitment to God, to A.A. and to recovery. She added that if they were going to drink, they should first return the medallion.
She was the first to recognize the use of coffee for alcoholics, insisting that it be freely available in every stage of recovery.
Between 1935 and 1965 she successfully treated thousands of alcoholics. Sister Ignatia pioneered the recognition of alcoholism among priests and Religious Sisters
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
. She was remembered for her kindness, honesty and non-judgmental love.
In 1961, given an award by U.S. President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, she accepted the award not for herself but in the name of her religious congregation and profession.
In 1954, she was awarded the Catherine of Siena Medal by the Theta Phi Alpha
Theta Phi Alpha
Theta Phi Alpha women's fraternity was founded at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor on August 30, 1912. Theta Phi Alpha is one of 26 national sororities recognized in the National Panhellenic Conference...
Fraternity. She was honored for her "outstanding achievement in one of our major problems affecting our country today — alcoholism."
"The alcoholic is deserving of sympathy. Christ-like charity and intelligent care are needed so that with God's grace he or she may be given the opportunity to accept a new philosophy of life." -Sister Ignatia
Sister Ignatia retired in May 1965. She died eleven months later, on April 1, 1966.
The March 10, 2008 edition of Modern Healthcare magazine reported that Sister Ignatia had been honored as a 2008 inductee into their "Health Care Hall of Fame."
External links
- A.A. History "Sister Ignatia and Alcoholics Anonymous" http://www.barefootsworld.net/aasisterignatia.html
- Welcome to Silkworth "Sister Ignatia and A.A." http://www.silkworth.net/aahistory/Ignatia.html
- Birthplace of Sister Ignatia in Shanvalley, Burren, in County Mayo (Ireland)