Saint Mary Magdalen Postel, 1756–1846
July 16

Saint Mary Magdalen Postel was educated in a Benedictine convent. At eighteen she opened a school for girls in France. It was just before the French Revolution. During the revolution, her school was closed. At that time, Mary Magdalen helped protect fugitive priests. She knew the importance of teaching people about the faith. She wanted everyone to know what the Church teaches. So after the revolution ended, she continued to work in the field of religious education.

Discuss: How does your parish help you to grow in faith?

Saint Mary Magdalen Postel was born in Barfleur, France, and educated in a Benedictine convent. At eighteen she opened a school for girls in Barfleur. It was just before the French Revolution. During the revolution, her school was closed. At that time, Mary Magdalen helped protect fugitive priests. She knew the importance of teaching people about the faith. She wanted everyone to know what the Church teaches. So after the revolution ended, she continued to work in the field of religious education.

Saint Mary Magdalen’s baptismal name was Julia Frances Catherine. She founded the Sisterhood of Christian Schools of Mercy, and after a very long life, she died at the abbey of Saint Sauveur le Vicomte, in Tamersville, France. Mary Magdalen and her sisters worked as nurses as well as teachers during the French Revolution, and she became known early on in her work for her holiness.

Activity
Religious Education
Verbal/Linguistic

Saint Mary Magdalen Postel respected religious education. Have your child list some of the reasons religious education is important.

• Using his/her list as a starting point, have your child write a paragraph about the importance of religious education.
• Ask her/him to provide examples of some of the ways that religious education is taught in various age groups.
• Invite your child to include some ideas of what would make religious education more meaningful and more enjoyable to him/her personally.