PICCOLE SUORE DI GESÙ DEL TERZ'ORDINE DI SAN FRANCESCO. – The Institute originated around 1850 at St-Loup (diocese of Lione).
It is the fruit of the Christian charity of several working women who, moved by compassion for poor orphaned girls, began to take them in at one or another of their parental homes. Feeling themselves drawn toward religious life, the young working women thought of founding a pious association whose aim would be to assist all needy, sick, and abnormal young people. They presented their plans to Cardinal De Bonald, archbishop of Lione, who approved the idea and gave them Canon Allibert as spiritual director. On 10 December 1856 the first two sisters received the religious habit. On 17 June 1931 definitive approval of the Congregation was granted, and on 8 June 1942 approval of the Constitutions. At present there are 193 sisters distributed among 13 houses.