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Thursday, January 23, 2014

Cowboys and...Nuns?


By Kathleen Rice Adams

An early re-enactment of the 1869 journey from
Galveston to San Antonio undertaken by three Sisters of
Charity of the Incarnate Word. The journey resulted
in the formation of what is today the largest congregation
of women religious in Texas.
What's the first mental image you snag when someone mentions the Old West? I'll bet nuns aren't even in your mental-image library.

Perhaps they should be. Nuns played a surprisingly large role in civilizing the frontier. In fact, one congregation of women religious built orphanages, hospitals, and schools from Texas to California. The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, founded in 1866 in Galveston, Texas, by three French nuns invited to America by the Catholic bishop of Texas's only diocese, suffered hardship, disease, and a devastating hurricane. They persevered, though, taming the West with faith instead of guns. Today, the San Antonio congregation is the largest in the state. In addition to Texas, the sisters operate benevolent missions across the U.S. and in Ireland, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Kenya.

I admire the fortitude of these women. Imagine braving Indians, outlaws, and all sorts of natural hazards to spread healthcare, education, and comfort in big cities and remote outposts across an untamed land. Would you have had the backbone for such an adventure? I'm not sure I would have.

Two postulants from the Congregation of the Incarnate Word
in San Antonio, Texas, ca. 1890. (courtesy University of
Texas at San Antonio’s Institute of Texan Cultures)
Available in print and
most e-formats at an
online bookstore near you.
As it turned out, neither did Sister María Tomás, who thought she wanted to become a nun only to discover dreams and reality sometimes diverge. Her decision to leave the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word proved fortunate for ex-Texas Ranger Quinn Barclay, a man of violence with a shattered dream of his own. Together, they forge a new reality among the ashes of a burned-out border town in "The Second-Best Ranger in Texas," my contribution to the Prairie Rose anthology Hearts and Spurs. Eight other authors contributed heart-warming stories, too. Brimming with charm and historical research, each tale leaves no doubt Cupid is a cowboy, and he's playing for keeps.

28 comments:

  1. Um, this thing ate my comment. Must have been really good, I reckon. Or really bad.

    Loved your story, Tex. Poor Quinn--just wanted another drink or two, not a passel of nuns and orphans. I do find the whole business about the nuns fascinating. Here in the Pacific Northwest, the first women to negotiate the Oregon Trail were pastors' wives, Eliza Spaulding and Narcissa Whitman. But history books hardly ever mention the women, or if they do, the women are given short shrift.

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    1. Well, cuss words. Now I'm curious about what you typed the first time. It's things like this that keep me up at night....

      I think we should embark upon a mission to tell more tales about pioneering women. There are some fascinating ones, aren't there? I hope we'll see a post about Eliza Spaulding and Narcissa Whitman. Bet they were characters. (And speaking of characters: What a great name Narcissa would be!)

      Yeah, poor Quinn. **snort** That cantankerous sot got better than he deserved. He should consider himself lucky: Some rowdy Northwesterner could've dragged his pickled butt onto a stage stuffed full of piglets and a woman with a built-in bustle. ;-)

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  2. You are so right, Kathleen, nuns to not automatically pop into my mind when I think of the old west. As much as I worked for the Sisters of Mercy at Mercy Hospital for 47 years and knew how they came to America from Ireland to perform such services as healthcare and so on, for people in cities and outposts, I just didn't apply that knowledge to the old west.
    I loved the pictures you posted. A very intersting post as always.
    You really chose an interesting story line for Hearts and Spurs and I am looking forward to reading it.

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    1. You know, Sarah, I'm kind of amazed more isn't "out there" about the roles nuns played in civilizing the frontier. Of course, most of the popular historical information available deals with the men of the Old West. I blame Hollywood. During the period when western movies were so popular, the prevailing attitude seemed to be that heroines must be delicate flowers in need of rescue and protection. HA! I don't think that's ever been the case, but it played well on the silver screen. ;-)

      When will we see your next Wildings story? I've become a fan of that family. More! :-)

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  3. Kathleen, bless your dear heart for posting something today! I love this post. I guess none of us would have ever thought about nuns in the west if it hadn't been for Two Mules For Sister Sarah. LOL Your story was wonderful. I think I might have said that about a hundred times before but I want to say it one more time. You really had a complicated story line to follow, as far as adhering to the "nun rules". Quite a surprise, coming from you, Tex. Didn't know you knew anything about "nunning". LOL (I am running as fast as I can right now...) Seriously, this is such interesting piece of history, and your blog piece is so informative! Loved it!
    Cheryl

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    1. Holy cow! Where did all of these commenters come from? You've been out lassoing folks again, haven't you, Okie? :-D

      If not for Sister Maria Tomas's stubborn hide, I probably STILL wouldn't know very much about "nunning." When I started this tale, I thought I'd be writing about a secular Tejana in a small border town -- a woman with a good heart and a stiff spine, but your basic average, everyday citizen. When she showed up wearing a postulant's habit, I found myself in a bit of a pickle, having descended from a long line of hellfire-and-brimstone Baptists (with a few Methodists and the odd Presbyterian thrown in for good measure). :-D Fortunately, I've got a modest background in Galveston and Texas history -- plus a few dear friends who are on first-name bases with Catholic clergy. Whew! I drove myself nuts obsessing about inadvertently typing something offensively inaccurate.

      I absolutely ADORE research, but I think I'll stick with Protestants in the future. ;-)

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  4. Kathleen, I loved your story! Quinn was the kind of wounded hero that really gets my heart. I felt deeply for him and the demons he fought. And Maria was the perfect woman who could help him heal. Great Job! Take care, dear friend.

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    1. Aw, Linda, thank you, sweet lady! That means a lot to me, coming from you. I've admired your stories since I encountered the first one in GIVE ME A TEXAN. (The whole "Give Me a..." series was fantastic, IMO.) Since we share a love of Texas bad-boy heroes, I'm looking forward to whatever you publish next, dear friend. BIG HUGS!!!!

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  5. Amazing woman.. I can't even imagine what they had to endure in the old west. And of course we know what the nun was in Two Mules for Sister Sarah,lol, but I am looking forward to reading your story Kathleen Rice Adams..

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    1. Kathleen! Love your name. ;-)

      I'm with you on finding it difficult to imagine what life must have been like for women on the American frontier. They must have had guts and heart to spare. I haven't watched TWO MULES FOR SISTER SARA in years and years and years, but it keeps coming up lately. Odd. ;-) I guess I'll have to force myself to watch it again. Such a hardship. I can't stand ogling...I mean, studying Clint Eastwood's performing style in a completely detached, academic way. ;-)

      I bet you'll enjoy all the stories in HEARTS AND SPURS. I did! Thanks for popping in today! :-)

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  6. I should send you the story of the 'sisters' who did so much here in Colorado. They were a force to be reckoned with. Loved this post. It is so informative and a great read. Haven't made it to your story yet...dang work, etc. but looking forward to next week when I have the Oscar films out of the way and murder mysteries finished for the month. Doris

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    1. Doris, I would LOVE to know more about those sisters! I know what you mean about "dang work." GAH! Hopefully, you're hearing all the good Oscars gossip! :-D

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  7. Interesting post, Kathleen. Several Ursuline nuns also headed West to establish a mission school for women and girls of the Blackfeet Indian Tribe in Cascade, Montana.

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    1. Now THAT would be a fascinating post, Tom! Can we expect to read something about the Ursulines and their Blackfeet mission on your blog soon? Please?

      Thank you for stopping by today. What a pleasure it is to see a brave guy sneak onto a page full of women! ;-)

      When's your next story due out? I so enjoyed both your novel (LAST STAND AT BITTER CREEK) and your short "A Fire in Brimstone." Keep it up, darlin', and we'll turn you into a romance author yet. ;-)

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    2. Tomorrow's blog will partially be about the nuns, but about Mary FIelds, more specifically.

      I always get a vicarious thrill out of sneaking onto a page full of women. Y'all are sooo fascinating.

      Another work of short fiction coming soon. Me, a romance author? Where's that danged six-shooter...

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  8. I loved THE W3COND BEST RANGER IN TEXAS, Kathleen. In fact, I loved all the stories in HEARTS AND SPURS. Yours made me laugh and worry, but I knew you'd pull them out of trouble. You didn't let me down.

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    1. Whew! I'm glad to hear that, Caroline. I'm also thrilled that you liked "The Second-Best Ranger in Texas," you being a fellow Texan and one of my favorite WHR authors and all. Your Stone Mountain men and their brides left a lasting impression. I've got to get busy reading your Unsuitable series! HUGS!!!!

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  9. I really didn't know nuns were in the Old West even this much. Other Protestant groups--the Presbyterians were prevalent--began schools and orphanages across the frontier. Some were good, some not so bad. Maybe more than one group literally stole Indian children, cut their hair, and dressed them in western clothing. Ugh. It was sickening, even though the groups probably thought they were doing God's will.
    Thanks for more about the nuns. Fascinating, and I love the photos.

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    1. Celia, the whole thing about "civilizing" Indian children has always bothered me. I'm sure the people who devoted themselves to caring for those children had the best of intentions, but it's just always seemed such a sad situation. I've done quite a bit of research about the Chiricahua Apache, whose culture was almost thoroughly eradicated after Geronimo's surrender in Skeleton Canyon, partially because the U.S. government was committed to "assimilating" the children. One of these days, I hope to work all of that research into a story. The issues remain so sensitive, though, that it's another area in which I worry about getting details offensively wrong. We'll see what develops. In the meantime, I'll look forward to your next story. You have such a way of conveying heartfelt emotion. HUGS!!!!

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  10. I find this subject fascinating. Thanks for sharing Kathleen.

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    1. Thanks for stopping in, Kristy! Question: Will we see a short story from you in any of the summer anthologies? I hope so! :-)

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  11. Thanks for the great info, Kathleen. I love nun stories in all shapes and sizes. Taught in Catholic schools for twenty years and several remain good friends. xoxox And indeed, Quinn is a great hero. xo

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    1. Tanya, you are such a dear lady. Next time a nun shows up for one of my tales, guess whom I'm bedeviling for help with the facts! :-D

      I really, really enjoyed "Open Hearts" in HEARTS AND SPURS. The characters seemed like a bit of a departure for you, but they were absolutely delightful. I'm still trying to get over the beard-ripping scene in the cabin early on. OW! My poor cheeks will never be the same. :-D

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    1. Charlie, that's what I've always love about you: classic "man of few words." :-D

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  13. Like Cheryl, I just think of Clint Eastwood and Two Mules for Sister Sara. Love your writing Kathleen, and I can't wait to read more.

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    1. Livia, I'm certainly not going to complain anytime someone conflates Clint Eastwood and one of my characters -- or Shirley MacLaine either, for that matter. :-D

      I am so grateful to you and Cheryl for giving me the opportunity to participate in these anthologies. I won't ever be able to thank y'all enough. :-)

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  14. Kathleen, you find the most fascinating bits of history. I loved Two Mules for Sister Sarah but, as you say, I never gave much thought to nuns in the west. The Second-Best Ranger in Texas sounds like a fun read.

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