[HERMANA
FAUSTA LABRADOR] [SAINT
VINCENT DE PAUL] [SAINT
LOUISE DE MARILLAC]
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Foundress
of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, born at Paris, 12
August, 1591, daughter of Louis de Marillac, Lord of Ferri res, and
Marguerite Le Camus; died there, 15 March, 1660. Her mother having died
soon after the birth of Louise, the education of the latter devolved
upon her father, a man of blameless life. In her earlier years she was
confided to the care of her aunt, a religious at Poissy. Afterwards
she studied under a preceptress, devoting much time to the cultivation
of the arts. Her father's serious disposition was reflected in the daughter's
taste for philosophy and kindred subjects. When about sixteen years
old, Louise developed a strong desire to enter the Capuchinesses (Daughter
of the Passion). Her spiritual director dissuaded her, however, and
her father having died, it became necessary to decide her vocation.
Interpreting her director's advice, she accepted the hand of Antoine
Le Gras, a young secretary under Maria de' Medici. A son was born of
this marriage on 13 October, 1613, and to his education Mlle Le Gras
devoted herself during the years of his childhood. Of works of charity
she never wearied. In 1619 she became acquainted with St. Francis de
Sales, who was then in Paris, and Mgr. Le Campus, Bishop of Belley,
became her spiritual adviser. Troubled by the thought that she had rejected
a call to the religious state, she vowed in 1623 not remarry should
her husband die before her.
M. Le Gras died on 21 December, 1625, after a long illness. In the meantime
his wife had made the acquaintance of a priest known as M. Vincent (St.
Vincent de Paul), who had been appointed superior of the Visitation
Monastery by St. Francis of Sales. She placed herself under his direction,
probably early in 1625. His influence led her to associate herself with
his work among the poor of Paris, and especially in the extension of
the Confrérie de la Charité, an association which he had
founded for the relief of the sick poor. It was this labour which decided
her life's work, the founding of the Sisters of Charity. The history
of the evolution of this institute, which Mlle Le Gras plays so prominent
a part, has been given elsewhere (see Charity, Sister of); it suffices
here to say that, with formal ecclesiastical and state recognition,
Mlle Le Gras' life-work received its assurance of success. Her death
occurred in 1660, a few month before the death of St. Vincent, with
whose labours she had been so closely united. The process of her beatification
has been inaugurated at Rome.
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