Saint Louise de Marillac 17th Century and Founder of Daughters of Charity

Saint Louise de Marillac, also known as Louise Le Gras, was born on August 12, 1591, and she died on March 15, 1660. She was the co-founder, with Vincent de Paul, of the Daughters of Charity, which is a community of women devoted to serving the poor.

Saint Louise de Marillac was born out of wedlock, and she never knew her mother. Her father was a Lord, and she was a member of the prominent de Marillac family. Her uncle, Michel de Marillac, was a major figure in the court of Queen Marie de’ Medici, and though Saint Louise de Marillac was not a member of the Queen’s court, she lived and worked among the French aristocracy. Did you think it was possible for someone so prominent to serve God?

Saint Louise de Marillac Biography

Her father died when Saint Louise de Marillac was twelve years old. She then stayed with a devout spinster, from whom she learned the skills of household management and the secrets of herbal medicine. At fifteen, she felt drawn to the cloistered life, perhaps because her Aunt was a Dominican Nun. She applied to the Capuchin nuns in Paris but was refused admission. It is not clear if her refusal was for her continual poor health or other reasons, but her spiritual director assured her that God had “other plans” for her.

Saint Louise de Marillac was devastated by the refusal. When she was 22 years old, her family convinced her that marriage was the best alternative. She married Antoine Le Gras, secretary to Queen Marie. In October 1613. She was devoted to her family, and she was also active in ministry in her parish. She had a leading role in the Ladies of Charity, an organization of wealthy women dedicated to assisting those suffering from poverty and disease.

There were then some troubles in France. Saint Louise de Marillac had two uncles who died in political turmoil. Her husband also died. At which time she vowed not to remarry. He was friends with Saint Francis de Sales and met Saint Vincent de Paul.

She founded the Daughters of Charity with Saint Vincent de Paul. The organization was founded to help the disorganized care for the poor in France at the time. Saint Louise de Marillac led the Company of Daughters until her death. She wrote to her nuns when she was near death: “Take good care of the service of the poor. Above all, live together in great union and cordiality, loving one another in imitation of the union and life of our Lord. Pray earnestly to the Blessed Virgin, that she might be your only Mother.”

After increasingly ill health, Louise de Marillac died six months before the death of her dear friend and mentor, Saint Vincent de Paul. She was sixty-eight years old, and the Daughters of Charity had more than forty houses in France. The nuns have always been held in high repute and have made foundations in all parts of the world

Saint Louise de Marillac Veneration

Saint Louise de Marillac was beatified by Pope Benedict XV in 1920, and she was canonized by Pope Pius XI on March 11, 1934. Her remains are enshrined in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, the chapel of the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity in Paris. She is mistakenly referred to as an incorrupt saint; the body enshrined in the chapel is actually a wax effigy, containing her bones. She was declared patroness of Christian social workers by Pope John XXIII in 1960.

Conclusion

Saint Louise de Marillac was a member of the French aristocracy, and she was married and had a son. After her husband died, probably due to a couple of famous friends, she became very religious and founded the Daughters of Charity. The organization is meant to care for the poor and still exists today.