Today, March 15, the Mother of Sorrows School community celebrates the Feast Day of one of our Vincentian founders and role models, St. Louise de Marillac.
St. Louise de Marillac was born August 12, 1591 in Paris, France and died March 15, 1660. Louise was raised by her father and was sent to study and live at a Dominican convent when she was a young girl.
Many struggles and trials marked Louise’s life, such as the death of her father, a personal battle with depression and the death of her young husband, Antoine le Gras. Despite the personal hardships she faced, Louise maintained a strong faith in God and a fiery desire to serve those in need.
Louise was a member of the early organization of the Ladies of Charity, a group dedicated to assisting persons oppressed by poverty and disease. In 1633, she and Vincent, a humble French priest (who we know today as St. Vincent de Paul), established the Company of the Daughters of Charity as a group of women dedicated to serving the “poorest of the poor.” Prayer and community life were essential elements of their vocation of service.
Louise was declared a Saint in 1934, and in 1960, Pope John XXIII proclaimed her the Patroness of Christian Social Workers. To read more about the life of this remarkable woman and saint, please click here.
Our Mother of Sorrows School family is thankful for St. Louise de Marillac every day, but we especially honor and celebrate her life and her example of charity and service on this day, her feast day. Every Mother of Sorrows class will partner with its “Buddy Class” to participate in an activity to remember St. Louise, and the entire Mother of Sorrows community will offer prayers of thanksgiving for St. Louise and the example she provides as one of our Vincentian Founders.
