Blessed Marie-Léonie Paradis

Life story

She was born on 12 May 1840 at Sainte-Marguerite-de-Blairfindie, Québec, baptised Virginie-Alodie but known as Élodie. On 21 February 1854, aged 14, she became a candidate of the Marianites of Holy Cross at Saint-Laurent, Montreal and took vows on 22 August 1857, receiving the name Marie de Sainte-Léonie.

In 1862 she was sent to the parish of St. Vincent de Paul in Manhattan, which ran an orphanage, and stayed until 1870. In 1870 she joined the Sisters of Holy Cross at Notre Dame, Indiana, where she taught French and needlework. In 1874 she became novice mistress at Collège Saint-Joseph in Memramcook, New Brunswick, which needed help with housekeeping and cooking. A first group of 14 sisters received the habit on 26 August 1877, and on 31 May 1880 the new community, the Little Sisters of the Holy Family, was authorised to act independently of the Holy Cross sisters.

In 1895 Bishop Paul LaRocque of Sherbrooke, who needed domestic staff for his seminary, welcomed the community into his diocese, and canonical approval followed on 26 January 1896. She died in Sherbrooke on 3 May 1912, aged 71. Pope John Paul II beatified her on 11 September 1984 in Montreal, and Pope Francis canonised her on 20 October 2024.

Works and witness

• Took vows with the Marianites of Holy Cross in 1857
• Served in a Manhattan parish 1862–1870, then taught at Notre Dame, Indiana
• Became novice mistress at Memramcook, New Brunswick in 1874
• Founded the Little Sisters of the Holy Family on 31 May 1880
• Beatified in 1984 and canonised on 20 October 2024

Saints from the same country

Saint André Bessette, Saint Marie of the Incarnation, Saint Marguerite d'Youville, Saint Émilie Gamelin

References

• Vatican News, "Sfânta Maria Leonia Paradis - biografie" (20 October 2024)
• Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, "Saint Marie-Léonie Paradis (1840-1912)" (cccb.ca)

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