St. Marie-Eugénie de Jésus (1817-1898)

Today marks the Feast of St. Marie-Eugénie de Jésus (1817-1898), foundress of the Sisters of the Assumption. Growing up in a French family with no religious observance, she had a conversion exerience as a young girl. Later, after hearing the great Dominican preacher Lacordaire, she acted on the call to religious life. After joining the Visitation Sisters, she did not take vows. Instead, she felt called to founded a teaching community that worked in the world while keeping monastic observances. In 1839 she founded the Congregation of the Assumption, also known as the Sisters of the Assumption. Today, the Religious of the Assumption are present in 34 countries – 8 in Europe, 5 in Asia, 10 in America and 11 in Africa. Almost 1,200 sisters form 170 communities throughout the world. She was beatified in 1975 and canonized in 2007.