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1. A term encompassing a number of religious institutes of the Catholic Church, such as the Order of St. Ursula or the Ursulines of the Roman Union.

1. One of an order of nuns founded by St. Angela Merici, at Brescia, in Italy, about the year 1537, and so called from St. Ursula, under whose protection it was placed. The order was introduced into Canada as early as 1639, and into the United States in 1727. The members are devoted entirely to education

Type of: monastic order, order

Encyclopedia: Ursulines