Jesse Tree of Holy Women ~ Mary, Mother of the New Advent

"Drop down dew ye heavens above

and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"Here am I, the servant of the Lord, 

let it be with me according to your word."
Luke 1: 38

Jesse Tree of Holy Women ~ St. Anne

"Drop down dew ye heavens above

and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"Their offspring will continue forever,

and their glory will never be blotted out."

Sirach 44: 13

Jesse Tree of Holy Women ~ Mother Julia

"Drop down dew ye heavens above

and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"In God who is the source of my strength, I have strength for everything."  Philippians 4: 13

"Sister Jewel", as Mother Julia Hunhoff was affectionately called by her sisters, had a lasting effect on our community. She was prioress from 1961-1973, during the difficult times of Vatican II. Her strong and courageous nature helped her make decisions that deeply affected her sisters' lives. Mother Julia also held a great emphasis on renewal and theology, providing her the knowledge and faith to initiate many programs such as small group living, sister participation at Liturgies, family visits, and change in dress. She is respected, remembered, and loved for her humility, confidence, strength, courage, generosity, deep spirituality and compassion, and sincere concern for all.

Jesse Tree of Holy Women ~ Mother Jerome

"Drop down dew ye heavens above

and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"In all circumstances take up the shield of faith."  Ephesians 6: 13

When Mother Jerome Schmitt was born on March 30, 1899, God had special plans for her life. She held many positions of leadership including first president of Mount Marty College from 1936-1957 as well as Prioress of Sacred Heart Monastery from 1932-1961. With her vision and courage, Mount Marty took shape in 1936. Her vision and lifelong dream also flourished when Bishop Marty Chapel was completed in 1950 in honor of Bishop Martin Marty. Mother Jerome stated, "With these two weapons (the Holy Rule and her Bible) and God's abiding grace, I hope to find my way to heaven" (autobiography). God so rewarded her valiant and strong faith on March 14, 1983 by calling her home.

Jesse Tree of Holy Women ~ Mother Gertrude

"Drop down dew ye heavens above

and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"{The Prioress is} Always to remember what she is and what she is called." ~ Rule of Benedict 2: 30

As foundress of our community, Mother Gertrude Leupi, had a great love for solitude and prayer. Mother Gertrude came to America in 1880 at the age of 55 with 21 years' experience as Prioress at Maria Richenbach, Switzerland. On November 17th, 1880, a novitiate program began in Maryville, Missouri giving our Yankton community its founding date. From Maryville, the sisters moved to Maria Zell, South Dakota in 1886, then to Yankton in 1887. Mother Gertrude was also foundress of two other communities. In all her years of being Benedictine, she always shared true concern for the spiritual and physical needs of her sisters. On March 26, 1904 at the age of 80, the Lord called her home, rewarding her for all her efforts to spread His message of spirituality.

Jesse Tree of Holy Women ~ Susanna

"Drop down dew ye heavens above

and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"Here I am about to die, though I have done none of the things for which these men have condemned me." Daniel 13: 43

Susanna was a beautiful, God-fearing woman who was falsely accused of adultery by two respected elders who were judges in Babylon. The daughter of righteous parents--her father's name was Hilkiah--the wife of an esteemed and wealthy man--her husband's name was Joakim--she was condemned to death without due process and on the strength of the accusation. As she was about to be executed, Daniel intervened and subjected the judges to a cross-examination, exposing their lie and vindicating this much-loved daughter of Judah (Woman Word by Miriam Therese Winter).

Jesse Tree of Holy Women ~ Esther

"Drop down dew ye heavens above

and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"Put into my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion and turn his heart." Esther 12: 24

Esther, daughter of Abihail, was raised by her relative Mordecai after her parents died. She was a Jew in the city of Susa in the kingdom of Media and Persia, and because of her beauty she was conscripted into the royal harem. She was crowned queen after she won the heart of King Ahauerus, and she used her position to intercede for the lives of her people. Becuase of Queen Esther, the Jews who were about to be destroyed won the right to defend themselves by killing those who would have killed them. Their victory gave rise to the feast of Purim. Its authorization as an annual holiday is attributed to Esther and Mordecai (Woman Word by Miriam Therese Winter).

Jesse Tree of Holy Women ~ Judith

"Drop down dew ye heavens above

and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"She was beautiful in appearance, and was very lovely to behold."  Judith 8: 7

Judith, daughter of Merari, wife of Manasseh, was a beautiful, wealthy, courageous woman who lived in the town of Bethulia and liberated her people from an Assyrian siege by seducing Holofernes, general of the Assyrian army, and chopping off his head (Woman Word by Miriam Therese Winter).

Jesse Tree of Holy Women ~ Slave to Naaman's Wife

"Drop down dew yet heavens above

and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."  2 Kings 5: 3

The young Israelite girl who served Naaman's wife had been captured by Naaman who was commander of the Syrian army in the days of the prophet Elisha. She told her mistress that a prophet in Israel could cure her husband of his leprosy, and he did. Nothing more is known of her (Woman Word by Miriam Therese Winter).

Jesse Tree of Holy Women ~ Hannah

"Drop down dew ye heavens above

and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, "I have asked him of the Lord."" 1 Samuel 1: 9-20

Hannah, wife of Elkanah, lived in Ramah with her husband and his other wife, Penninah, and Pennianah's sons and daughters. Hannah herself was childless. After an intense period of prayer, she conceived and gave birth to Samuel, whom she consecrated to God. When the boy was weaned, she left him at the sanctuary in Shiloh to be a minister there and gave birth to other children, two daughters and three sons (Woman Word by Miriam Therese Winter).

Jesse Tree Holy Women ~ Ruth & Naomi

"Drop down dew yet heavens above

and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you do, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God." Ruth 1: 16

During the time of the judges, Naomi with her husband, Elimelech, and her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, emigrated from Bethlehem in Judah to Moab in a period of famine. Elimelech died and the sons took Moabite wives. Mahlon married Ruth and Chilion married Orpha. Ten years later the sons died, leaving both their widows childless. When Naomi set out to return to her country, Ruth accompanied her to Bethlehem where she married Boaz, her husband's relative, and gave birth to Obed, the grandfather of David.

Jesse Tree Women ~ Deborah

Drop down dew ye heavens above

and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"And she said, "I will surely go with you.""
Judges 4: 9

Deborah was a judge, a warrior, and a prophet in Israel during the time of the judges. She was also a singer of songs. She lived in the "hill country" of Ephraim and was the wife of Lappidoth. Scripture records her heroic stance against the Canaanite army and attests to her stature among the people (Woman Word by Miriam Therese Winter).

Jesse Tree Holy Women ~ Jephthah's Daughter

"Drop down dew ye heavens above

and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"Let this thing be done for me. Grant me two months, so that I may go and wander on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, my companions and I." Judges 11: 37

The virgin daughter of Jephthah became her father's burnt offering to God after his victory over the Ammonites. She was an only child. she willingly accepted the sacrifice of her life to fulfill her father's vow (Woman Word by Miriam Therese Winter).

Jesse Tree Holy Women ~ Rahab

"Drop down dew ye heavens above
and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the outer side of the city wall and she resided within the wall itself."  Joshua 2: 15

Rahab was a harlot who sheltered two of Joshua's men when they came to spy on Jericho. She defied the king's orders, deceived his soldiers and helped the Israelites escape to safety. For this act she and her family were spared by Joshua during the destruction of Jericho (Woman Word by Miriam Therese Winter).

Jesse Tree Holy Women ~ Pharaoh's Daughter

"Drop down dew ye heavens above

and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

 
"When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and she took him as her son." Exodus 2: 1-10

Although Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ordered all Hebrew baby boys to be destroyed at birth, his daughter rescued Moses from his basket in the Nile and raised him the royal household until he was an adult. This woman, who saw to the survival of the hero of the Exodus, is known to us only as Pharaoh's daughter. Her name, her dynasty, the particular pharaoh who was her father are facts that have been lost to us (Woman Word by Miriam Therese Winter).

Jesse Tree of Holy Women ~ Shiphrah & Puah

"Drop down dew ye heavens aboveand let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"So God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very strong."
Exodus 1: 20

Shiphrah and Puah were Hebrew midwives in Egypt prior to the Exodus. God-fearing women and mothers themselves, they defied Pharaoh's orders to kill all male babies born to Hebrew women, enabling the Jews to increase in number. They may have delivered Moses (Woman Word by Miriam Therese Winter).

Jesse Tree of Holy Women ~ Miriam

"Drop down dew yet heavens above

and let the clouds rain the just one."

Isaiah 45: 8

"Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing."
Exodus 15: 20

Miriam, daughter of Jochebed and Amran and granddaughter of Kohath who was a son of Levi, was the sister of Moses and Aaron and shared leadership with her brothers during the exodus from Egypt. she led the women in song and spirited dance following the miracle at the Sea of Reeds, and was briefly afflicted with a debilitating skin disease after criticizing her brother Moses. Miriam died and was buried in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin without reaching the Promised Land (Woman Word by Miriam Therese Winter).

Jesse Tree of Holy Women ~ Rachel

"Drop down dew yet heavens above
and let the clouds rain the just one."
Isaiah 45: 8

"Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and wept aloud." Genesis 9: 11

Rachel was the younger daughter of Laban, Rebekah's brother. When Jacob journeyed to the country of his relatives, he fell in love with Rachel and agreed to work seven years for her, but when his service was completed, her father tricked him into marrying her older sister Leah. Rachel became Jacob's second wife for whom he worked another seven years. Rachel, loved by Jacob, was childless, while Leah gave birth to sons. Rachel gave her maid Belhah to Jacob as a concubine and claimed two sons through her before she herself became pregnant and gave birth to Joseph. She died on the way to Canaan while giving birth to her son Benjamin and was buried near Bethlehem (Woman Word by Miriam Therese Winter).

Jesse Tree of Holy Women ~ Rebekah

"Drop down dew ye heavens above

and let the clouds rain the Just One."

Isaiah 45: 8

"...and they called Rebekah,
and said to her, "Will you go with this man?"

She said, "I will.""

Genesis 24: 58

Rebekah, sister of Laban, daughter of Bethuel, granddaughter of Milcah and Sarah's brother Nahor, left her home in Padden-aram to become wife to Isaac in the land of Canaan and mother to twins, Esau and Jacob. She is buried beside Isaac, Abraham, and Sarah in Machpelah, which is in Hebron (Woman Word by Miriam Therese Winter).

Jesse Tree of Holy Women ~ Sarah

"Drop down dew ye heaven's above

and let the clouds rain the Just One."

Isaiah 45: 8

"God has brought laughter for me,

everyone who hears will laugh with me."

Genesis 21: 6

Sarah was born in Ur of the Chaldeans, where she married her brother Abraham. Their father was Terah, but hey had different mothers whose names we do not know. Before God established a covenant with them, their names were Sarai and Abram. They left Ur to settle in the land of Canaan and lived for a while in Egypt and the Negeb before pitching their tent near the oaks of Mamrah in Kiriath-arab, which is Hebron. Childless until the age of ninety, Sarah bore a son named Isaac when her husband was one hundred years old. She died at the age of one hundred and twenty-seven and was buried in a cave at Machpelah in the land of Canaan (Woman Word by Miriam Therese Winter).