SOUBIRAN, MARIE-THÉRÈSE de, Blessed. - In the world Sofia Agostina, founder of the Society of Mary Help of Christians, b. at Castelnauadary (diocese of Carcassona) on 16 May 1834, d. at Paris on 7 June 1889.
Piously brought up under the guidance of her priest uncle, she founded in 1855, after good preparation at Ghent, a beguinage in her native town, where she devoted herself to poor and endangered girls, preserving them from evil; this aroused against her the wrath of the wicked so fiercely that they set fire to her institution. But it was reborn, and in a new form better suited to the times, through the creation of a new, more modern Congregation, under the guidance of the Jesuit Fr. P. Ginhac, which took the name of the Society of Mary Help of Christians.
The Institute spread very rapidly and embraced many activities, but in 1873 the foundress was compelled to leave her Congregation under the unfounded accusation that she had incurred debts compromising the reputation of her work. Although another was the true person responsible, S. remained silent and did not defend herself, but embraced her cross, entering the monastery of Our Lady of the Charity of the Refuge in Paris, where she remained until her death.
Her death immediately brought to light the sanctity of the foundress, whose body was solemnly transferred to the house from which she had been dismissed. The cause of beatification was introduced on 9 May 1934. She was beatified on 20 Oct. 1946. Feast: 7 June.