Marble Sculpture of Shell and Child, 1842-1900

From the Sisters of the Holy Cross website, the story of the baby in the shell, "The story is told that Margaret and a group of other children, were sent with a message from the sisters on Chestnut Street to Bishop John Neumann’s residence. When the bishop entered the parlor, he found the children on their knees admiring a large marble shell containing the figure of a baby. Knowing it was too heavy for a child to carry, he joked and said that whoever could carry it away might have it. Margaret left with the others, soon returning with a small wagon. The bishop admired her resourcefulness and told the determined little girl, ‘Someday, my child, you shall become a religious, and what is more, you shall die the head of your order.’ Then he let her triumphantly carry off the baby sleeping peacefully in its marble cradle.

“In 1860 Margaret entered the Sisters of the Holy Cross and became known as Sister M. Annunciata, CSC, a great educator. She served as Superior General at Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, IN, 1895-1900 and died one year short of finishing her term. The marble sculpture remains part of the patrimony of the Sisters, exhibited at the motherhouse. Bishop John Neumann was canonized a saint in 1977.

“The bishop’s gift is a challenge to us today. If a small motherless child had the imagination to overcome a 30-pound obstacle, then we adults can use our resources for the common good. Remember this heritage, helping children to thrive in the human family. Thank God for Mother Annunciata’s imagination and the saint’s generosity." https://www.cscsisters.org/blog/mother-m-annunciata/