On this same day, we celebrate:

—The feast of the Martyrs of Arras and Sister Marguerite Rutan, and honor five heroic Daughters of Charity who sacrificially gave their lives during the French Revolution. In Arras, Sisters Madeleine Fontaine, Mary Françoise Lanel, Thérèse‑Madeleine Fantou, and Jeanne Gérard were arrested and executed on June 26, 1794, for refusing to take the state’s oath—remaining resolute in their faith as they prayed and sang on the way to the scaffold. On April 9, 1794, Sister Marguerite Rutan of Dax—Mother Superior and nurse—also died by guillotine after courageously caring for the sick and defying demands to renounce her allegiance to the Church. Their martyrdom stands as a powerful testimony to unwavering faith and compassionate service, reminding us today of the cost of discipleship and the enduring strength of charity.

—The feast of Blessed Nemesia Valle, a Sister of Charity whose life was a radiant example of humility, kindness, and tireless service. Born Giulia Nemesia Valle on June 26, 1847, in Aosta, Italy, she joined the Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida Thouret in 1866, taking the name Nemesia. For over four decades, she served as a teacher and formator in Tortona and later in Borgaro Torinese, where she became beloved by students, novices, and the local poor. Her gentle presence, joyful spirit, and unwavering availability earned her the affectionate title “our angel” among those who knew her. Sister Nemesia lived her vocation with a profound interior life, rooted in daily prayer, simplicity, and a deep love for the Eucharist. Her guiding motto was: “Jesus, empty me of myself, let me be clothed in you. Jesus, for you I live and for you I die.” She formed generations of young Sisters with wisdom, patience, and a living witness of charity in action. Even in her final years, she remained fully available to serve wherever needed, always attentive to the poor and those who suffered in silence. She died on December 18, 1916, and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2004. Today, we remember Blessed Nemesia as a shining light in the Vincentian tradition—a woman who allowed Christ’s love to pass through her hands, her words, and her daily life in the most ordinary yet transformative ways.