“Back under the Jurisdiction of the Rev. Provincial”: The Dominican Sisters and the Limitations of Female Agency in the Nineteenth-Century Catholic Church in the Midwest

“Back under the Jurisdiction of the Rev. Provincial”The Dominican Sisters and the Limitations of Female Agency in the Nineteenth-Century Catholic Church in the Midwest Elisabeth C. Davis (bio) Introduction In 1864, Alexandre Jandel, the master general of the Order of St. Dominic (a Catholic religious order), wrote a letter to the Dominican Sisters of St. Catharine in Ohio and Kentucky informing them that they were no longer under the jurisdiction of the American leader of the Order of St. Dominic, the provincial,1 but were now under the authority of the local bishops, diocesan congregations.2 The Sisters responded, requesting to be placed “back under the jurisdiction of the Rev. Provincial.”3 To them, becoming diocesan communities meant that they might lose their places within the international Dominican community; moreover, they feared that their position under Episcopal leadership would possibly limit their autonomy within the local dioceses and allow for various abuses of power by the diocesan clergy. Despite the feeling that Jandel’s proclamation had been abrupt, the question of who had authority over the Sisters had been an ongoing debate since their origins in antebellum America.4 Founded by American women, the Kentucky and Ohio Dominican Sisters [End Page 9] of St. Catharine faced an uncertain future from their inception. Within the first four decades of their existence, the clergy nearly disbanded the Sisters multiple times as these women struggled to find their place within the international and American communities. This article examines two such moments: the possible dissolution of the Sisters by Raphael Muños, a Dominican friar, and their placement under the diocesan clergy by Alexandre Jandel, the leader of the international order. The Sisters actively took part within these conflicts navigating the various lines of authority and power within the nineteenth-century American Catholic Church. While the topic of nineteenth-century Catholic sisters’ agency has been well explored, it has not fully included the history of the Dominican Sisters.5 Perhaps the most analytical study of the Sisters is Margaret Hogan’s dissertation, “Sister Servants: Catholic Women Religious in Antebellum Kentucky.” Hogan’s work places the Dominican Sisters in conversation with other women religious, particularly the Loretto and the Sisters of Charity. Through her comparison, Hogan’s dissertation identifies themes for the life of women religious in Kentucky.6 This article places these local politics within the order in the context of larger debates over jurisdiction and authority. It explores the boundaries of [End Page 10] female agency and action within the expanding Catholic Church. In doing so, it adds to the vibrant historiography on nineteenth-century women religious, both in the American Catholic Church and the American Midwest. Origins and Key Terms The organization of the Order of St. Dominic (the Dominicans) is key to understanding the position of the Dominican Sisters in nineteenth-century America; it must be noted that what follows is a summary of a complicated hierarchy and history. Women have been part of the Dominican order since the medieval period. They could be members of the Second Order (enclosed nuns) or the Third Order (laywomen).7 According to the Medieval Constitutions, “The Second are the enclosed Nuns who make solemn vows. The Third branch only make simple vows and do not observe enclosure. The Third was originally intended. . . . for maried [sic] and unmarried persons living at home.”8 No matter their designation, women participated within the Dominican missions of preaching and education. The distinction between the Second and Third Orders meant a difference in governance, authority, and jurisdiction. According to the original thirteenth-century constitutions, there was to be a balance between the local, regional, and international hierarchy.9 The Second Order was historically under the jurisdiction of the Dominican master general. These women were considered members of the Order of St. Dominic and had a level of protection from the local clergy. The Third Order typically consisted of localized lay congregations under the authority of the local bishops. These laywomen were associated with the Dominican order but held a marginal status and were technically not under [End Page 11] the jurisdiction of the master general, the leader of the international order.10 There were only certain situations...