A Saint Among Outlaws
SISTER SEGALE, A MEMBER OF THE SISTERS OF CHARITY OF CINCINNATI,
CAME TO TRINIDAD, COLORADO, IN 1877 TO TEACH POOR CHILDREN.
by Antoinette Wharton
Known as “The Fastest Nun
in the West” and “The Nun Who
Took on Billy the Kid”, Sister
Blandina’s historical legends are
stories of compassion and great
triumph. Her history tied to the
town of Trinidad is one of the most
famous folk tales. It was here she
had her run-in with the infamous
criminal Billy the Kid.
One of Billy’s gang members
suffered a gunshot wound and was
near death; none of the doctors in
Trinidad would treat him. Sister
Blandina heard of this, took him in
and cared for him nursing him back
to health for three months. At first,
this kindness was unseen by Billy as
he planned to come back to town
and seek revenge on the four doctors
who wouldn’t save his friend. This
is when Blandina intervened and
prevented him from committing
these heinous crimes. It was from
then on that Billy and Blandina
became friends. It was reported that
she even visited him in jail. Once he
came to learn that Sister Blandina
was a passenger on a stage coach he
was attempting to rob, he called off
the robbery.
Aside from the outlaw dramatism,
she also spent her life fighting for
Native American and minority
rights.
She built and founded
hospitals and schools in Colorado
and New Mexico. She also spent
her days teaching and caring for the
orphaned children.
In the summer of 2014, cause for
her sainthood was opened in New
Mexico.
Sister Blandina is now
titled “Servant of God.”
Find out more at Newlegendsmag.com
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