Theo Nash
Rose Hawthorne Lathrop (1851-1926) was an American Catholic convert and founder of an order of sisters dedicated to caring for terminally ill and destitute cancer patients. She was the daughter of celebrated American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne and had a brief career in literature, publishing several works of her own. She married George Lathrop, a fellow writer, and the couple converted to Catholicism in 1891. However, their marriage suffered due to the loss of their only child and George's struggle with alcoholism. Rose sought church permission to separate from her husband in 1895, and she subsequently dedicated her life to charity and nursing, caring for impoverished cancer patients.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rose's response to her husband's alcoholism | Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, an American philanthropist and Catholic religious sister, did not publicly disclose her husband's alcoholism during her lifetime, so there is limited information about her exact words or responses. However, it is known that she dedicated her life to serving the poor and destitute, and her works continued to support those affected by addiction and poverty. |
| Quotes | "I have always been interested in the poor, and my only hobby has been trying to help them." - This quote by Rose reflects her dedication to serving those in need, which may have been influenced by her experiences with her husband's alcoholism and the associated struggles. |
| Actions | Founded a home for destitute and incurable cancer patients in New York City, later known as the Rosary Hill Home. This act of charity extended comfort and support to those facing severe health challenges, possibly inspired by her personal experiences with her husband's struggles. |
| Impact | Through her charitable works and the establishment of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, Rose's legacy continues to impact those struggling with addiction, poverty, and illness. The sisters' mission focuses on providing holistic care, tending to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those they serve. |
| Legacy | Today, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne continue Rose's mission, operating facilities across the United States that offer compassionate care to those facing terminal illness, poverty, and the consequences of addiction. |
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What You'll Learn
- Rose Hawthorne Lathrop's husband, George, began drinking heavily after their son's death
- She left him due to his alcoholism, despite her Catholic beliefs
- They reconciled and wrote a book together, but she left him again
- George Lathrop died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1898, aged 47
- Rose's own conversion to Catholicism helped her cope with his alcoholism
Rose Hawthorne Lathrop's husband, George, began drinking heavily after their son's death
Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, born in 1851 in Massachusetts, was the third daughter of the celebrated American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne. She was married to George Lathrop, a fellow writer, in 1871. The couple had a son, Francis, who died of diphtheria at the age of five. After Francis's death, George Lathrop began to drink heavily, and his alcoholism put a strain on their marriage. Rose struggled with her husband's drinking, and the couple separated several times before permanently separating in 1896.
Rose described how her husband's drinking became unbearable, and she was forced to seek permission from diocesan authorities to leave him. Despite her struggles with her husband's alcoholism, Rose found strength in her recent conversion to Catholicism, and she immersed herself in charitable works. She became inspired by the motto of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul: "I am for God and the poor." She dedicated her life to caring for impoverished cancer patients at a time when cancer was believed to be contagious, and patients were often abandoned and shunned.
Rose's work with the cancerous poor began after witnessing her friend Emma Lazarus's battle with cancer and learning about a poor seamstress who, due to her illness, could not afford medical treatment and was sent away to an almshouse. She wrote about this realization:
> "A fire was then lighted in my heart, which has never been extinguished, and I knew that I wanted to devote my life to helping people who had cancer."
Rose enrolled in a nursing course at New York's Cancer Hospital and later founded the Sister Rose's Free Home to care for impoverished cancer patients. She and a group of women formed a religious community that continues to provide free care to cancer patients today. In 1900, she and her fellow nuns were given permission to wear the Dominican habit, and they began building a new religious community.
Rose Hawthorne Lathrop died in 1926, leaving behind a legacy of compassionate care and service to the impoverished and terminally ill. She was canonized by the Cardinal Archbishop of New York in 2003 and is known as the "Servant of God in the Catholic Church."
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She left him due to his alcoholism, despite her Catholic beliefs
Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, born in 1851, was the third daughter of the celebrated American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne. She was married to George Parsons Lathrop, a fellow writer, in 1871. The couple had a son named Francis, who died of scarlet fever at the age of five. After the loss of their child, the couple grew apart, and George began to struggle with alcoholism.
Despite her Catholic beliefs, Rose found her husband's drinking intolerable and decided to leave him. Catholicism emphasizes the sanctity of marriage, but Rose's husband's alcoholism became unbearable for her to live with. She applied to the diocesan authorities for permission to separate from her husband. Rose and George reconciled in 1893 and collaborated on a book, but she left him again in 1895, and they never reconciled after that.
Following her separation, Rose dedicated her life to serving Christ and caring for the sick and dying poor in New York City. She trained as a nurse and moved into the tenements, taking in homeless cancer patients and providing them with loving care and companionship. She founded the Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer and established the Sister Rose's Free Home to care for impoverished cancer patients.
In 1899, Rose became known as Mother Alphonsa and founded the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, a religious community that continues to serve the poor afflicted with cancer. She was inspired by her Catholic faith and the motto of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul: "I am for God and the poor." She was later canonized as "Servant of God in the Catholic Church" and her cause for canonization is currently underway.
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They reconciled and wrote a book together, but she left him again
Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, born in 1851, was the third daughter of the celebrated American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne. She was married to George Parsons Lathrop, a fellow writer, in 1871. The couple had a son, Francis, who died of scarlet fever at the age of five. Following the loss of their son, George Lathrop began to drink heavily, and his alcoholism put a strain on their marriage.
Rose, unable to tolerate her husband's drinking, left him. However, they reconciled in 1893 and worked together on a book, "A Story of Courage: A History of the Georgetown Visitation Convent". Despite their collaboration and shared interest in Catholicism, Rose left George again soon after the book's publication in 1895, and they never reconciled. George Lathrop died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1898.
Rose Hawthorne Lathrop's life took a new direction as she dedicated herself to caring for the impoverished and terminally ill cancer patients. She became a Roman Catholic religious sister, taking the name Mother Mary Alphonsa, and established the Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer. She was inspired by her faith and the motto of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul: "I am for God and the poor." She wrote about her motivation to serve the cancerous poor, expressing her desire to bring consolation and dignity to those suffering.
In addition to her charitable works, Rose pursued writing and published several works, including a collection of poems, "Along the Shore" (1888), and a reminiscence of her father's life, "Memories of Hawthorne" (1897). She also co-authored "A Story of Courage" with her husband during their brief reconciliation. Despite her literary pursuits, Rose doubted her talent and wondered if her progress was due to the influence of her husband and father rather than her merit. Nonetheless, she left a lasting legacy through her dedication to serving the cancerous poor and her commitment to her faith.
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George Lathrop died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1898, aged 47
Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, born in 1851, was an American writer, social worker, and religious sister. She was the daughter of the celebrated American novelist, Nathaniel Hawthorne. Rose married George Parsons Lathrop, a fellow writer, in 1871. The couple had a son, Francis, who died of scarlet fever at the age of five. Following the loss of their son, George Lathrop began to drink heavily and descended into alcoholism.
Rose struggled with her husband's drinking problem and, despite the Catholic emphasis on the sanctity of marriage, she found his behaviour intolerable. She separated from him but they later reconciled and collaborated on a book, "A Story of Courage: A History of the Georgetown Visitation Convent." However, Rose left George again after the book's publication in 1895, and they never reconciled.
George Lathrop's alcoholism took a toll on his health, and he died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1898 at the age of 47. Rose, on the other hand, dedicated her life to serving the sick and dying poor, specifically those suffering from cancer. She converted to Catholicism and became known as Mother Mary Alphonsa, founding the Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer. She worked tirelessly to provide care, companionship, and dignity to terminally ill patients, and her community, the Hawthorne Dominicans, continues to serve those afflicted with cancer today.
Rose Hawthorne Lathrop's life exemplifies heroism in the face of personal tragedy. Despite her struggles with her husband's alcoholism and the loss of their son, she channelled her grief into caring for the impoverished and suffering. Her work inspired other women to join her, and together they formed a religious community that continues her legacy of compassion and service.
George Lathrop's early demise at the age of 47 underscores the devastating impact of alcoholism. While Rose's response to her husband's drinking was to leave and focus on her charitable endeavours, she nonetheless experienced the pain and consequences of his addiction. Her life serves as a testament to the power of resilience and dedication to a higher purpose in overcoming personal challenges.
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Rose's own conversion to Catholicism helped her cope with his alcoholism
Rose Hawthorne Lathrop's conversion to Catholicism was a significant turning point in her life, leading her to dedicate herself to serving the poor and caring for cancer patients. This spiritual transformation also helped her navigate the challenges posed by her husband's alcoholism.
Rose's journey to Catholicism began in her early years, when she travelled through England, Portugal, France, and Italy with her family. These experiences exposed her to the 'Roman Church', which was often misunderstood in the Protestant circles of New England. At the age of seven, she witnessed Pope Pius IX during Holy Week from his balcony, an experience that left a lasting impression on her. She wrote about this memory, expressing her admiration for the Pope.
However, it was later in life, after the death of her young son Francis and the onset of her husband George's alcoholism, that she formally converted to Catholicism in 1891. The loss of their son deeply affected both Rose and George, and he began to struggle with alcohol, leading to a deterioration in their marriage. Rose, unable to tolerate his drinking, separated from him in 1895, despite the Catholic emphasis on the sanctity of marriage.
Rose's conversion gave her a sense of purpose and a new direction. She trained as a nurse at the New York Cancer Hospital, becoming the first person in the United States to receive training in treating cancer. She immersed herself in the poorest areas of New York, caring for impoverished cancer patients. Her faith sustained her during these challenging times, and she credited it as the source of her strength to endure the gruesomeness of the work and the difficult living conditions she chose to endure.
Rose's Catholic faith also influenced her decision to wear plain dresses similar to those worn by nuns. This was partly for safety in the dangerous areas where she worked, but also symbolised the type of work undertaken by Catholic sisterhoods. Her faith community supported her endeavours, and she eventually founded a new religious congregation with the approval of the Archbishop of New York.
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Frequently asked questions
Rose Hawthorne Lathrop separated from her husband, George Lathrop, due to his alcoholism.
Rose and George Lathrop reconciled in 1893 and wrote a book together. However, Rose left George again soon after the book's publication in 1895, and they never reconciled after that.
Yes, Rose sought permission from the church to permanently separate from her husband in 1895.
George Lathrop died in 1898 of cirrhosis of the liver, which was likely caused by his alcoholism.
