A faith response to life's tragic events echoes through the story of St. Louise de Marillac, a pioneer in religious life and in the provision of human services. With St. Vincent de Paul in 1633, she founded the Daughters of Charity, the first community of non-cloistered sisters, whose 25,000 members now serve around the globe.
Born out of wedlock in Paris in 1581, Louise never knew who her mother was but was acknowledged and raised by her father, a member of the aristocracy. When her father married, Louise had a difficult time adjusting as was sent as a resident student to a Dominican convent where her aunt was a religious. This experience deepened Louise's introspective ways, her many intellectual skills, as well as her desire to be a religious. When her father died and resources were limited, she lived in a boarding house where she had the opportunity to learn many basic domestic and organizational skills, as well as the secrets of herbal medicine. This experience rounded out her classical, upper-class education and prepared her well for her future service.
Louise married Antoine le Gras, secretary to the Queen of France, but their marital happiness was short-lived because of his poor health. As a young matron, Louise traveled and socialized among both the royalty and aristocracy of France, but she was equally comfortable with the poor, no matter their desperate situations. She held a leadership role in the Ladies of Charity, an organization of rich women dedicated to assisting the poor.
Suffering was never far from Louise. During civil unrest, her two uncles who held high rank within the government were imprisoned. One was publicly executed and the other died in prison. In 1623, when illness was wasting Antoine who died in 1625, depression was overcoming Louise. While at prayer, Louise had a vision in which she saw herself serving the poor and living the vows of religion in community. She wrote this "lumiere" on parchment and carried it on her person as a reminder that despite her difficulties, God was guiding her life. In that vision a priest appeared to her, whom she later identified as Vincent de Paul, her future confidante and collaborator in ministry.
In 1629, Vincent de Paul, who in 1625 had established the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians), invited Louise to assist him with the Confraternities of Charity in the parishes of France. These tasks were therapeutic for Louise and formative for her future work and that of the Vincentian family. She conducted site visits to assure the quality of the service being offered; reviewed financial accounts for stewardship reports; and encouraged the workers and volunteers to see Christ in those whom they served.
Through this work, she gained a deep knowledge of the needs of the poor, developed her own innate management skills and identified effective structures for service. On November 29, 1633 in her own home she began to train young women to address the needs of the poor and to gain support from their life together. From this humble beginning, the community of Daughters of Charity emerged. Louise provided leadership and expert management to the evolving network of services she and Vincent inspired.
Louise, who died on March 15, 1660 just a few months before Vincent de Paul, wa proclaimed a Saint of the Church in 1934. In 1960 Pope John XXIII proclaimed her the Patroness of all Social Workers. As a wife, mother, teacher, nurse, social worker and religious foundress, she stands as a model to all women. She lives today in the 25,000 Daughters of Charity serving throughout the world, as well as in their many lay collaborators.
In The Words Of Louise
The following quotations have been drawn from the Spiritual Writings of St. Louise. This very brief "sampler" reveals the depth of her spirituality and the soundness of her leadership as well as the scope and variety of Louise's competence and experience in the major human service fields.
Spiritual Guide
Prudence consists in speaking about important matters only and not relating a lot of trifles that are not worth saying.
How Good it is to trust God! Turn to Him often, as children look to their father and mother in their needs.
One of the most powerful reasons to induce us to love God is the conviction we enjoy that He loves us.
Prayer
Grand me the grace to spend this day without offending You and without failing my neighbor.
Social Worker
As for your conduct toward the poor, may you never take the attitude of merely getting the task done. You must show them affection; serving them from the heart -- inquiring of them what they need; speaking to them gently and compassionately; procuring necessary help for them without being too bothersome or too eager.
Nurse
In serving the sick, you should have God alone in view. You should not be too lenient and condescending when the sick refuse to take remedies or become too insolent, yet you must beware of showing either resentment or contempt in your demeanor toward them. On the contrary, treat the sick with respect and humility, remembering that all harshness and disdain, as well as the services and the honor you render them, are directed to our Lord himself.
Immportant Dates
1591 - Birth of Louise, August 12.
1604 - Death of her father, Louis de Marillac.
1606 - Louise discouraged from entering cloister.
1613 - Marriage to Antoine le Gras, secretary to Marie de Medici, February 5.
1623 - Vision, Louise saw herself as vowed, living in community serving the poor.
1624 - Meeting with Vincent de Paul who becomes Louise's spiritual guide.
1625 - Death of Antoine le Gras on December 21.
1629 - Beginning of Site Visits to Confraternities of Charity founded by Vincent.
1633 - Foundation of Daughters of Charity, November 29.
1639 - Daughters assume management of hospital at Angers.
1640 - Daughters establish home for foundlings and institute forster care.
1641 - Daughters establish nursing ministry to wounded soldiers.
1645 - Daughters establish schools for orphans.
1646 - Act which formally established the Company of the Daughters of Charity.
1650 - Daughters serve victims of Civil War.
1652 - Daughters leave for Poland, September 5; first mission outside France.
1655 - Revision of Act, assuring perpetual direction of Company the Vincentians.
1660 - Death of Louise, March 15.
1920 - Louise declared "Blessed," May 9.
1934 - Louise declared "Saint" Louise de Marillac on March 11.
1960 - Louise declared "Patroness of all Christian Social Workers," February 2.
With permission of the Vincentian Center For Church and Society
St. John's Univeristy, Jamaica, NY
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