Carre de Malberg, Caroline-Barbe, Venerable

CARRÉ DE MALBERG, CAROLINE-BARBE, venerable. - Born de Colchen, at Metz on 8 April 1829, she married at the age of 20 Captain, later Colonel, Paul C. de M., by whom she had four children, three of whom died in infancy. A soul of apostolic zeal, she brought her husband back to Christian practice; she exercised a beneficial influence upon all who knew her. In agreement with Abbé Chaumont, her director, she founded (1872) the Society of the Daughters of St Francis de Sales (v.). This congregation was intended to realize in the world the plan of Christian life proposed by St Francis de Sales in his «Filotea». She was its first superior general, under the name of Sister Giovanna de Chantal, giving a shining example of humble self-devotion and penance until her death (28 Jan. 1891) at Lorry-les-Metz. Her cause of beatification was introduced on 23 June 1909 (AAS, 1 [1909], pp. 749-52).