Saint Elizabeth Bichier des Âges
“The Good Sister”
(1773-1838)

Saint’s Life Story

Her Early Life

Jeanne (also known as Joan) Elizabeth Lucy Bichier des Âges was born on July 5, 1773, in the Chateau des Anges near LeBlanc, France. She was the daughter of Antony Bichier, lord of Agnes, and Marie Augier de Moussac and one of the couple’s four children. Her name was rather long for a small child, so she was called Elizabeth.

Her mother was a religious person and ensured that her daughter was taught how to pray and the basics of the Catholic faith. At the age of ten, she entered a convent in Poitiers, France, where she received an education until the age of nineteen.

Won Court Battle

In January 1792, when Elizabeth was 19, her father died. A few weeks later in February 1792, the National Assembly issued a decree against the property of those citizens, the émigrés, who had left France in the face of the Revolution.

Because her eldest brother, Laurent, was among these émigrés and mother was too old and sick to help, Elizabeth undertook the management of her brother’s property. She asked her uncle, Abbé de Moussac, the vicar general of Poitiers, to teach her property law and financial accounting. Armed with a little knowledge, she fought and won a long court battle to retain control of the family property.

Moved to La Guimetière

In 1796, Elizabeth and her mother moved to the family’s country home in Béthines called La Guimetière. In order to keep the Catholic faith alive, each night Elizabeth would gather the farmers and their wives for prayers, hymns, and spiritual reading at La Guimetière. Soon, she heard rumors of a priest saying Mass in a barn 25-miles away at Maillé, France. The priest was Abbé (Father) Saint André (Andrew) Fournet.

Rule from Saint Andrew Fournet

Immediately, Elizabeth sought him out at Maillé. The two quickly developed a strong bond of friendship. Often, she visited the barn at Petits Marsillys. Saint Andrew Fournet wrote up a rule for her to follow as she began her life of teaching and other works of charity, while discouraging her entry into the Trappistine convent. So, Elizabeth continued her life at Béthines, leading prayer, teaching young children, and tending the sick and needy.

Superior

Eventually, Saint Andrew Fournet knew that Elizabeth was just the woman to implement his vision of a small community of nuns to tend the sick and teach rural girls. He told her, “There are ruins to be rebuilt, ignorance to be remedied.”

Elizabeth felt that she did not have the background or experience to lead such a project because she had never been a nun, much less a superior. Upon her mother’s death in 1804, the two decided that she should undertake a year’s novitiate at the Carmelite convent at Poitiers. Knowing that she might never come out again, Andrew soon arranged for her to be transferred to the Society of Providence.

Founded Daughters of the Cross

In the meantime, the Saint Andrew Fournet wasted no time. He began to form a community at La Guimetière, which included Madeleine Moreau, Mary Anne Guillon, Véronique de Lavergne and another young woman.

Despite her protests, Elizabeth was called out of the convent after only six months. In May 1806, they moved the community from La Guimetière to the Château de Molante near Maillé. Here, they began to teach the children, to shelter and care for the elderly and sick, and to make reparations for the outrages wrought by the Revolution against Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

Thus, the Daughters of the Cross or Sisters of Saint Andrew were formed in Poitiers when the five sisters made temporary vows in early 1807. Elizabeth and Andrew only intended that it should be a local congregation affiliated with an established order, but by the end of 1811, it was clear that they would have to stand alone. They moved into a bigger place, Rochefort, in Maillé itself to house the 25 members of the community. Five years later, their rule was approved by the diocesan authorities of Poitiers.

Grew Rapidly to 60 Houses

Taking on the role of the first superior of the community, Elizabeth’s leadership helped the Daughters of the Cross grow rapidly. In 1819-1820, thirteen new convents were opened. Between 1821 to 1825, 15 more house were opened in a dozen dioceses. Soon the bishops were inviting them into their dioceses and the sisters established communities in Bayonne, Béarn, the Basque country, Gascony, and Languedoc.

By 1830, the community had established 60 houses spread throughout France. In 1834, when the Basque house of Igon was opened, its spiritual director was the young Saint Michael Garicoîts. He helped Elizabeth tremendously after the death of Saint Andrew in 1834. She, in turn, encouraged Saint Michael in the founding a men’s congregation called the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Bétharram, whom worked alongside the Sisters.

Her Death

In 1836, Elizabeth fell seriously ill and was subject to fits of delirium. After ten days of intense suffering, Elizabeth passed away on August 26, 1838, in La Puye, Vienne, France. Today, Saint Elizabeth Bichier des Âges is remembered as a devoted servant of God and a compassionate advocate for the sick, the poor, and the education of rural communities in France.

The Sisters of the Cross, Sisters of St. Andrew’s community reached some 3,100 at the start of the 20th century, with 430 houses. They currently serve or have served around the globe in France, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Belgium, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Uruguay, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, China, and Thailand.

Born:                   July 5, 1773, in the Chateau des Anges near LeBlanc, France

Died:                   August 26, 1838, in La Puye, Vienne, France

Beatified:           May 13, 1934 by Pope Pius XI

Canonized:        July 6, 1947 by Pope Pius XII

Feast Day:         August 26

Patron Saint:    None

Source:

• • CatholicSaints.Info » Saints of the Day – (Joan, Jeanne) Elizabeth Bichier des Âges (Anges) by Katherine I Rabenstein
  • Saint Jeanne Elizabeth Des Bichier Des Anges – Saint for a Minute: Saints & Blesseds
  • Joan Elizabeth Bichier des Âges – Wikipedia

Prayers

Video Link

Saint of the Day – St. Jeanne Elizabeth des Bichier des Anges (August 26th) – YouTube (House of Prayers for Everyone (HOPE))