# The Word "Ursuline" in Catholic Landmarks **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 25, 2003, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-ursuline-in-catholic-landmarks/171214 "2003-04-25T22:41:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-ursuline-in-catholic-landmarks/171214/1 "2003-04-25T22:41:58Z")
There is an Ursuline Convent in New Orleans. There’s also an Ursuline Convent in Springfield, IL, and an Ursuline Academy high school. In fact, [this page](http://www.ursuline-ed.net/usefullinks/) lists several Ursuline institutions throughout North America. What does “Ursuline” mean, especially as it relates to Catholicism? [sub]I’m assuming it has nothing to do with _ursa_, the Latin word for “bear.”[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-ursuline-in-catholic-landmarks/171214/2 "2003-04-25T22:47:57Z")
I popped over to [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) and got this: > [@](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-ursuline-in-catholic-landmarks/171214/3 "2003-04-25T22:48:04Z")
[Saint Ursula](http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintu01.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Ezstrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@Ezstrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ezstrete)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-ursuline-in-catholic-landmarks/171214/4 "2003-04-25T22:49:45Z")
The term refers to the members of a religious community instituted in honor of St.Ursula. That lady ,or her followers, were victims of a massacre. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-ursuline-in-catholic-landmarks/171214/5 "2003-04-25T22:57:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lsura \* > \*\*I popped over to [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) and got this: \*\* Why didn’t _ **I** _ think of that? Jeez, I’m a dumbass sometimes. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-ursuline-in-catholic-landmarks/171214/6 "2003-04-26T01:15:06Z")
[A short account](http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/stangela/sisters.htm) of an Ursuline community including its origins. I’m irked at **Earthling** for beating me to the link for St. Ursula – how often do you get to provide an answer in GQ that includes the phrase “and eleven thousand virgins”??? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![brianmelendez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@brianmelendez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianmelendez)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-ursuline-in-catholic-landmarks/171214/7 "2003-04-26T01:34:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Polycarp \* > \*\*I’m irked at **Earthling** for beating me to the link for St. Ursula – how often do you get to provide an answer in GQ that includes the phrase “and eleven thousand virgins”??? 😉 \*\* Probably not very often. Not in GQ, anyway. An answer that involves so many virgins probably belongs in ATMB. :eek: