Sister M. Madeleva Wolff
Encyclopedia
Sister M. Madeleva Wolff, C.S.C.
, (1887–1964), the "lady abbess of nun poets", was the third President of Saint Mary's College
in Notre Dame
, Indiana
.
in 1887, and christened "Mary Evaline Wolff". She decided to become a Religious Sister during her first semester attending Saint Mary's College. She was given the name Madeleva upon her acceptance into the Congregation of Holy Cross
in 1908.
Sister Madeleva was known for her poetry, her eloquence, and her outspokenness. She was a medieval scholar, whose literary essays won her distinction. She wrote a good deal in defense of Geoffrey Chaucer
's character "The Prioress". In all, she authored more than twenty books.
She studied at numerous universities, including the University of California, Berkeley
, and Oxford
. When she completed her M.A. degree in English at The University of Notre Dame
, she had been one of only four Sisters to pursue graduate work there. In 1925, she earned a Doctorate in English from the University of Southern California
in Los Angeles
. She served as teacher and principal of Sacred Heart Academy in Ogden, Utah and as President of St. Mary-of-the-Wasatch College in Salt Lake City. She later became the head of the English department at Saint Mary's College
.
The tenure of Sister Madeleva Wolff as President of Saint Mary's College began in 1934. She told leaders that “the essence of our college is not its buildings, its endowment fund, its enrollment, or even its faculty; the essence is the teaching of truth.” Some of her most tangible contributions included the establishment of the School of Sacred Theology (the first and, for more than a decade, the only institution to offer graduate degrees in theology to women), the introduction of the Department of Nursing Education, and the construction of the Moreau Center for the Arts (named for Father Basil Moreau
, it was one of the first all-purpose buildings for art studies—containing both galleries and theatres—in the country). In 1958, she received an honorary degree (LLD) from Indiana University
. She retired from her position as president in 1961. She died in Boston in 1964.
The Madeleva Society, composed of benefactors of the College, bears her name, as well as Madeleva Hall, the Madeleva Memorial Classroom Building, The Sister Madeleva Poetry Society, and the Madeleva Lecture Series.
Congregation of Holy Cross
The Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....
, (1887–1964), the "lady abbess of nun poets", was the third President of Saint Mary's College
Saint Mary's College (Indiana)
Saint Mary's College is a private Catholic liberal arts college founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. It is located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community northeast of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States — as are the University of Notre Dame and Holy...
in Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana
Notre Dame is a census-designated place north of South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States; it includes the campuses of three colleges: the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and Holy Cross College. Notre Dame is split between Clay and Portage Townships...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
Life
She was born in Cumberland, WisconsinCumberland, Wisconsin
Cumberland is a city in Barron County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 2,280 at the 2000 census. The city is located partially within the Town of Cumberland.-Recreation:...
in 1887, and christened "Mary Evaline Wolff". She decided to become a Religious Sister during her first semester attending Saint Mary's College. She was given the name Madeleva upon her acceptance into the Congregation of Holy Cross
Congregation of Holy Cross
The Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....
in 1908.
Sister Madeleva was known for her poetry, her eloquence, and her outspokenness. She was a medieval scholar, whose literary essays won her distinction. She wrote a good deal in defense of Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer , known as the Father of English literature, is widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages and was the first poet to have been buried in Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey...
's character "The Prioress". In all, she authored more than twenty books.
She studied at numerous universities, including the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, and Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. When she completed her M.A. degree in English at The University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, she had been one of only four Sisters to pursue graduate work there. In 1925, she earned a Doctorate in English from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. She served as teacher and principal of Sacred Heart Academy in Ogden, Utah and as President of St. Mary-of-the-Wasatch College in Salt Lake City. She later became the head of the English department at Saint Mary's College
Saint Mary's College (Indiana)
Saint Mary's College is a private Catholic liberal arts college founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. It is located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community northeast of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States — as are the University of Notre Dame and Holy...
.
The tenure of Sister Madeleva Wolff as President of Saint Mary's College began in 1934. She told leaders that “the essence of our college is not its buildings, its endowment fund, its enrollment, or even its faculty; the essence is the teaching of truth.” Some of her most tangible contributions included the establishment of the School of Sacred Theology (the first and, for more than a decade, the only institution to offer graduate degrees in theology to women), the introduction of the Department of Nursing Education, and the construction of the Moreau Center for the Arts (named for Father Basil Moreau
Basil Moreau
The Blessed Father Basil Anthony Marie Patrice Moreau, CSC was the French priest who founded the Congregation of Holy Cross from which three additional congregations were founded, namely the Marianites of Holy Cross, the Sisters of the Holy Cross, and the Sisters of Holy Cross...
, it was one of the first all-purpose buildings for art studies—containing both galleries and theatres—in the country). In 1958, she received an honorary degree (LLD) from Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
. She retired from her position as president in 1961. She died in Boston in 1964.
The Madeleva Society, composed of benefactors of the College, bears her name, as well as Madeleva Hall, the Madeleva Memorial Classroom Building, The Sister Madeleva Poetry Society, and the Madeleva Lecture Series.
Sister Madeleva Quotations
- "I like to go to Marshall Field's in Chicago just to see how many things there are in the world that I do not want."
- "Thinking of things to be done, hopes to be realized, persons to be helped, I say laughingly that I go to a multitude of funerals daily, burying so many deceased projects, so much of what I have had to let die and must bury without regret."
Literary works
- With Marian Anderson (?) co-written with Sister Mary Pieta
- Horizons: Reflections on a Liberal Education (1981?)
- A Child Asks for a Star (1964)
- The Sister Madeleva Story (1961) co-written with Barbara C. Jencks
- Conversations with Cassandra: Who Believes in Education? (1961)
- My First Seventy Years (1959)
- 25 Poemas de la Hermana Mary Madeleva : En Versión Castellana (1959)
- The Four Last Things: Collected Poems (1959)
- American Twelfth Night, and Other Poems (1955)
- A Lost Language, and Other Essays on Chaucer (1951)
- The Education of Sister Lucy: A Symposium on Teacher Education and Teacher Training (1949)
- Collected Poems (1947)
- Saint Mary's College: Notre Dame, Holy Cross, Indiana : A Report of the President (1947)
- A Song of Bedlam Inn, and Other Poems (1946)
- Selected Poems (1945)
- Addressed to Youth (1944)
- New Things and Old, Christmas, 1941 (1941)
- Four Girls, and Other Poems (1941)
- Christmas Night 1940 (1940)
- Songs of the Rood; A Century of Verse (1940)
- Gates, and Other Poems (1938)
- Christmas Eve, and Other Poems (1938)
- Bethlehem (1938)
- A Question of Lovers, and Other Poems (1936)
- The Happy Christmas Wind, and Other Poems (1936)
- Penelope, and Other Poems (1927)
- Chaucer's Nuns, and Other Essays (1925)
- Pearl; A Study in Spiritual Dryness (1924)
- Knights Errant, and Other Poems (1923)
- A Plea for the Familiar Essay in College English (1918)
Works Inspired by Sister Madeleva
- Composer Zae Munn used Sister Madeleva's poetry as the text for a piece written for a women's choir titled "Touched to Apocalypse" (2001).
- Composer Elizabeth PostonElizabeth PostonElizabeth Poston was an English composer, pianist, and writer. She studied at Queen Margaret's School, York and then the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she was encouraged by both Peter Warlock and Ralph Vaughan Williams. She won a prize from RAM for her violin sonata, which was...
used Sister Madeleva's poetry as text for a piece for voice and piano titled Sheepfolds. (1958)
External links
- Article: In the Tradition of Sister Madeleva
- Sister Mary Madeleva - The Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City Archives
- Biography - Sister Mary Madeleva
- CNWE - The Madeleva Lecture Series
- Women in American Religious History
Links to Sister Madeleva's Poetry
- I Go to School
- Things to Be Loved
- Three by Madeleva I: Poems by Sister M. Madeleva, C.S.C.
- Three by Madeleva II: Poems by Sister M. Madeleva, C.S.C.
- Three by Madeleva III: Poems by Sister M. Madeleva, C.S.C.
- Three by Madeleva IV: Poems by Sister M. Madeleva, C.S.C.
- Three by Madeleva V: Poems by Sister M. Madeleva, C.S.C.
- Three by Madeleva VI: Poems by Sister M. Madeleva, C.S.C.