The Post

“This Saturday, May 9, we celebrate the Feast of St. Louise de Marillac, founder of the Ladies of Charity and the Daughters of Charity along with St. Vincent de Paul. St. Louise is one of the leading lights in organized nursing care, education for women and was declared the patroness of all Catholic Social Workers in 1960. Happy Feast Day!

 

Born near Meux, France, Louise lost her mother when she was still a child, her beloved father when she was but 15. Her desire to become a nun was discouraged by her confessor, and a marriage was arranged. One son was born of this union. But Louise soon found herself nursing her beloved husband through a long illness that finally led to his death.

Saint Vincent had always been slow and prudent in his dealings with Louise and the new group teh co-founded – the Daughters of Charity. He said that he had never had any idea of starting a new community, that it was God who did everything. “Your convent,” he said, “will be the house of the sick; your cell, a hired room; your chapel, the parish church; your cloister, the streets of the city or the wards of the hospital.” Their dress was to be that of the peasant women. It was not until years later that Vincent de Paul would finally permit four of the women to take annual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. It was still more years before the company would be formally approved by Rome and placed under the direction of Vincent’s own congregation of priests.

St. Louise traveled throughout France, establishing her community members in hospitals, orphanages and other institutions. At her death on March 15, 1660, the congregation had more than 40 houses in France. Six months later Vincent de Paul followed her in death. Louise de Marillac was canonized in 1934.”