Placide Viel was a 19th-century French religious leader who served as the superior general of the Sisters of the Christian Schools. Born Eulalie-Victoire Jacqueline Viel in 1815, she joined the congregation founded by her aunt, Saint Marie-Madeleine Postel. Throughout her leadership, she expanded the order significantly, growing its membership from 150 to over 1,000 members. She was also recognized for her humanitarian efforts, specifically for organizing relief during the Franco-Prussian War before her death in 1877.
Life and leadership
After joining her aunt's order in 1835, Viel took the religious name Placide. She performed various roles, including novice mistress and administrator, while traveling extensively to establish new convents and secure funding in Paris. Following her aunt's death in 1846, she was elected mother-general. During her thirty-year tenure, she secured papal approval for the institute and traveled across Europe, meeting with various dignitaries to support the growth of the community.
Veneration
The cause for her canonization began in 1935. She was declared Venerable by the Catholic Church in 1941 after her heroic virtues were confirmed. Later, in 1951, Pope Pius XII beatified her. She is commemorated on March 4, the anniversary of her death in Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte.