Saint Émilie de Villeneuve

Life story

Jeanne-Émilie de Villeneuve was born on 9 March 1811 in Toulouse, the third daughter of her family. Her father was a successful businessman and mayor of Castres. She spent much of her early life at the Hauterive castle near Castres, where her sick mother had withdrawn for treatment; her mother died when she was fourteen, and her sister Octavie died a few years later.

At about nineteen she returned to Hauterive to run the household while her father served as mayor. She hoped to join the Daughters of Charity, but her father imposed a waiting period. During it, on 8 December 1836, with her bishop's permission and two companions, she founded the Congregation of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, now commonly called the Sisters of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Castres. Because of their blue habit, the sisters were nicknamed the Blue Sisters. Their motto was “to go where the voice of the poor calls us”. They served the poor, the sick, young workers, prisoners and prostitutes.

She died at Castres on 2 October 1854, aged forty-three. The congregation reached Africa in 1848 and later spread to Europe, Latin America and Asia. Cardinal Angelo Amato, on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI, beatified her at Castres on 5 July 2009, and Pope Francis canonized her in St Peter's Square on 17 May 2015.

Works and witness

• Founded the Congregation of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception at Castres on 8 December 1836
• Her sisters became known as the Blue Sisters because of their habit
• Served the poor, the sick, young workers and prisoners
• Her congregation reached Africa in 1848

Saints from the same country

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Louis IX of France, Saint Joan of Arc, Saint Francis de Sales

References

• Mission Priest, “St. Émilie de Villeneuve: Founder of the Blue Sisters of Castres” (missionpriest.com)
• Wikipedia (English), article “Émilie de Villeneuve” – dates and beatification/canonization
• Albi diocese, Mass proper for Sainte Émilie de Villeneuve – seen only as search excerpt (death date)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.