Saint Mary Euphrasia Pelletier

Life story

Rose-Virginie Pelletier was born on 31 July 1796 on the island of Noirmoutier, France. In 1810 her mother placed her in a boarding school at Tours. Nearby stood a convent of the Order of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge. On 20 October 1814 she joined that community and in 1815 received the habit with the name Mary Euphrasia. She was soon put in charge of the women received in the house, and about eight years later became superior of the Tours convent.

In 1829 she went to Angers with five sisters to found a new house, which was named Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd. In 1831 she was appointed superior of the Angers convent. On 3 April 1835 Pope Gregory XVI signed a brief approving the Angers house as the motherhouse of the congregation, and she became its superior general.

During her thirty-three years as superior general the Catholic Encyclopedia counts 110 convents and sixteen provinces founded across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. The houses received women and girls who were in difficulty and in need of help.

She died of cancer at Angers in April 1868 (sources give the 24th or the 29th) and was buried on the motherhouse grounds. Pope Pius XI beatified her on 30 April 1933 and Pope Pius XII canonized her on 2 May 1940. Her feast is kept on 24 April.

Works and witness

• Joined the Refuge community at Tours in 1814 and later became its superior
• Founded the Angers convent in 1829 and led it from 1831
• Obtained approval of Angers as motherhouse from Pope Gregory XVI on 3 April 1835
• Served about thirty-three years as superior general; 110 convents were founded
• Canonized on 2 May 1940

Saints from the same country

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

References

• Catholic Encyclopedia (1911), entry Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (New Advent, cathen/06647c)
• Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Saint Mary Euphrasia (sistersofthegoodshepherd.com)

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