[6] At first, he was reluctant to be her confessor, as he was busy with his Confraternities of Charity. The need of organization in work for the poor suggested to de Paul the forming of a confraternity among the women of his parish in Châtillon-les-Dombes. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. He held the office of Marshal of France, as well as lieutenant-general of Trois-Évêchés and governor of Metz. Search for: [citation needed] That was the foundation of the Company of the Daughters of Charity, which received official approbation in 1655. Louise de Marillac was born at Ferrieres-en-Brie near Meux, France, on August 12, 1591. St. Louise de Marillac and St. Vincent de Paul are one such famous pair. The majority sent their servants to minister to those in need, but often, the work was considered unimportant. She considered a cloistered life, but upon the advice of her confessor, she married Antoine LeGras on February 5, 1613. When she happened to meet Vincent de Paul, she recognized him as the priest from her vision.[3]. She was named patroness of Christian Social Workers in 1960. Louise grew to love Antoine and was an attentive mother to their son. Saint Louise de Marillac, cofounder with St. Vincent de Paul of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, a congregation of laywomen dedicated to teaching and hospital work. By the time Louise died in 1660, 40 convents of the Sisters of Charity had been established. In working with her sisters, Louise emphasized a balanced life, as Vincent de Paul had taught her. Louise found the help she needed in young, humble country women, who had the energy and the proper attitude to deal with people weighed down by destitution and suffering. "[citation needed], Louise led the Company of Daughters until her death. When she was 22, her family convinced her that marriage was the best alternative. St. Louise de Marillac depends on your financial support to continue our parish mission. Over the next four years, Vincent and Louise often met and communicated by letters. Louise” was chosen by the Seattle Archdiocese for this new parish for two reasons. "Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul." St. Vincent de Paul & St. Louise de Marillac In 1633, the Daughters of Charity were founded in Paris, France, by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. The women took meals, distributed clothing and gave care and comfort. This short work will be an attempt to condense a life which, for the frail and delicate woman she was, abounded amazingly in good works. She later made application to the Capuchin nuns in Paris but was refused admission. While the aristocratic ladies were better suited to the work of raising money and dealing with correspondence, the practical work of nursing the poor in their own homes, and caring for neglected children was best accomplished by women of a similar social status to those served.[8]. [4], On the feast of Pentecost during Holy Mass or while I was praying in the church, my mind was completely freed of all doubt. When the Daughters of Charity were founded, Louise de Marillac opened her own home in the parish of St. Nicolas du Chardonnet to the five or six young women who desired to join her. As true disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to renew His love and spirit by sharing our time, talent and treasure. Louis was a member of the prominent de Marillac family and was a widower at the time of Louise's birth. 9 Jan. 2013, "Louise de Marillac", Vincentian Online Library, Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul international website, "Life and Works of Louise de Marillac". Three years after this experience, Antoine died. Louise de Marillac was born probably at Ferrieres-en-Brie near Meux, France, on August 12, 1591. [10] "Love the poor and honor them as you would honor Christ Himself," Louise explained. St. Vincent is the priest who cofounded the Daughters of Charity with St. Louise de Marillac. She never knew her mother. Besides, the families of the ladies often opposed the works. Bl. Act I: Louise’s Early Years. Then, in 1632, Louise made a spiritual retreat. Six months later Vincent de Paul followed her in death. Six months later St. Vincent de Paul followed her in death. Widowed in 1625, she had already chosen Vincent de Paul as her spiritual guide, and he encouraged her to undertake charitable works. Find St. Louise de Marillac Parish reviews and more. From her Christian imagination and faith, she spoke with confidence of a belief that even in moments of loss and hardship, there is always the possibility of new life and resurrected hope. Jean-Louis de Marillac, comte de Beaumont-le-Roger (1572 – 10 May 1632) was an important French noble and military leader during the reign of Louis XIII. Via Sapientiae, DePaul University, Randolph, Bartholomew. The Catholic Encyclopedia. In the midst of the difficulties of her life she progressively opened her heart to the light of God. She is mistakenly referred to as an incorrupt saint; the body enshrined in the chapel is actually a wax effigy, containing her bones. Vincent de Paul remedied it by referring young women who inquired about serving persons in need to go to Paris and devote themselves to the ministry under the direction of the Ladies of Charity. Louis de Marillac, Lord of Ferrires (1556-1604), claimed her as his natural daughter yet not his legal heir. We, like St. Louise de Marillac, have skill, books, resource to counsel, and hopefully the determination to do so. Indeed, the congregation was the first noncloistered religious institute of women devoted to active charitable works. In the 17th century in France, there was discussion about the condemnation of Quietism so from the time of her death, mysticism was viewed with suspicion. She was a member of the Marillac family, one of the more influential noble families of seventeenth century France. Under her guidance, they expanded their scope of service to include orphanages, institutions for the elderly and mentally ill, prisons and the battlefield. Updates? 36, 39; Picture is free domain, author unknown, Wikimedia. Louise never knew her mother—a circumstance that made her illegitimate by societal standards and marked her with a metaphorical scarlet letter of sorts. She is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. St. Louise de Marillac Mission Statement Page 2SPIRITUALITY AND ENRICHMENT In 1625 Vincent de Paul responded positively to the request of Madame Le Gras, Louise de Marillac, to become her spiritual director. Popular Searches on Catholic Online. At that time he could not have imagined the place that she would occupy in his life. Vincent and Louise realized that direct service of the poor was not easy for the nobility or the bourgeoisie because of social class. Louise found true happiness in her work. She traveled throughout France, establishing her community members in hospitals, orphanages and other institutions. They visited the slums dressed in beautiful dresses next to people considered to be peasants. Louise de Marillac was canonized in 1934 and declared patroness of social workers in 1960. “Love the poor, honor them, as you would honor Christ.” Why we like her: She was a valiant and inspired leader of the Daughters of Charity, the first community of non-cloistered sisters that numbered more than 50,000 around the world at the time of her death (1934). The Church proclaimed her a saint in 1934. The tension, between the ideal of service and social constraints, was real. "[citation needed], After increasingly ill health, Louise de Marillac died six months before the death of her dear friend and mentor, Vincent de Paul. Louise de Marillac was born out of wedlock on August 12, 1591[1] near Le Meux, now in the department of Oise, in Picardy. Vol. [9] She was 68, and the Daughters of Charity had more than 40 houses in France. Louise was a member of the powerful de Marillac family and was well educated. Co-Foundress with Saint Vincent de Paul of the Daughters of Charity, 1591-1660. 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