Edmund Rice

A Life of ‘Being the Difference’

IRELAND IN 1762Penal Laws since 1695

Could own land ?NOCould vote ?

A CATHOLIC

Could receive an education ?

Could hold public office ?

Could carry weapons ?Could say or attend Mass ?

BUT

BY 1762 strict application of these laws had been reduced

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO

EDMUND RICE

BORN :BORN :

PLACE:PLACE: WESTCOURT, CALLAN, CO KILKENNY

NAME:NAME:

PARENTS:PARENTS: ROBERT RICE (FARMER) MARGARET RICE

FAMILY:FAMILY: 2 OLDER STEPSISTERS, 4 OLDER and 2 YOUNGER BROTHERS

FARMFARM: 180 ACRES LEASED FROM LORD DESART.

JUNE 1, 1762

WORK

WATERFORD:

Wealthy city

Busy port 1000 SHIPS p.a.

Departures to England, America, Newfoundland

BUSINESSBUSINESS: Supplying food for voyages

Apprentice to his uncle Michael at the age of 17

HIS LIFESTYLEVery successful in business

He loved dancing, singing, hunting and boat-riding.

Dressed in style.

He attended Mass daily.

Read and reflected on the bible.

Visited the poor in their homes.

When he was 24 he inherited his uncle’s business.

He lived in the fashionable Arundel Square.

He fell in love with Mary Elliot.

They married.

Together they bought land and property and became a very wealthy couple.

TRAGEDY1788: Expecting their first child

Mary had a serious hunting accident and died as a result

Their baby daughter Mary survived but was born with a serious disability

She was cared for by Edmund’s family in Callan

Edmund was devastated by his wife’s death.

“What was to be done?”

•At first he threw himself into his business

• He became more and more involved in works of charity

• He continued his visits to the poor in their homes. He rescued people from the debtors’ prison and he visited the local prison

HIS REACTION

“LORD, WHAT WILL YOU HAVE ME TO DO ?”

• He spent more and more time in prayer

HIS DECISIONSHe was attracted to the religious life and thought of becoming an Augustinian

HE SOUGHT ADVICE FROM FRIENDS.

During one conversation with a friend, there was a loud commotion from a group of young people fighting on the street outside

“CAN’T YOU DO SOMETHING FOR THEM?”

He wanted to equip people intellectually, morally and spiritually ….

…. TO STAND ON THEIR OWN TWO FEET

… TO CHANGE THE SOCIETY THAT CAUSED / ALLOWED THEM TO BE POOR

This was very difficult, dangerous and radical especially in Penal Ireland.

LIBERATION THROUGH EDUCATION

HIS VISION OF EDUCATION

By 1800 He began by holding evening classes in his stores

Two volunteers offered to help but they didn’t last long!

People thought he was crazy and that the young people of Waterford couldn’t be educated

In 1802He rented stables in New Street

He hired and paid two assistants

He converted them into classrooms

In 1802PATRICK FINN THOMAS GROSVENOR

Joined Edmund to teach in his brotherhood

……..WITHOUT FEE OR REWARD

He gave orders for a permanent monastery and school to be built.

BEGAN TO WIND UP HIS BUSINESS INTERESTS

In 1804He moved into ‘Mount Sion’ and established a school and religious community.

COMMUNITY LIFE:They rose early, prayed together, had daily mass, taught all day, read scripture together and prayed again before going to bed.

SCHOOL LIFE:

Was equally demanding and focused on spiritual development of the young people

NIGHT CLASSES

WEEKEND INSTRUCTION

READING WRITING ARITHMETIC

and BOOK-KEEPING, GEOGRAPHY NAVIGATION,MECHANICS, GRAMMAR….

RELIGION

VISITS TO THE JAIL

PEOPLE IN DISTRESS

A tailors, a bakehouse and a school!

Mount Sion

SOME SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES

1805 CARRICK-ON-SUIR 1816 THURLES

1862 NENAGH

1869 JAMES’ STREET (BELLE BANK)1874 DOON1900 CLONMEL1963 LIMERICK (Ard Scoil Ris)

1829 LIMERICK, SEXTON ST

1858 ST JOSEPH’S, DROGHEDA

1866 CHARLEVILLE

1825 PRESTON (FIRST SCHOOL IN ENGLAND)

1829 O’ CONNELL SCHOOL, DUBLIN

HIS HEALTHHis health suffered as a result of:

• Long teaching hours

• Criticism by government officials

• Criticism by some bishops and by some brothers

• Visiting Jails and staying with prisoners as they were executed

So in 1838 and at the age of 76 he resigned as Superior General of the Brothers.

DIED ON 29 AUGUST, 1844

He is buried in Mount Sion.

HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE PRESS ALL ACROSS THE ENGLISH SPEAKING WORLD

His remains rest in the Blessed Sacrament

Chapel, Mount Sion, Waterford.

BEATIFIED IN 1996BEATIFIED IN 1996

Questions and Comments

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