JARICOT, PAULINE-MARIE

Machine translation of the 1948–1954 Italian original. The original text is authoritative.

Founder of the Work of the Propagation of the Faith. Born in Lyon on 22 July 1799, died there on 9 January 1862. She belonged to a good family of industrialists and had a somewhat worldly youth. She changed her life after a serious illness. Illuminated and encouraged by her brother Fielas, later a missionary, she began among young workers that movement of prayer and collections of offerings which on 3 May 1822 expanded to become the great work of aid for Catholic missions.

Jaricot’s organizational spirit also manifested itself in the foundation of the Living Rosary. Anticipating her times, she carried out a grand initiative for workers by acquiring the Rustrel workshops in the Basses-Alpes, to be managed in a cooperative form. It was a disastrous enterprise due to people who deceived her, and from that failure her entire life was embittered. Sustained by a superhuman faith, she lovingly embraced the cross, sacrificed herself for the beloved missions and for the good of all souls. The cause of her beatification is underway.

BIBL.: J. Maurin, La fondatrice de la Propagation de la Foi et du Rosaire-Vivant. Souvenirs d'une amie sur la vie, les oeuvres et les épreuves de P.-M. J., Bruxelles 1879, 2nd ed. Paris 1884; 3rd ed. ibid. 1892; German trans.: Trier 1895; P. Milesi-Fanti, P. J., fondatrice della Propagazione della Fede (1799–1862). Nel 75° anniversario della morte, Roma 1937.