Wednesday’s Woman: St. Emilie de Villeneuve

Note: For the next few weeks, I’ll be featuring women who were beatified or canonized in the 20th or 21st centuries.

The Basics: Born March 9, 1811, in France; died October 2, 1854, in France; canonized May 17, 2015, by Francis I; feast day, Oct. 3; woman religious.

The Story: In many ways, Emilie’s early years did not foretell what would become her life’s work. She was the third daughter of a wealthy French

businessman, and was sent to live with her grandmother for most of her teen years after her mother and a sister died. When she came back home, she ran the household. Emilie was generally thought of as somewhat dull and less than engaging; at least once, she was referred to as a “lump.”

While at home, she considered joining the Daughters of Charity, but she was advised to discern further. That discernment led her to found, with two others, the Sisters of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Castres in 1836, where she was known as Sister Marie. The congregation was based on helping people become missionaries wherever they were. In the early years, the sisters reached out to the poor and the sick, including convicts and prostitutes. Then, in 1848, Emilie began sending sisters abroad to countries including Senegal, Gambia, and Gabon to do Christ’s work. She resigned as superior general five years later, and died in a cholera epidemic about a year later.

Emilie’s Wisdom: “God is everywhere, even in the darkness, and perhaps it is even better that way.”

What We Can Learn from Emilie: Look for ways in which God is present in your dark places.

To Learn More About Emilie: Visit the site for her congregation, commonly known as “The Blue Sisters.” And, consider reading a lovely biography of her at Clairval.com.

To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my books, Blessed Are You: Finding Inspiration from Our Sisters in Faith or Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.