Venerable Cornelia Connelly Wooden Doll Ornament

Handmade original Venerable Cornelia Connelly Wooden Doll Ornament. Perfect for the Christmas Tree. Bring out on her feast day. Gift for a birthday or sacrament (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Holy Orders, Marriage) celebration. Teacher, priest, grandparent gift.

Born in Philadelphia in 1809, at 22 she married an Episcopalian minister; four years later, the couple and their two children entered the Catholic church. Still grieving the death of their 3rd child, their two-year-old son died in his mother’s arms after a scalding accident, initiating her lifelong devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows. When her husband felt called to the priesthood, ordained in Rome in 1845, she, herself, discovered her own vocation to be a Religious. Pope Gregory XVI requested she go to England and with three companions start the Society of the Holy Child, running schools for poor children. To manage the order, she sacrificed, sending her own three children to boarding schools. While the Society flourished, she experienced great suffering as her husband left the priesthood and the Catholic faith, took their children, and denied her contact – hoping to force her to return as his wife. Cornelia clung steadfastly to God, spreading the Society around the world until her death in 1879.

Made of wood, felt, ribbon, and handmade accessories. Includes tag and card with Saint description. Approximately 4" tall. Packaged in cellophane bag. Shipped in box with bubble wrap.