Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Placide Viel

The Basics: Born September 26, 1815, in France; died March 4, 1877, in France; beatified May 6, 1951, by Pius XII; feast day, March 4. Woman religious. The Story: Have you ever found it hard to live up to someone’s image of your predecessor? It often seems that the person who did a job or oversaw a… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Placide Viel

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Bathild

The Basics: Birthdate and place unknown; died 680 in France; canonized in the ninth century by Nicholas I; feast day, January 30. Queen, slave, philanthropist. The Story: Bathild (also known as Balthilde and other spellings) came to the attention of King Clovis II when she was a slave in a friend’s palace. Bathild’s intelligence and other virtues… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: St. Bathild

Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Laura Vicuna

The Basics: Born April 5, 1891, in Chile; died January 22, 1904, in Argentina; beatified September 3, 1988, by John Paul II; feast day, January 22. Daughter. The Story: Laura’s mother must have felt she had few options. Her husband had died after the family’s move to Argentina from Chile, leaving her with two daughters under the… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Laura Vicuna

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Gudula

The Basics: Born after 646 in what is now Belgium; died after 680 in Belgium; canonized pre-congregation; feast day, January 8. Laywoman. The Story: Tradition has it that one of Gudula’s sisters was martyred, and the other spent her life in an extremely unhappy marriage. Gudula’s path was much quieter. After being educated at the abbey of… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: St. Gudula