Saint Julia Billiart
Also known as
- Julia of Billiart
- Julie Billart
- Mary Rose Julia Billiart
Profile
Sixth of seven children of peasant farmers Jean-François Billiart and Marie-Louise-Antoinette Debraine. She was poorly educated, but knew her catechism by heart at age 7, and used to explain it to other children. At age 14 she took a private vow of chastity, and gave her life to serving and teaching the poor. At age 22, she was sitting next to her father when some one shot at him; the shock left her partially crippled for 22 years. During the French Revoluation, a group of her friends helped organize the work she’d started. Julia was miraculously healed of her paralysis on 1 June 1804, and resumed her work. Her organization became the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame (Institute of Notre Dame; Sisters of Notre Dame), dedicated to the Christian education of girls, formally established in Amiens, France, the first vows being made by Saint Julia and two others on 15 October 1804. By the time of her death the Institute had 15 convents.
Born
- 12 July 1751 at Cuvilly, diocese of Beauvais, department of Oise, Picardy, France as Mary Rose Julia Billiart
Readings
I ought to die of shame to think I have not already died of gratitude to my good God. – Saint Julie Billiart
Do what you can and don’t waste time lamenting over what you can’t do. – Saint Julie Billiart
MLA Citation
- “Saint Julia Billiart“. CatholicSaints.Info. 7 April 2024. Web. 18 April 2024. <>