Marianne Cope

Happy Marianne Cope (1838 - 1918) - Religious franciscaine it passed its life to look after the leprous ones on the island of Molokai, with Hawaii. Its currency was: “ Very for God ”

Life and vocation

Marianne Cope, (in the civilian Barbara Koob), was born on January 23rd 1838 with Heppenheim, in Germany. His/her parents were modest farmers. In 1840 they emigrated with the the United States and settled with Utica in the State of New York. Their name of Koob was then anglicized as Cope.

The small Barbara did not attend the school well a long time. As of the 15 years age, she wished to enter in religion, but she has initially to work to help her parents, very sick and to provide the needs of her brothers and sisters (they were seven children).

She was 24 years old, in 1862, when she could finally enter the very recent congregation of the Sœurs Franciscaines of Syracuse .

The congregation, at the beginning of its existence, was particularly in charge of the schooling of the children of the German immigrants; later, it will be at the origin of the creation of the first fifty hospitals of the the United States.

Marianne (its name in religion) pronounces its wishes in 1863. It is initially professor, then main beginners, finally higher of a convent. Finally, it will become higher first hospital of Syracuse. There, completely in the franciscain spirit, it will not strictly make any distinction of race, religion, nationality or color, attached in priority to poorest. It deals especially of the alcoholics and the unmarried mothers.

Apostolate in Hawaii

One day the bishop of Honolulu made a pressing request for evangelization of the archipelago. But the Lèpre infested the islands and good number of congregations was challenged. Mère Marianne accepted, in the name of the gesture of holy François embracing the leprous ones.

She succeeds in finding volunteers to accompany it, and, in 1883 six nuns got under way for the islands Hawaii. Mère Marianne did not think of remaining a long time, the responsibility for her congregation being very important. However, it on the spot will be retained, and it will remain 35 years there while other the higher is named than Syracuse.

In front of the terrible state of the patients, alive in the promiscuity and the lack of care, separated from their families, Marianne and its sisters initially will create a school for the little girls and a hospital on the island Maui. In 1888 it leaves towards the island Molokai, where the leprous ones were parked and collaborates with the Père Damien. This last dies of leprosy one year after its arrival. It thus continues its work by creating a school for the little boys, a school of girls, it arranges also the site in order to make the life softer to the patients who are piled up there by planting trees and flowers. It makes sing the children, equips them correctly, it is regarded as the mother of the leprous .

In spite of the disputes as for its methods, and the immense tiredness which it feels of its enormous work, it manages to communicate joy and hope all around it.

Suffering from a disease of the kidneys, without never to be contaminated by leprosy, she dies in 80 years, leaving an immense heritage in the fields of education and health.

Beatification

Mère Marianne Cope was béatifiée on Saturday, May 14 2005 by the Pope Benoît XVI, at the same time as Mère Ascension Nicol Goni. Eucharistie was chaired by the cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for the worship of the saints. It will evoke the life of Marianne by saying that it was: “ a marvellous work of the divine grace ”

Quotations

Of the cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins , at the time of the office of beatification:

“ happy Marianne liked those which suffered from leprosy more than itself. It served them, educated them, guided them with wisdom, love and force. She saw in them the suffering face of Jesus ”
“ Like the Good Samaritan, she became their mother. She drew her force in her faith, Eucharistie, her devotion for the Happy Virgin Mary, and the prayer. She did not seek the honors of the world or approval. She wrote: `I do not await a place of honor to the sky. I would be very grateful to have a little place where I can love God for eternity' ”.

Of the Pope Benoit XVI on May 16th 2005 before the beatification of Marianne Cope:

“ Faithful to the charisma of the Order and imitating holy François who had embraced the leprous ones, Mère Marianne went voluntary for the mission with one “yes” trustful. And during thirty-five years, until its death in 1918, our happy news devoted its life to like and be used the leprous ones on the islands as Maui and Molokai ”.

“ the generosity of Marianne Mother was, without any doubt, on the human plan, specimen, added the pope. The good intentions and the altruism alone, however do not explain its vocation in an adequate way. Only the prospect for the faith enables us to include/understand his testimony - as a Christian woman and a nun - of sacrificial love which reaches its plenitude as a Jesus Christ ”.

“ All that it made a success of was inspired by its personal love for the Lord that in its turn it expressed through its love for the people abandoned and rejected by the company in the most miserable way ”.

Sources

Osservatore Romano : 2005 N. 21 p.4-6
Catholic Documentation

External bond

Homélie of beatification of the cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, on May 15th, 2005 with the Basilica St Pierre of Rome

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