Saint of the Week

V. Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange   1783-1882 



Michelle Elizabeth Clarisse Lange’s early life is not well documented. She was born between 1783 and 1794, some sources claim her birthplace as San Domingo, Hispaniola, and others suggest Santiago de Cuba. Eventually, Lange immigrated to the United States as a free person and ended up in Baltimore, Maryland in 1813. In Baltimore at the time, free people of color outnumbered those who were enslaved and there was an established community of other French-speaking, Catholic, Afro-Caribbean refugees from the Haitian Revolution.

 

Despite her education and means, as a black woman in a society marked by slavery and racism, she faced numerous obstacles in pursuing her vocation. In the early 1800s, there were few opportunities for black women to receive the proper education or training specifically needed to enter into religious life. Lange began working as a teacher and catechist, helping to educate and evangelize the city's black population. There was an incredible need for education for black children at the time because they were not permitted in Baltimore’s public school system, so Lange opened a free school to serve youth of color inside of her home. In 1829, Lange and three other women made a private commitment to live a religious life under Joubert's guidance. The following year, they formally established the Oblate Sisters of Providence, taking vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Lange served as the congregation's first superior, overseeing its growth and development over the next several decades — becoming the first-ever black superior general in the Americas. She took on the name Sister Mary.

 

Lange herself was known for her deep spirituality, her tireless work ethic, and her compassion. Her example inspired many other women of color to consider religious life and the Oblate Sisters of Providence grew to become a thriving congregation with a strong sense of mission and purpose. Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange died on February 3, 1882, at the age of 88. She was declared Venerable on June 22, 2023, and she is remembered as a trailblazer, a visionary, and a woman whose faith and perseverance helped to break down barriers and create new opportunities for black Catholics in the United States.

© LPi

Share by: