Marguerite Rutan was an 18th-century French nun belonging to the Congregation of the Mission. Born in Metz, she dedicated her life to serving the impoverished and eventually became the mother superior of a hospital in Dax. Her leadership in establishing schools and shelters for girls earned her significant local respect. However, during the French Revolution, she faced intense persecution due to her refusal to swear oaths of allegiance to the state, which led to her execution by guillotine in 1794.
Life and service
After entering the Vincentian Sisters in 1757, Rutan served in various locations, including Toulouse and Pau. In 1779, she moved to Dax to manage a hospital. As a pioneer of social work, she expanded the community's impact by opening educational facilities and providing refuge for young women. Her commitment to her religious duties remained steadfast even as political tensions in France escalated.
Death and veneration
Accused of anti-revolutionary sentiment and fanaticism, Rutan was imprisoned in late 1793. She was executed in April 1794, an event later described by some officials as a barbaric sacrifice. Her path to beatification was long and faced challenges regarding her local following. After the cause was revitalized, Pope Benedict XVI approved her beatification in 2011, recognizing her as a martyr who died for her faith.