The Reformation England

Mary Ward was born in 1585 and grew up in Reformation England where to practise the Catholic faith could result in prison or death. She grew up in an upper class Catholic family. She received a good classical education within the home environment. Music and art appealed to her, and her speaking and singing gave much pleasure. She spoke and read several languages, including Latin. Like many Englishwomen from the higher classes, Mary Ward enjoyed much greater freedom and independence than was available to women in most Catholic countries at that time. It is therefore not surprising that Mary Ward was open to new ideas. One of the consequences of the lack of a formal Catholic church hierarchy in England during the Reformation was the opportunity it gave to lay people, both men and women, to exercise initiative.

Mary Ward's character

Mary Ward was much loved by all who knew her in her youth, including her family's servants, for her gentleness, holiness and thoughtfulness. She had a meticulous sense of order and cleanliness and a keen appreciation of the beauties of nature: on the long journeys she made on foot she would break off from her recollection to stop and enjoy a fine view. Her delicate social sense caused her to insist all must be treated with the same courteous charity, including her least important employees and the poor. The Sisters' work was to include the children of the poor as well as the daughters of rich families entrusted to their care. Mary Ward had an affectionate nature as well as an uncommon power of quick decision and resolute action. She faced her problems with an independent mind, and, having formed her conscience on a matter, could act without hesitation.

Mary Ward behaved everywhere with perfect assurance, whether in the midst of looting soldiers or at the brilliant courts in this age of absolute princes. And, an unheard of thing for a woman in those days, she fearlessly faced a Congregation of Cardinals in order to defend her work in a long, well thought-out speech in Latin. Although she was zealous for the Church, and was repeatedly imprisoned for her faith, she kept herself free from fanaticism. She followed the principle of not attacking the beliefs of others, however false, but of offering them something better, so they abandoned their errors of their own accord.

Her spiritual life

From her earliest years Mary Ward was a deeply spiritual person. It is said that the first word that she uttered was 'Jesus'. As a young girl she listened to stories of religious life and, although such a way of life was impossible in England, she determined to travel to Europe to become a nun, rejecting several eligible men who sought to marry her. In her adult life she regarded prayer as of the greatest importance: her prayer deepened her life and work and made them holy. The way she met her misfortune, especially the last and bitterest one - the total suppression of her Institute - is a striking proof of the soundness of her spiritual life.