Enlightened Charity contextualizes the healing heritage of holistic nursing care within the context of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul who developed and practiced nursing principles throughout France in the seventeenth century under the leadership of Saint Louise de Marillac (1591-1660). The sisters moved from home health care in 1633 to managing the Hospital of Saint-Jean at Angers in 1639, and elsewhere. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) adopted the Vincentian spirit and mission for her Sisters of Charity, founded at Emmitsburg, MD, in 1809.  Notable among the sisterhood, Sister Matilda Coskery (1799-1870) distinguished herself in nursing, psychiatric nursing, and nursing education. Sometime prior to 1840, Sister Matilda penned her text, "Advices for the Care of the Sick," which is published for the first time in Enlightened Charity. The coauthors explain the significance of the influence of Louise de Marillac, Elizabeth Ann Seton, and Matilda Coskery on modern nursing practice.