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Saint Julie Billiart
Image: artist unknow · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Saint Julie Billiart

The Picardy woman paralysed for twenty years who founded Notre Dame de Namur

Rank
Saint
Kind
Founder, Religious
Life
1751 – 1816
Era
19th century
Feast
8 April
Countries
France, Belgium
FranceBelgium

Life story

Julie Billiart was born on 12 July 1751 in Cuvilly, in Picardy, northern France, into a small rural trading family. From childhood she was known for enjoying teaching the catechism to the village children, and sources say she spoke about the faith with her peers even before she was grown.

After an emotional shock in her family around 1774, she gradually lost the use of her legs and became paralysed, remaining bedridden for more than twenty years. Even so, people still came to her home for advice and instruction. During the French Revolution she sheltered priests who had refused the oath, and so had to flee elsewhere to avoid arrest.

She went to Amiens, where she met Françoise Blin de Bourdon, a noblewoman. In 1804 the two women founded the Sisters of Notre Dame, later called the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, to educate poor girls and train teachers. In that same year she unexpectedly regained the ability to walk after a week of prayer; the sources record this as a turning point in her life. In 1809 the congregation moved its headquarters to Namur, now in Belgium. Her sisters followed her example of teaching in simple language, and the order spread to Belgium and later to other countries.

She died on 8 April 1816 in Namur. She was beatified in 1906 and canonised by Pope Paul VI on 22 June 1969. The Church keeps her feast on 8 April.

Works and witness

  • As a child taught the catechism to village children in Cuvilly
  • Paralysed and bedridden for over twenty years from about 1774
  • Sheltered priests during the Revolution and then fled to Amiens
  • Co-founded the Sisters of Notre Dame with Françoise Blin de Bourdon in 1804
  • Moved the congregation's base to Namur in 1809

Saints from the same country

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

References

  • Martyrologium Romanum
  • Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
  • Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), entry Blessed Julie Billiart

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