St. Elizabeth Bichier

26/08/15

Today's Saint:

St. Elizabeth Bichier

-Born in a noble family of France
-Studied law and used it to win a case for saving family property
-Dedicated her life to Jesus and Mary
-Started new religious congregation of sisters
-They dedicated themselves to serve poor and help children in education
-Started many convents and lot joined them
-Cared everyone and inspired others
-Took up dangerous situations also to help people
-People admired her straight forward approach

Elizabeth was born in 1773 in France. As a little girl, her favorite game was building castles in the sand. Many years later, this holy woman had to take charge of building convents for the Order of nuns she founded. “I guess building was meant to be my business,” she joked, “since I started it so young!” In fact, by 1830, eight years before her death, Elizabeth had already opened over sixty convents. During the time of the French Revolution, Elizabeth’s family lost everything they owned. This was because the republicans were taking property from the nobility. But this intelligent young woman of nineteen studied law so she could fight her family’s case in court. When she won and saved her family from ruin, the village shoemaker exclaimed: “All you have to do now is marry a good republican!” Elizabeth, however, had no intention of marrying anyone republican or noble. On the back of a picture of Our Lady, she had written: “I dedicate and consecrate myself to Jesus and Mary forever.” With the help of St. Andrew Fournet, Elizabeth started a new religious Order called the Daughters of the Cross. (For more on St. Andrew Fournet, see June 14.) This new Order was dedicated to teaching children and caring for the sick. Elizabeth would face any danger to help people. Once she found a homeless man lying sick in a barn. She brought him to the convent hospital and did all she could for him until he died. The next morning the police chief came to tell her she could be arrested for sheltering a man believed to be a criminal. Elizabeth was unafraid. “I only did what you yourself would have done, sir,” she said. “I found this poor sick man and took care of him until he died. I am ready to tell the judge just what happened.” Of course, the saint’s honesty and charity won her great respect. People admired her straightforward, clear answers. St. Andrew Fournet, the Order’s co-founder, died in 1834. St. Elizabeth wrote to the sisters, “This is our greatest and saddest loss.” St. Elizabeth died on August 26, 1838. She was proclaimed a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1947.

St. Elizabeth Bichier was courageous and energetic. We can pray to her to obtain the grace to live our Christian calling more enthusiastically. She’ll help us be generous followers of Jesus.