SISTER M. CARMELITA QUINN

Second Prioress General

+ May 10, 1988 +

"He chose me through LOVE to live in His Presence" (Eph. 1:4)

Elizabeth Bridget Quinn was born in "Sullivan Settlement" just west of Lincoln, Nebraska, to John George Quinn and Margaret Sullivan, the second eldest of 5 children. From her earliest recollections Elizabeth speaks of the warmth and closeness characteristic of her home-life. Her mother died at an early age, leaving the care and education of the children to her father. In September of 1909 he enrolled her in St. Joseph's Academy, thus beginning a life-long association with the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, though at the time she had planned to become a Poor Clare. As she was later to write: "The Divine Magnet had attracted her to Clyde!"

Elizabeth entered Clyde on June 21, 1912, making Monastic Profession on January 24, 1914, receiving the name of Sr. M. Carmelita. Her final vows were offered on January 6, 1921. At the time of her death she was in her 74th year of Profession.

The early years of her Monastic life were spent teaching at the Academy; helping with the publication of "Tabernacle & Purgatory" (now Spirit & Life since 1965); and then as secretary to Fr. Lukas Etlin, OSB, who was Chaplain at Clyde. In 1927, she was appointed Mistress of Novices during which time she also became Editor of Tabernacle & Purgatory. Upon the sudden death of Fr. Lukas in 1927, Sr. M. Carmelita assumed the added responsibility of directing the CARITAS work as well as over-seeing plans for the design and building of the Mundelein Convent. Sr. M. Carmelita was a founding member of our monastery in Tucson, Arizona and was appointed Prioress there from 1935-1941. She was sub-prioress at this monastery before returning to Clyde in 1943. Again Sisters' expertise was called upon to help in the design and foundation of our monastery in Kansas City, Missouri. She was Prioress there from 1943-1951. Her work for the Congregation then became more expansive as she was elected Prioress General February 21, 1951, a position she held until 1962.

Sister had a deep respect for education which was again peaked by her visit to Rome in 1952. Her main impression from this visit was the Holy Father's desire "that we should give our Sisters opportunities for 'Sacred Scripture study and theology.'" Thus, in 1957, she invited two of our Sisters to enroll in the Pontifical School of Theology at South Bend, Indiana. Sister was instrumental, along with several other Benedictine Prioresses, in bringing a dream into reality, that is, the establishment of a school of theology under Benedictine auspices in the USA. The dream became the B.I.S.T. (Benedictine Institute of Sacred Theology). Sr. M. Carmelita sent 4 of our Sisters to this institute, thus enabling our Congregation to benefit from contemporary theological insights which have continuously effected our formation in Spirituality.

During her term as Prioress General another Congregational foundation was begun in San Diego, CA, in 1954, with a permanent monastery established in August of 1962. In 1961, the General Council approved the foundation of yet another monastery, in St. Louis, Missouri, though it was not to become a reality until 1966. During her final years of leadership, she was Assistant Prioress General from 1962-1968, after which she became Congregation Archivist until 1979.

Her last years were spent in St. Louis, as a member of our Health Care Center. Sr. M. Carmelita had fallen several months before her death and never seemed to recover her strength. 

After the community Eucharist on May 10, she received Viaticum. Our Chaplain was called to anoint her. Sisters gathered in prayer at her bedside quietly praying as Sr. M. Carmelita peacefully entered into eternal life.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in the Monastery Chapel, St. Louis, Friday, May 13, 1988, at 8:30 AM. Scripture scholar, Rev. Carroll Stuhlmueller, CP, longtime friend, was the presider. Interment at Mt. Calvary Cemetery took place on the 14th of May, 1988.