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A 5 Day Vincentian Retreat
In the historic center of Besançon, the chapel of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Jeanne-Antide Thouret preserves the memory of a religious family born amid one of the most turbulent periods in French history.
Standing on Place de l’Indépendance, near the intersection of Avenue Habib Bourguiba and Avenue de France, the Cathedral of Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Olivia is one of the most prominent Christian buildings in North Africa. It is the active cathedral of the Archdiocese of Tunis, serving both as a place of worship and as a visible sign of the country’s small but internationally diverse Catholic community.
Louise’s remains are enshrined in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, the chapel of the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity, at 140 rue du Bac, Paris.
Louise’s remains lay at the church of Saint-Laurent for 95 years, until 1755, when her body was transferred to the motherhouse at rue du Bac. Louise had recommended that a cross be put near her tomb with the inscription “Spes Unica” (Our only hope).
Louise was also responsible for the Daughters of Charity at the general hospital of La Salpêtrière, which received the influx of poor people whose numbers had multiplied during the Fronde.
Louise also founded, with Vincent de Paul, the “Work for Foundlings” in 1638, which was later established in the Château de Bicêtre.
Louise was responsible for managing the work of the Confraternity of Ladies of Charity and the Daughters of Charity at the aging and enormous Hôtel-Dieu hospital.
In 1641 the headquarters of the community of the Daughters of Charity was transferred to the Faubourg Saint-Denis, in a house opposite Saint-Lazare. This was the building that was the Motherhouse for the longest period of Louise’s life.
The Daughters of Charity were invited to Angers to take over management of the nursing services of the hospital there. As it was the first ministry outside Paris for the fledgling community, Louise made the arduous journey there in the company of three sisters.
