Saint. — Foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Family. Born in the castle of Drouelle (Rodez) on 6 September 1787; died at Villefranche on 19 February 1852. From her youth she felt drawn to the religious life, but after vainly attempting to enter various religious institutes, she devoted herself to expressing her ardent charity by assisting the humble, especially the children of the poorest and most needy families, the sick, orphans, and prisoners. In 1815 she opened the first school for poor girls in her own small room at Villefranche, and the following year, 1816, she moved with some companions into a poor house, where, guided by her spiritual director A. Martyr, she began her institute, which she then governed for 32 years.
She had to overcome not only the hardships of poverty in her new life but also opposition and contradictions that threatened to stifle her work at its inception. Yet her constancy and complete trust in God prevailed, and the institute flourished remarkably, so that by the time of her death it numbered 36 houses. Generous in her labors and humble in accepting divine favors, she soon attained heroic sanctity. She was beatified on 9 June 1940 and canonized on 23 April 1950.