Julie Billiart was a French Catholic nun and educator who lived from 1751 to 1816. Born in Cuvilly, she spent twenty-two years bedridden due to paralysis, during which time she was known for her deep prayer life and embroidery. Following the French Revolution, she fled to Compiègne, where she experienced a vision regarding the future establishment of a religious community. Alongside Françoise Blin de Bourdon, she founded the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1804, an organization dedicated to the education of young girls. She is recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church.
Life and work
After being paralyzed for over two decades, Billiart experienced a recovery of her mobility and speech in 1804. This allowed her to actively lead the newly formed Sisters of Notre Dame. Known as "Mother Julie," she traveled to establish schools and homes for impoverished girls across France and Belgium. Her mission focused on teaching the goodness of God through the education of children, regardless of their social standing.
Veneration
The religious community she cofounded, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, expanded globally to serve many countries. Billiart was beatified by Pope Pius X in 1906 and later canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1969. Her feast day is observed on 8 April, marking the anniversary of her death in Namur.