Pierce profited from land investments, and in 1835 was appointed chairman of the Episcopal Convention of the Southwest, which augured well for a future bishopric.

Soon Pierce had become so uncertain in his own beliefs that he resigned from his parish and went to St. Louis to consult with Bishop Joseph Rosati about conversion.

[13] Against the advice of the family's friend, Bishop Antoine Blanc of New Orleans, he sold their home and went to England, where he placed 9-year-old Mercer in a boarding school and applied unsuccessfully to enter the Jesuits.

Cornelia stayed with the two younger children in a small cottage on the convent grounds at Grand Coteau, leading a nun-like life of work and prayer.

In 1843, Pierce arrived in Rome, where Pope Gregory instructed him to bring his family so that officials could discuss the matter with Cornelia.

[3] After receiving Cornelia's personal consent to her husband's ordination, the pope arranged a swift permission, and within three months the couple were formally separated.

Cornelia moved with the baby and his nurse into a retreat house at the convent at the top of the Spanish Steps, living as a laywoman for as long as her youngest child needed her.

In May 1844, Pope Gregory showed his appreciation of this "big catch" for the church by sending a huge fish, freshly pulled from the Tiber.

In keeping with the requirements of canon law, Cornelia pronounced a vow of perpetual chastity, releasing her husband for ordination.

[14] In June, Pierce was ordained and said his first Mass, giving his daughter her first holy communion, while Cornelia sang in the choir.

With the help of Pierce, who was headed for England himself as chaplain to Lord Shrewsbury, she drew up a set of rules for a new religious congregation, which she wanted to call Society of the Holy Child Jesus.

[16] To avoid scandalizing English Protestants, Bishop Nicholas Wiseman put an end to the visitation permission that the couple had had in Rome.

The institute, whose constitution is based on that of the Jesuits, remains devoted to teaching young women and operates schools primarily in the United States.

He put 6-year-old Frank in a secret home while taking Mercer and Adeline with him to Europe, hoping that Cornelia would follow.

His efforts were thwarted when Cornelia heard of them, but he remained registered as the society's co-founder, which was to cause considerable confusion in the future.

He was livid when Bishop Wiseman, unable to meet expenses connected with the schools, had Cornelia move her nuns to his district at St. Leonard's-on-Sea in Sussex.

Cornelia's lawyers gave the omitted facts, but after a year, the judge pronounced against accepting her allegation since Roman law is not binding in England.

Popular opinion favored Pierce, and on Guy Fawkes Day, marchers carried effigies of Wiseman and Cornelia through Chelsea.

Finally, the Privy Council suspended the judgment favoring Pierce, ordering him to pay both parties' costs to date as a precondition for a second hearing.

Pierce himself earned a living from writing tracts against Jesuits, the pope, Catholic morals, and Cardinal Wiseman, which all served to keep Cornelia in the public eye to an extent where she had to take precautions against abduction by her husband.

[23] Cornelia Connelly died on 18 April 1879, at St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, where she had established Mayfield School; at her request, she was buried there.

[24] Today, the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus are active in fourteen countries, striving to live the apostolic life as Cornelia did, seeking to meet the wants of the age through works of spiritual mercy.

Her attitude towards discipline was unusual in that a school to her was meant to be home, with the nuns as mothers who should love, trust and respect their pupils.

Disliking the customary convent rules of constant surveillance, she encouraged mutual trust and respect for different talents.