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Jeanne-Marie Rendu was born on September 9, 1786, in Confort, France, eldest of four girls. Her parents were well respected small property owners of the area.
In 1790, the leaders of the French Revolution required clergy to take an oath supporting the government’s control of clergy. Many Catholic priests refused and fled the country, while others remained in France and hid. Jeanne-Marie’s family often hid priests who refused to sign the document. One of these priests was the Bishop of Annecy who was calling himself Pierre. Because Jeanne-Marie discovered “Pierre” celebrating Mass one day, she learned from an early age what it meant to be put God and the Church before civil governments. Jeanne-Marie celebrated her First Communion by candlelight in the basement of her home.
When her father and youngest sister both died in 1796, Jeanne-Marie helped her mother care for the younger siblings.
For two years, Jeanne-Marie studied in a boarding school run by the Ursuline Sisters. While she was in that school, she discovered a hospital run by the Daughters of Charity. Immediately, Jeanne-Marie asked her mother for permission to join the Sisters get experience in caring for the sick, and her mother agreed.
On May 25, 1802, Jeanne-Marie officially joined the order and was given the name Rosalie. As a young member of the community, Sister Rosalie accompanied the older Sisters visit the sick and poor in filthy slums. She also taught catechism and read to little girls who attended a free school. Sister Rosalie made her first vows in 1807.
By 1815, Sister Rosalie became the superior of her community and worked with the government’s Department of Welfare. There, she administrated a program that gave vouchers for coal and food for the poor. She also sent the other Sisters to visit the poor and bring them supplies such as food, clothing, and care.
Sister Rosalie was noted not only for her intense prayer life, but also for her insistence on treating the poor with respect and compassion. As a result of her qualities, Sister Rosalie’s superiors often sent her postulants and younger Sisters to form.
As the poor and sick became more numerous, Sister Rosalie founded a free clinic, pharmacy, school, child and maternal care center, youth club for young workers, and a home for the elderly poor.
Because of Sister Rosalie’s amazing work and charismatic personality, she attracted people with money help fund her many projects. Likewise, she attracted young professional students who sought her advice. It was common for students in education, engineering, law, medicine, science, and technology to get advice or recommendations. But the list of people beating a track to her door did not just include the poor and young professionals, for among those sought her out were priests and bishops, King Charles X, Emperor Napoleon III and his wife, the Spanish Ambassador, and others.
Sister Rosalie also has the honor of advising Blessed Frederic Ozanam, founder of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, on beginning new projects, something she had first-hand experience.
In addition to her other concerns, Sister Rosalie also loved to help priests and religious who had psychiatric difficulties.
Sister Rosalie died on February 7, 1856. Pope John Paul II beatified her on November 9, 2003. Blessed Rosalie’s feast day is February 7.
