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Louise
was born in France in the late sixteenth century. Her mother
died when she was very young, and she was raised and educated
by her father (who died when she was fifteen). She married an
affluent man, produced a son, and for twelve years enjoyed a
peaceful, happy family life. But then her husband's health began
to fade and, although Louise nursed him devotedly, he died and
left her a wealthy woman. During her husband's illness she had
befriended St. Vincent de Paul and, when she was widowed, he
became her confessor. The Holy man directed her money and devotion
to the sick and poor, and she eventually founded the Sisters
of Charity, an order of non-denominational women who opened
shelters for abandoned women and orphans. Eventually, the sisters
opened schools for underprivileged children across France. One
of her hospitals, the Hotel Dieu in Paris, was inspirational
hundreds of years later to a young woman named Florence Nightingale.
Louise died when she was sixty-nine with her son, whom she was
devoted throughout her life, by her side. Louise is also the
patron of widows; and she's invoked against physical abuse.
Her feast day is March 15. |
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St.
Louise
Patron St. of
Social Worker |
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