Billiart Marie Rose Julia

Billiart Marie Rose Julia the foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame, was born at Cuvilly, Picardy, France, in 1751. On Feb. 2, 1804, she, with Frances Blin and Catharine Duchatel, made the necessary vows, and promised to devote themselves to the education of orphans and homeless children. Through her strength of character and patient endurance, even through sufferings and hard trials, she labored constantly, and at her death in 1816 saw her order widely established. Archbishop Purcell of Cincinnati introduced the Sisters of Notre Dame into the United States in 1840. On Jan. 1, 1872, the order numbered in this country 20 houses, 13,242 free scholars, 6517 Sunday scholars, 859 night scholars, 10,727 sodalities. In Belgium, England, United States, and Central America, there were at the same date 88 houses, 9996 day scholars, 45,146 free scholars, 12,671 Sunday scholars, 19,404 sodalities. 564 orphans. See Life of Mother Julia (N.Y. 1872); (N.Y.) Cath. Almanac, 1873, p.193.