Who was Saint
Louise De Marillac?
Saint Louise De Marillac
was a nurse, educator and social worker. She and St. Vincent de Paul began a
religious community, Sisters of Charity, bound by rules and vows, but
uncloistered, so that they could to serve the poor in their homes, while serving
God in a consecrated life.
Louise
had had a life of trials. She was not allowed join a convent when she was 16
years old. She married and had a son. Then, was widowed, at 34, with a
13-year-old son. She doted on her son who became spoiled, and lazy.
Louise
served the poor and trained young girls to teach, to practice nursing, and to do
social work. They did not take vows because to be called “nuns” they could not
care for the poor in their own homes. They were known as “sisters” and did not
wear a habit. When the rules changed they were allowed to take the vows of
poverty, chastity, obedience and the service of the poor, and rules were written
up for their guidance.
Louise
kept making plans, and God kept changing them. She saw a need for homes for all
the abandoned children and rescued as many as she could, sending them to foster
homes. To educate them, she received help from the Ursuline Sisters, who
trained Sisters to be teachers. Even the Popes were impressed with how much she
accomplished. |
Prayer
O God,
You inspired St. Louise to strive for perfect charity and so attain Your Kingdom
at the end of her pilgrimage on earth. Strengthen us through her intercession
that we may advance rejoicing in the way of love.
Comments from the
Popes
about Saint Louise De Marillac
Pope
Pius XII compared her work in the world to that of St. Teresa in the Cloister.
Pope
Pius XI stressed the miracle of her life; the miracle of her works; the miracle
of her posterity.
Pope
Saint Pius X when proclaiming the herocity of her virtues announced “We have
found the valiant woman of France.”
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