BENGY DE BONNAULT D'HOUET, MARIE-MADELEINE DE

BENGY DE BONNAULT D'HOUET, MARIE-MADELEINE de. – Foundress of the Faithful Companions of Jesus (v.). Born at Châteauroux (Indre) on 21 Sept. 1781, died at Paris on 5 Apr. 1858. Married to the Viscount de Bonnault, she was widowed after only ten months, with a young child. She devoted herself to charitable works and renounced a second marriage. In 1817 she felt the call to found a religious institute; after severe trials, her spiritual directors encouraged her in this. She laboured and travelled extensively to expand her Congregation. Her cause for beatification and canonization was introduced on 13 Dec. 1916.