Assumption,, Augustinians of the

ASSUMPTION, AUGUSTINIANS OF THE (known popularly as Assumptionists): A religious congregation of men, founded at Nîmes in 1845 by Emmanuel d’Alzon (1810–80), and finally approved by the pope in 1864. The rule is that of St. Augustine, supplemented by special constitutions. The purpose of the society is the sanctification of its members, devotion to God, to the Blessed Virgin, and to the Church, and zeal for souls. The activity of the Assumptionists has been displayed in many fields. A large part of their energy has been devoted to the poor and working classes, in asylums, schools, and technical institutions. In 1864 the Little Sisters of the Assumption were organized to assist in this work, and later, to secure still more effectively the spiritual and material relief of the needy, three pious confraternities of laywomen were affiliated to the Oblates—the Servants of the Poor, the Sisterhood of Our Lady, and the Daughters of St. Monica. In 1863 Father d’Alzon was sent by Pius IX to Constantinople to take up missionary work, and to-day about 350 members of the society are laboring in Turkey, Bulgaria, Asia Minor, and Palestine, in schools, seminaries, hospitals, and general missionary work. The demands of this field led to the founding of the Oblate Sisters of the Assumption. Perhaps the best known work of the Assumptionists is the Oeuvre de la Bonne Presse for the dissemination of good literature. This undertaking which was attended by a remarkable degree of success, resulted in numerous newspapers and magazines, and almost countless other publications. La Croix du Dimanche had a circulation of 510,000. Dissolved by a decree of the Court of Appeal of Paris, Mar. 6, 1900, the Assumptionists were doomed to exile or dispersion, but still maintain their corporate existence, with a central house at Rome, and establishments in Belgium, Spain, Italy, England, Australia, Chile, and the United States. They count at the present time about 1,000 members. The habit is a black robe with long, flowing sleeves, a black cape and cowl, and a leathern cincture.

John T. Creagh.