What is "sisters of mercy"

Mercy \Mer"cy\ (m[~e]r"s[y^]), n.; pl. Mercies. [OE. merci, F. merci, L. merces, mercedis, hire, pay, reward, LL., equiv. to misericordia pity, mercy. L. merces is probably akin to merere to deserve, acquire. See Merit, and cf. Amerce.]

1. Forbearance to inflict harm under circumstances of provocation, when one has the power to inflict it; compassionate treatment of an offender or adversary; clemency.

   Examples of justice must be made for terror to some; examples of mercy for comfort to others.
   --Bacon.

2. Compassionate treatment of the unfortunate and helpless; sometimes, favor, beneficence.
   --Luke x. 37.

3. Disposition to exercise compassion or favor; pity; compassion; willingness to spare or to help.

   In whom mercy lacketh and is not founden.
   --Sir T. Elyot.

4. A blessing regarded as a manifestation of compassion or favor.

   The Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
   --2 Cor. i. 3.

   Mercy seat (Bib.), the golden cover or lid of the Ark of the Covenant. See Ark, 2.

   Sisters of Mercy (R. C. Ch.),a religious order founded in Dublin in the year 1827. Communities of the same name have since been established in various American cities. The duties of those belonging to the order are, to attend lying-in hospitals, to superintend the education of girls, and protect decent women out of employment, to visit prisoners and the sick, and to attend persons condemned to death.

   To be at the mercy of, to be wholly in the power of.

   Syn: See Grace.

The Religious Sisters of Mercy (R.S.M.) are members of a religious institute of Catholic women founded in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland by Catherine McAuley (1778–1841). In 2003 the institute had about 11,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations. They also started many schools around the globe.

Sisters of Mercy may refer to:

• Sisters of Mercy, a world-wide Catholic religious order founded by Catherine McAuley.
• Sisters of Mercy of St. Borromeo a religious congregation founded in France
• The Sisters of Mercy, a British rock band
• "Sisters of Mercy", the title of the 39th episode of the TV series Law & Order
• "Sisters of Mercy", a song by Leonard Cohen on the album Songs of Leonard Cohen
• "Sister of Mercy", a song by the Thompson Twins on the album Into the Gap
• "Sisters of Mercy", a song by Phil Lynott's Grand Slam on the album Live 1984