Mother Rosalie Rendu

The first of four daughters, Jeanne Marie Rendu (1786-1856) grew up in the French Jura mountains during the Revolution. Her middle class parents sheltered priests escaping government persecution. In 1796, she lost her father and four-month-old sister. Jeanne’s mother sent her to an Ursuline academy, where she experienced the hospital work of the Daughters of Charity. In 1802, she left for Paris and entered the convent.

Taking the name Rosalie, she began working in the worst slums, catechizing little girls. Rosalie rose to mother superior in 1815, sending food, clothing, and care to the disenfranchised. Armed with the gift of compassion, Rosalie founded a clinic and school, personally serving cholera victims with her sisters. Her work continued in the face of the violent uprisings of 1830 and 1848, despite her own poor health. The depth of her efforts gained the support of the former royals and Napoleon. She mentored caregivers, including Fredrick Ozanam, founder of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.