Dominican Sisters of the Presentation Blessed Marie Poussepin Historical Facts

• 1653 -  Born on October 14 in Dourdan, France

• 1663 - Beginning of the "Confraternity of Charity" in Dourdan by a disciple of St. Vincent de Paul, Marie's mother is elected treasurer. She teaches her daughter who eventually will replace her to visit poor families to bring them relief and consolation, "in the name of Jesus Christ and our Lady."

• 1675 - 22 years old.
  Her mother dies. Marie takes over responsibility of the house, supervises the education of her youngest brother and helps her father with his business of hand knitted silk stockings. She continues her works of charity.

• 1683 - 30 years old
  Her father dies. His last years are saddened by failure. Marie takes over a very complex situation. In order to pay off her father's debts and save her family's business, she makes a bold and progressive move: she gives up hand knitting and buys machines. She learns how to use them and hires apprentices whom she trains. She treats them with a sense of social justice and with a Christian Charity well ahead of the practice of her time.

• 1690 - 37 years old
  She joins The Third Order of St. Dominic established in Dourdan by Fr. Francois Mespolie, OP.  She slowly removes herself from the business, giving more & more responsibility to her brother, Claude, devoting herself totally to the service of charity.
  

• 1693 - President of the "Confraternity of Charity."
  In the winter of 1693 - 94, she receives into her own home a poor widow for whom she cares for until her death.
  

• 1695 - 42 years old
  Marie hears the call to give her life in service of others.  She leaves her home in Dourdan and goes to Sainville.

• 1696 - Her Original Vision

Her desire: " to establish a community of the Third order of St. Dominic for the service of the parish of Sainville, to educate its youth and to care for its sick poor."

• 1724 - Legal Recognition of Her Community

King Louis XV publishes in the form of a decree, the "lettres patentes", assuring the legal existence of her community under the name: Community of Charity of Sainville.

• 1736 

Writes her last testament

• 1738 - Her Rule of Life is Approved

Bishop of Chartres approves the Reglemens.

• 1744 - 90 years old 

Marie dies and is buried in Sainville. At this time there are 113 Sisters and 20 communities in France.

Declared a Blessed by Pope John Paul II 

 November 20, 1994

MARIE POUSSEPIN: A WOMAN AND A SAINT

Marie Poussepin said 'yes' to the Lord
left the world
and took the cross - the cross of a disciple.
She meditated on the cross and its cost.

She started to weave her vision
The vision which gave birth to 
The Dominican Sisters of the Presentation
in order to alleviate poverty
to take care of the sick poor,
lonely and abandoned.

She found them and led them to life.
She pondered over the vision again and again.
She lived her vision and gave it life,
she embraced the sufferings
which created in her endurance.

She continued to weave her vision
by giving life to many -
she trusted in Divine Providence
which created in her energy and enthusiasm
to carry on her mission.

Marie Poussepin lived her life
totally and radically
which was an inspiration for many
to follow the Lord, through her Charism.

Each event led her more and more close to God,
she praised Him always.
The Eucharist nourished her soul
and sacred scripture nourished her mind.
Her life itself was proclamation.

Constant prayer strengthened her to weave
the vision continuously - 
the vision to begin a Dominican Community.
Her vision was to preach his Kingdom,
to live the Gospel value,
to promote justice,
to understand and touch the problems of the world,
to live his kingdom among the chosen generations,
by calling them out of darkness into the light of Christ
to be hope for the hopeless
to be light for all those who live in darkness
to be a consolation for the lonely,
to be joy for all those who mourn,
to be a help for the helpless.

God graced in her the charism to be
the Foundress of the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation.

For three centuries her vision bore fruit.
the Church acknowledged Marie Poussepin's holiness
in her ordinary life
and raised her to the altar.

Blessed Marie Poussepin
I bow before you.
Blessed Marie Poussepin
Pray for us.


By Sr. Lilly Chalakkal, OP

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