Saint Louise de Marillac

Born on August 12, 1591 Louise de Marillac was illegitimate and never knew her mother. At a young age she was placed in a convent to be educated. Louise desired to become a Capuchin nun, but was unable to do so. In 1613 she married Mr. Le Gras. Her marriage and birth of her son, Michel were a great joy to her. The long illness of her husband brought her great internal suffering.

On Sunday, June 4, 1623, the day of Pentecost, like Paul on the road of Damascus, the light of God filled her. "In an instant, my spirit was relieved of all its doubts," she would write. She understood then that one day she would consecrate her life to God together with others, but without living in a monastery.

Widowed on December 12, 1625 Louise on the invitation of Vincent de Paul, began to visit the poor. Diverting attention from her own situation and attending to those in need she fund her personal equilibrium. Vincent de Paul engaged her in the work of the Confraternities of Charities and she became his collaborator.

On November 29,1633, together with Vincent de Paul she founded the Company of the Daughters of Charity. She organized the new community and formed the first sisters. On March 25,1642, she consecrated herself to God by vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and service to the poor.

The letters of Louise de Marillac to her Sisters reveal her faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Mary. To Louise, the Incarnation manifested the grandeur and the dignity of each person, and the love that God desired to share with all his children. Louise's prayer expressed her praises of the Trinity and the Incarnate Word.

Louise's son, Michel, married Gabrielle Le Clerc, in January 1650. Their daughter Louise Renee was her grandmother's joy.
Louise died in Paris, where she had always lived, on March 15, 1660, a few months before Vincent de Paul.

(Based on the book"A light shining on the earth" for the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Cannonization of Saint Catherine Laboure -1947-1997)