“Heart Immaculate”: A beloved hymn

Music by Sister M. Scholastica Chainey

Sister M. Scholastica Chainey was born Emily in Bessemer, MI, on February 16, 1893 but graduated from the IHM Academy in Coeur d’Alene, ID in 1909. We do not know when her family moved to Coeur d’Alene, but her parents were natives of Canada. Sister taught at St. Paul’s in Scranton; Marywood College several times; St. Cecilia’s in Scranton; Most Holy Rosary in Syracuse, NY; and, St. Mary of the Mount in Pittsburgh. She is described as being an accomplished musician, as she must have been because she earned a PhD in Music from the University of Toronto and authored a series of music education books. She taught violin, piano, orchestra, music theory, Church singing, choir, and the history of art. It was while she was Supervisor of Music for the community (1931-1948) in 1944 that she composed the music for Heart Immaculate. It is possible that she taught Gregorian Chant to the novices and worked with Sister Aquin who was a novice at the time in the composition of this treasured hymn.

Words by Sister M. Aquin Theobald 

Sister Aquin (Marie Catherine) Theobald was born on August 29, 1921 in Brooklyn, NY. She received the habit on May 8, 1944 and it was while she was an IHM novice in 1944 that she wrote the words to Heart Immaculate. Sister Aquin taught in elementary as well as secondary schools. She also served as an addiction counselor in Albany, NY, as executive director of Mercy House (a shelter for women in crisis) in Albany, and as director of the IHM Congregation’s Theresa Maxis Center for Justice and Peace in Scranton, PA. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, a Master of Library Science degree, both from Marywood College, and also a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Scranton. Sister Aquin held membership and offices in numerous professional organizations. She was a published poet, lyric composer and writer on history and English, and on topics of addiction.