A Legacy of Love

What makes an extraordinary person become so special? Is it nature or nurture? Is it the genes with which you are born or the teachings of your family and peers? Is it an innate sense of right and wrong or the teachings of faith and good citizenship? No matter what your answer may be to these ageless questions, there is little doubt all of these factors played a role in the outstanding life of Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, Mother Alphonsa Lathrop of the Servants for Relief of Incurable Cancer. Her spectacular life is chronicled by Alberta Hapenney in A Legacy of Love: A Biography of Rose Hawthorne Lathrop. Little Rose Hawthorne, daughter of famed writer Nathaniel Hawthorne and his beloved wife, Sophia, had a childhood different from most children of her time. Raised with the offspring of some of the most famous literary figures of the time, including Emerson and Alcott, Rose and her siblings traveled the world with their famous father, enduring hardships, as well as the fame. Her own marriage to George Lathrop was bittersweet, and Rose was forced to endure many years of marriage to an alcoholic. But during this time, Rose grew into her own and began a career in the literary field. Upon the dissolution of her marriage, Rose found herself at a turning point in her life. She did not care to go backwards but instead move forward; but in what direction? Following her heart, Rose decided to dedicate herself to the poor and suffering, in particular to those suffering from the misunderstood disease of cancer. She founded what was to become the Servants for Relief of Incurable Cancer, along the way giving her life to Christ and the Catholic Church and eventually becoming Mother Alphonsa, spiritual leader of this growing enterprise. The story of little Rose Hawthornes growth, both physical and spiritual, is masterfully told by Hapenney in this enchanting and intimate biography. Sure to touch the heart, soul, and mind of every reader, the well-researched, well-written, and truly exceptional A Legacy of Love is a work not to be missed.