September 19
Saint Émilie de Rodat
Nun, Virgin, Founder
(1787 – 1852)
“God speaks to His friends whenever He wants, all times and places are suitable for prayer. In the garden as much as in the Church, you can pray, you can unite yourself with Him and hear His voice.”
Saint Emilie de Rodat
Coming November 1, 2024 on Amazon
Saint’s Life Story
Her Early Life
Marie Guillemette Émilie de Rodat was born on September 6, 1787, in Rodez, Aveyron, France to a noble family. When she was 18 months old, at the beginning of the French Revolution, Émilie was taken to live with her maternal grandmother in the Château of Ginals outside Villefranche. She was educated at Maison Sain-Cyr, Villefrance, France.
Life Changing Experience
As a young child, Émilie had shown a great love for God and for the poor. But, during her teenage years, she changed and these things held little meaning for her. At the age of sixteen, Émilie had an experience of God’s love that was to change her life forever. Emilie wrote: “I was sixteen years of age when I learned to know Our Lord. This experience overwhelmed me and I wanted God and only God.”
A Teacher at 18
At the age of 18, Émilie became a lay teacher at Maison Saint-Cyr, where she had gone to school, for eleven years. She was in charge of the girls’ recreation, taught geography, and prepared them for communion. Émilie realized that many of the children of the poor were not going to school because they could not afford to. She also began to consider religious life, but after entering three or four congregations for a short time, she realized that she was not called to any of the existing orders.
Started New Free School
In 1815, Émilie began tutoring poor children on her own time. By 1816, she had founded a free school with three assistants and 40 students. The house at the Maison Saint-Cyr, which was closing, Émilie was able to purchase with 100 students and eight other sisters. Two years later, Émilie was able to buy better buildings for her school.
New Order
Émilie devoted all of her life to teaching the poor. To help her cope with the rapidly growing numbers of children in her school, she gathered other young women. These women also gave all their lives to teaching the children. They became the nucleus of the Religious Congregation of the Holy Family of Villefranche. In 1832, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Villefranche was formally approved by the Bishop of Rodez.
Her Congregation
The congregation was devoted to caring for the elderly, prisoners, and orphans, in addition to the schools for the poor. Some of the nuns were also contemplative and spent their time in prayer and adoration. In 1863, her new order began to visit prisoners, opened orphanages, rescue homes for prostitutes, and a retirement home for “aged religious”. Emilie also founded groups of contemplative nuns to pray for the community’s charitable works. By 1852, there were 32 Villefranche convents that ran schools, and five contemplative communities.
Her Death
At the age of 65, Émilie died of cancer in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron, France on September 19, 1852. At the time of her death, Émilie had opened 38 charitable institutions, 25 cloistered communities, and 32 schools with over 5,000 students sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Villefranche in several countries.
Born: September 6, 1787, in Rodez, Aveyron, France
Died: September 19, 1852 in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron, France
Beatified: June 9, 1940 by Pope Pius XII
Canonized: April 23, 1950 by Pope Pius XII
Feast Day: September 19
Patron Saint: None
Sources:
Reflection
Saint Émilie de Rodat’s dedication to education was deeply rooted in her desire to uplift the poor and marginalized. In 1815, she founded the Congregation of the Holy Family of Villefranche with the mission of educating girls, particularly those from poor families, and caring for orphans, the sick, and the elderly. She understood that education was a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering individuals to lead dignified lives. Her legacy continues to inspire those who seek to make a difference in the world through education, compassion, and humble service.
Are you driven by love and compassion to transform the lives of others around you by educating them about the love of Jesus Christ through your actions and words?
Prayers
Saint Émilie de Rodat ,
You were certainly a person of character and strength establishing numerous charitable institutions, cloistered communities, and schools in several countries, caring for the elderly, prisoners, and orphans, in addition to the schools for the poor.
We ask for your intercession to follow in your footsteps and model our commitment to the Christian life based on the example of your life.
God gives each of us talents, just as He did for Saint Émilie, for the good of His people. Then, God expects that those talents will produce great fruit.
Saint Émilie de Rodat, pray for us. Amen.
Saint Links
A Dictionary Of Saintly Women, Volume 1 by Agnes B. C. Dunbar – Ven. Emily
Angelus – Saint of the day: Emily de Rodat
Catholic Fire – St. Emily de Rodat
Catholic News Agency – St. Emily de Rodat Feast Day: Sep 19
Catholic Online – St. Emily de Rodat
Florida Catholic – St. Emily de Rodat
Saint for a Minute – Saint Emily De Rodat
St Emily Catholic Church – Marie Guillemette Émilie de Rodat (St. Emily de Rodat)