"A Promise of Obedience": The Oblates of Providence and the Catholic Hierarchy

Abstract

Abstract:The Oblates of Providence were the first congregation of black women religious in the United States. While their racial identity defined their marginalized place within the Catholic community, the intersections of their racial and gendered identities as black women religious influenced their daily interactions with the clergy. By examining the Oblates' governance and approbation process, this article argues that the Oblates' success within the antebellum Catholic Church depended on them navigating the complicated racial and gendered relationships they developed with the male hierarchy.