Marie Poussepin

Poussepin was born to Claude Poussepin, the Syndic of Dourdan, and his wife, who served as treasurer of the local Confraternity of Charity.[2] She spent most of her childhood caring for her ill mother. After her mother died when Poussepin was 22 she intended to join a contemplative order, but her father then fell ill, requiring her to stay at home. At the same time, she became an active Tertiary of the Dominican order, caring for the poor and ill. When her father died, and she handed the family business off to her brother in 1690,[2] she was free to found a branch of the Dominican Sisters of Charity in Angerville. Due to the dislike of the local bishop, the congregation was not immediately formally affiliated with the Dominican order, and instead became known as the Jacobines.[3] As leader of the Jacobines, Poussepin opened elementary schools and reformed healthcare in rural France.[2]

Despite striving for formal acceptance and recognition by the Dominican order, it did not come during her lifetime; while on her deathbead in 1744, Poussepin was instructed that if she continued pressing the issue the small amount of recognition the Jacobines had obtained would be withdrawn. Finally, in 1897, the Jacobines were formally recognised, and became officially named the Dominican Sisters of Charity of the Presentation of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.[3] After her death, several paintings of Poussepin were made by Gwen John for various branches of the Dominican order.[4] On 20 November 1994 she was formally beatified by Pope John Paul II.[2]