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 Saint Louise de Marillac: 3rd Century of Death Scott 296 (1960) Louise de Marillac is 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. The three stamp set, issued in 1960, also commemorates the 300th anniversary of the death of Saint Vincent de Paul, who died six months later on September 27, 1660. 
 Saint Vincent de Paul (Scott 295) and Saint Louise with Saint Vincent (Scott 297), 1960 Born in 1591, Louise experienced an early life of aristocratic family upheaval and civil strife. 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 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. 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. REFERENCES: |
