Marie-Eugénie de Jésus
Encyclopedia
Saint Marie-Eugénie de Jésus. R.A., born Anne-Eugénie Milleret de Brou, (August 25, 1817 – March 10, 1898) was a Catholic
Religious Sister
who founded the religious congregation of the Religious of the Assumption
in 1839.
On June 3, 2007, she was canonized in the Vatican City
by the Pope Benedict XVI
into a wealthy family and grew up in a chateau
in the suburb of Priesch, north of Paris
. When she was 13, her father lost all his money and their estate. Her parents separated and she moved to Paris with her mother. Her mother had a deep concern for the poor of the city, and she often accompanied her mother visiting families in need. Her mother died of cholera
when Anne-Eugénie was 15 years old. She spent the remainder of her teenage years tossed between two sets of relations, one whom she found concerned only with worldly pleasures, the other as having a narrow spirit of piety. She was separated from the brother who had been her main companion as a child, and she wondered about life and how to live out the spirit of faith and justice her mother had taught her.
At the age of 12, Anne-Eugénie made her First Holy Communion and it proved to be a life-changing experience for her. Through receiving this sacrament
, she experienced the presence of God
, a mystical moment, one about which she would talk throughout the rest of her life.
During Lent
, while she was in her late teenage years, she was invited to listen to a series of lectures at the Cathedral
of Notre Dame
, given by the then-Abbé
Lacordaire
, a famous preacher
and social commentator of that period. Lacordaire was about to leave for Italy to enter the Dominican Order
and lead its re-establishment in France. As a result of his preaching, Anne-Eugénie had a conversion
experience, and became passionate about the Word of God
and became a dedicated Christian. She then went to confession
with the Abbé Théodore Combalot, an associate of Lacordaire. Combalot told her that he was looking for someone to help him found a religious order devoted to Mary and to the education of the poor, and thought that Anne-Eugénie would be such a foundress. At the age of 22, with four young companions, she founded the Religious of the Assumption
.
The congregation began in a small apartment on the Rue Ferou, Paris, and celebrated their first Mass
together as a Religious Congregation on November 9, 1839. Today, the motherhouse
of the Religious of the Assumption is on the Rue de l'Assomption, Paris. Over the years, Mother Marie-Eugénie founded thirty religious communities in nine countries.
In 1898, Mother Marie-Eugénie died at the age of 80 in Paris. On February 9, 1975, she was beatified
by Pope Paul VI
and on June 3, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI
canonized
her
. Today's Assumption is a Lay and Religious partnership.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Religious Sister
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
who founded the religious congregation of the Religious of the Assumption
Religious of the Assumption
The Religious of the Assumption were founded by Saint Marie Eugénie Milleret in Paris in 1839. Her vision was of transforming society through education...
in 1839.
On June 3, 2007, she was canonized in the Vatican City
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
by the Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
Life
Anne-Eugénie was born in 1817 in MetzMetz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
into a wealthy family and grew up in a chateau
Château
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
in the suburb of Priesch, north of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. When she was 13, her father lost all his money and their estate. Her parents separated and she moved to Paris with her mother. Her mother had a deep concern for the poor of the city, and she often accompanied her mother visiting families in need. Her mother died of cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
when Anne-Eugénie was 15 years old. She spent the remainder of her teenage years tossed between two sets of relations, one whom she found concerned only with worldly pleasures, the other as having a narrow spirit of piety. She was separated from the brother who had been her main companion as a child, and she wondered about life and how to live out the spirit of faith and justice her mother had taught her.
At the age of 12, Anne-Eugénie made her First Holy Communion and it proved to be a life-changing experience for her. Through receiving this sacrament
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
, she experienced the presence of God
Presence of God
Presence of God is a term used in Catholic theology and devotion.In theology, it refers to the belief that God is present by His Essence everywhere and in all things by reason of His Immensity...
, a mystical moment, one about which she would talk throughout the rest of her life.
During Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
, while she was in her late teenage years, she was invited to listen to a series of lectures at the Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of Notre Dame
Notre Dame de Paris
Notre Dame de Paris , also known as Notre Dame Cathedral, is a Gothic, Roman Catholic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. It is the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paris: that is, it is the church that contains the cathedra of...
, given by the then-Abbé
Abbé
Abbé is the French word for abbot. It is the title for lower-ranking Catholic clergymen in France....
Lacordaire
Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire
Jean-Baptiste Henri-Dominique Lacordaire , often styled Henri-Dominique Lacordaire, was a French ecclesiastic, preacher, journalist and political activist...
, a famous preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
and social commentator of that period. Lacordaire was about to leave for Italy to enter the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
and lead its re-establishment in France. As a result of his preaching, Anne-Eugénie had a conversion
Conversion
-Economy and Finance:* Currency conversion or exchange rate* Conversion , one of the options strategies* Economic conversion-Law:* Conversion , conversion by taking a chattel out of the possession of another with the intent of exercising a permanent or temporary dominion over it, despite the...
experience, and became passionate about the Word of God
Rhema
Rhema literally means an "utterance" or "thing said" in Greek. It is a word that signifies the action of utterance.In philosophy, it was used by both Plato and Aristotle to refer to propositions or sentences....
and became a dedicated Christian. She then went to confession
Confession
This article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
with the Abbé Théodore Combalot, an associate of Lacordaire. Combalot told her that he was looking for someone to help him found a religious order devoted to Mary and to the education of the poor, and thought that Anne-Eugénie would be such a foundress. At the age of 22, with four young companions, she founded the Religious of the Assumption
Religious of the Assumption
The Religious of the Assumption were founded by Saint Marie Eugénie Milleret in Paris in 1839. Her vision was of transforming society through education...
.
The congregation began in a small apartment on the Rue Ferou, Paris, and celebrated their first Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
together as a Religious Congregation on November 9, 1839. Today, the motherhouse
Motherhouse
The term motherhouse is used by religious Orders and religious congregations to designate the principal house or community for that group. It can be either for the entire institute or for a region....
of the Religious of the Assumption is on the Rue de l'Assomption, Paris. Over the years, Mother Marie-Eugénie founded thirty religious communities in nine countries.
In 1898, Mother Marie-Eugénie died at the age of 80 in Paris. On February 9, 1975, she was beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
and on June 3, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
canonized
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
her
Legacy
As of 2007, the Religious of the Assumption included 1,300 Sisters from 44 nationalities, located in 34 countries on 4 continents. From the beginning, the order's work would be a partnership with the laityLaity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
. Today's Assumption is a Lay and Religious partnership.
External links
- Risa's Miracle Story
- Marie Eugénie de Jésus at Catholic Forum
- Assumption Sisters Communities: Philadelphia, PA
- Associated Congregations: Assumptionist Fathers USA
- Lay Associates: AMA USA et AMA PHILIPPINES