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The congregation of the
SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH OF THE APPARITION
was founded in Gaillac,
a little town in the south-west of France
by Emilie de Vialar in 1832.
Emilie was born on 12th
September 1797, the eldest child and only girl
in a family
of four. From an early age this bright
and lively daughter of
Baron and Madame de Vialar
felt attracted to the things of God.
Her childhood was a happy one. Her
mother was her first teacher,
though she also frequented a
local school. At thirteen she was
accompanied by her parents
to a boarding school in Paris, but sadly
during this visit
her mother died unexpectedly.
Having completed her education and
returned home, Emilie frequently accompanied her father to
social functions in Gaillac and surrounding areas. Young and
beautiful, she delighted in fashionable clothing and
jewellery; she had many friends of her own age, and soon she
received proposals of marriage.
In her writings, Emilie tells us that at
this point she began to realise that she had a different
vocation in life, but she was not sure what this would
entail. Though everything interested her, she seemed to find
no real fulfilment in anything. A mission preached in her
parish helped her to decide that her life would belong
totally to God. But what that meant in practice would not
become clear for several years to come.
In the meantime, Emilie became aware of
the poverty and injustice surrounding her in her own home
town. Much to her father’s displeasure, she began to
distribute food and clothing to the poor who flocked to her
door. Later, and with the help of other local girls, she was
able to extend this service to the poor sick in their own
homes, bringing them hot soup, warm clothes, food and
medicines.
In her searching, Emilie was helped by a
spiritual director who encouraged her to believe in her
vocation. Gradually she realised that God was inviting her
to found a Religious Congregation to honour the Mystery of
the Incarnation as revealed to St Joseph. Her grandfather’s
death left her the wherewithal to purchase a house, and with
three companions she founded the Congregation on Christmas
eve1832. |
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Her mother
was
her first teacher |
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She wanted
to help
the poor,
so she began
distributing things. |
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On Christmas
night
she gave birth to
a new Congregation. |
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