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 Saint Louise de Marillac: 3rd Century of Death Scott 296 (1960) Saint Louise de Marillac was the co-founder, along with Saint Vincent de Paul, of the Daughters of Charity. The stamp shown above is a portrait of Saint Louise and commemorates the third centenary of her death on March 15, 1660. Part of a three stamp set issued in 1960, the set also commemorates the 300th anniversary of the death of Saint Vincent de Paul, who died on September 27, 1660. 
 Saint Vincent de Paul (Scott 295) and Saint Louise with Saint Vincent (Scott 297), 1960 Born near Meux, France, in 1591, Louise de Marillac (also referred to as Mademoiselle Le Gras) was orphaned by the age of 15. She wished to become a nun, but this path was discouraged by her confessor, and her uncle arranged her marriage in 1613 to Antoine Le Gras. She was a loving and devoted wife, and the marriage produced a son, Michel. During her married life in Paris, she came to know the future saint, Francis de Sales, who was her confessor during this time. Around 1621, her husband became sick, and Louise nursed him through a long illness that finally led to his death in 1625. Also in 1625, she met Vincent de Paul, who became her spiritual adviser. He introduced her to his Confraternities of Charity, which were associated with wealthy and aristocratic ladies who did good works for the poor by providing financial support for this work. However, the actual work of caring for the poor required many more workers. Historian of the saints, David Farmer, writes that: “The practical work of nursing the poor in their own homes, caring for neglected children and dealing with often rough husbands and fathers, was best accomplished by women of similar social status to the principal sufferers.”De Paul saw that Louise de Marillac had the temperament to supervise such work, which began in her home, and developed into the Sisters of Charity The sisters took vows to do this work but for one year only, renewable annually thereafter. The sisters took charge of the Paris Hôtel-Dieu and eventually their work spread to other locations in France.  Face page from "Louise de Marillac, Foundress of the Daughters of Charity" By Mgr. Louis Baunard, 3rd Edition (1921) From Wikimedia Commons, in the Public Domain After increasingly ill health, Louise de Marillac died on March 15, 1660, six months before the death of Vincent de Paul. At the time of her death, the Daughters of Charity had more than 40 houses in France. Saint Louise de Marillac was canonized in 1934 by Pope Pius XI and, in 1960, was designated the Patron Saint of Christian Social Workers by Pope John XXIII. The Daughters of Charity would spread worldwide, including a presence in the United States. In addition to Saint Louise de Marillac, two additional saints were members of the order: Saint Catherine Labouré (1806–1876), who received the request from the Blessed Virgin Mary to create the Miraculous Medal, and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774–1821), the first native-born U.S. citizen to be canonized. REFERENCES: |
