Jessica Powers
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Jessica Powers (February 7, 1905 – August 18, 1988) was an American poet and Carmelite nun.


Biography


Early years (1905–1936)

Jessica Powers was born on February 7, 1905, in
Mauston, Wisconsin Mauston is a city in and the county seat of Juneau County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,347 as of the 2020 census. It is approximately 70 miles northwest from the state capital, Madison. History Mauston was founded by Milton ...
, the third child to John Powers and Delia Trainer Powers. By the time Jessica had turned 13, she lost both her older sister and father. She graduated from Mauston High School in 1922 and attended
Marquette University Marquette University () is a private Jesuit research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Established by the Society of Jesus as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, it was founded by John Martin Henni, the first Bishop of the diocese of M ...
for a year studying journalism. She then worked in
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
before returning to care for her family after the death of her mother from 1925 to 1936.


Carmelite community (1941–1988)

After spending time in
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
, Powers decided to enter the Milwaukee, Wisconsin community of the Carmel of Mother of God as a
postulant A postulant (from la, postulare, to ask) was originally one who makes a request or demand; hence, a candidate. The use of the term is now generally restricted to those asking for admission into a Christian monastery or a religious order for the pe ...
on June 24, 1941. On April 25, 1942, she received the habit of the
Carmelites , image = , caption = Coat of arms of the Carmelites , abbreviation = OCarm , formation = Late 12th century , founder = Early hermits of Mount Carmel , founding_location = Mount Ca ...
and was given the religious name of Sister Miriam of the Holy Spirit. She died of a stroke on August 18, 1988.


Books

*''The Lantern Burns''. New York: Monastine Press, 1939. *''The Place of Splendor''. New York: Cosmopolitan Science and Art Service, 1946. *''The Little Alphabet''. Milwaukee: Bruce Publishing Co., 1955. *''Journey to Bethlehem''. Pewaukee, WI: Carmelite Monastery, 1980. *''The House at Rest''. Pewaukee, WI: Carmelite Monsastery, 1984. *''Selected Poetry of Jessica Powers''. Regina Siegfried and Robert Morneau, eds. Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward, 1989.


Archival collections

The Jessica Powers Papers are held by the
Marquette University Special Collections and University Archives Marquette University () is a private Jesuit research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Established by the Society of Jesus as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, it was founded by John Martin Henni, the first Bishop of the diocese of Milwa ...
. The collection includes her correspondence (mostly letters received), handwritten and typescript drafts of poems, clippings of her poetry and other writings from newspapers and magazines, and writings about her. Notable correspondents included
August Derleth August William Derleth (February 24, 1909 – July 4, 1971) was an American writer and anthologist. Though best remembered as the first book publisher of the writings of H. P. Lovecraft, and for his own contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos and th ...
, Raymond E. F. Larsson, Robert F. Morneau, and Regina Siegfried.


References


External links


Jessica Powers Sister Miriam of the Holy Spirit OCDThe Jessica Powers Papers
at Marquette University 1905 births 1988 deaths People from Pewaukee, Wisconsin People from Mauston, Wisconsin Discalced Carmelite nuns Poets from Wisconsin 20th-century American poets American women poets 20th-century American women writers {{Wisconsin-stub