Louise de Marillac (1591-1660)

Feast Day: March 15
Canonized: March 11, 1934

Louise de Marillac was born near Meux, France. At 15, she applied to join the Capuchin order in Paris, but was refused admission. She married Antony LeGras in 1613. Marillac was a devoted wife and mother to their one child.

Shortly after her husband died in 1625, Marillac met St. Vincent de Paul, who became her spiritual director. They met in person and communicated through letters over the next four years. In 1629, de Paul invited Marillac to work with him in the Confraternities of Charity. Four years later they founded the Daughters of Charity.

Marillac took her religious vows in 1634 and attracted many candidates, most of whom were humble women from the country who had the proper disposition to deal directly with the poor and suffering underclasses. In 1642, de Paul allowed four members to take vows. Marillac counseled her followers to deepen their spiritual life, advising them to “love the poor and honor them as you would honor Christ himself.”

Marillac died six months before de Paul. At the time of her death, the Daughters of Charity operated more than 40 houses in France. She is the patroness of social workers.