A Gift from a Friend

by Sister Catherine Madigan, D.C.

Daughters of Charity and staff working at the leprosarium in Carville.
(Photo Courtesy of the Daughters of Charity Provincial Archives)

Years ago, the Daughters of Charity staffed the leprosarium in Carville, La. Sister Catherine Sullivan was a Sister-nurse on staff. She shared this story I have never forgotten.

A generous donor every year gave money at Christmas so every patient would receive a Christmas present he/she had chosen. Sister Catherine went to each patient to ask which gift each of them would like. One older woman—let's call her Mary—who had been at Carville for a long time wanted a beautiful flowering plant. Sister Catherine was puzzled at the request because Mary was blind. She asked her, "Mary, why do you want a beautiful flowering plant you cannot see?"

Mary replied, "Sister, when people tell me what a beautiful plant I have, I can tell them a friend gave it to me."