Saint Louise de Marillac, 1591–1660

March 15

Saint Louise lived in France. After her husband died, she was very sad. She met Saint Vincent de Paul and they started the Daughters of Charity, a group of nuns that worked in hospitals, homes, prisons, and during wars. Saint Louise wanted to share God’s love by helping the poor and the sick. There are still over 25,000 Daughters of Charity who help the poor.

Discuss: How do you share God’s love with others?

Saint Louise lived in France. She loved her husband and son very much. After her husband died, she was very sad. Then she met Saint Vincent de Paul. They started the Daughters of Charity. These nuns worked in hospitals, homes, prisons, and during wars. Saint Louise especially cared about the poor and the sick. She wanted to share God’s love by helping others. Many other sisters joined her. There are still over 25,000 Daughters of Charity who help the poor. 

Louise is the patron Saint of social workers. She went to school at the royal monastery of Poissy, near Paris. Louise traveled all over France to build orphanages and hospitals and to help the poor in other ways. Her Daughters of Charity order was different from other orders during her lifetime because they went out to people everywhere instead of only living inside convent walls to pray.

Activity

Canned-Good Drive
Interpersonal

Explain that Saint Louise shared God’s love by helping the poor and sick. We can also help the poor by providing for their needs.

• Consider starting a canned-goods drive in your neighborhood.
• As you begin to collect donations, invite your child to help you sort the cans of vegetables, fruits, or meats and check for an appropriate expiration date.
• Continue the neighborhood drive for as long as possible, in respect of Saint Louise. When 50 or more cans have been collected, have your child help you deliver the cans to a shelter or food kitchen.
• Ask your child to share his/her experience of delivering the cans with other family members.
• Remind her/him that sharing with those who are in need in the community was an act of sharing God’s love.