Blessed Eugenie Smet
Blessed Eugenie Smet (born March 25, 1825 AD in Lille, Nord, France; died February 7, 1871 AD in Paris, France) was a French Catholic religious foundress who established the Society of the Helpers of the Holy Souls (Société des Auxiliatrices des âmes du Purgatoire) in Paris in 1856, a congregation dedicated to praying for and obtaining Mass intentions for the souls in purgatory, as well as to education, nursing, and social work. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on February 26, 1990. Her feast day is February 25 (her birthday, which is also the feast of the Annunciation of 1825).
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Eugenie Smet
| Blessed Eugenie Smet | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | February 25 |
| Profession | French Catholic religious foundress; foundress of the Society of Helpers of the Holy Souls (Auxiliatrices des âmes du Purgatoire, AAP, Paris 1856); known in religion as "Mary of Providence"; educator; nurse; apostle of the holy souls; woman of prayer for the dead; born on the feast of the Annunciation (March 25, 1825); died February 7, 1871 |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Society of Helpers of the Holy Souls (Auxiliatrices des âmes du Purgatoire, AAP); doctrine of purgatory; French Catholic women's religious life; 19th-century French Catholic social and spiritual apostolate |
| Patronage | The holy souls in purgatory; France; Lille; Paris; prayer for the dead; educators; nurses; those who offer their suffering for others; the Society of Helpers of the Holy Souls |
| Attributes | Religious habit of the Auxiliatrices; flames of purgatory; cross; February 25 feast; March 25 (Annunciation) birth; Paris |
| Birthplace | Lille, Nord, France |
| Death Place | Paris, France |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; died February 7, 1871, in Paris; Blessed Eugenie Smet was born on March 25, 1825 — the feast of the Annunciation — in Lille; she founded the Society of the Helpers of the Holy Souls (Auxiliatrices des Âmes du Purgatoire) in Paris in 1856, with the specific charism of praying and offering works of reparation for the souls in purgatory; the congregation also engaged in education, nursing, and social work as concrete apostolic activities; she was known in religion as "Mary of Providence"; she died February 7, 1871, in Paris, during the Siege of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War; she was beatified by Pope John Paul II on February 26, 1990 |
| Primary Shrine | Paris, France; feast February 25; beatified JPII February 26 1990 |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman calendar; February 25 feast in France and with the Society of Helpers of the Holy Souls |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar |
Biography
Eugenie Smet was born March 25, 1825 — the feast of the Annunciation — in Lille, France. She received a deep Catholic formation in Lille's Catholic middle-class milieu.
Responding to an inspiration to dedicate herself to prayer and works of reparation for the souls in purgatory, she founded the Society of Helpers of the Holy Souls (Auxiliatrices des Âmes du Purgatoire) in Paris in 1856. The congregation's specific charism was prayer, Mass intentions, and works of reparation for the souls undergoing final purification in purgatory, combined with active apostolic works of education, nursing, and social service. She took the name "Mary of Providence" in religion.
She died February 7, 1871, in Paris, during the Siege of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War.
She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on February 26, 1990. Her feast day is February 25 (her birthday, also the feast of the Annunciation in the liturgical year).
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Lille, Nord, France
Death location: Paris, France
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Feast day
February 25
Veneration
Blessed Eugenie Smet (1825–1871) was a French Catholic foundress from Lille who established the Society of Helpers of the Holy Souls in Paris in 1856 to pray and offer works of reparation for the souls in purgatory, dying during the Siege of Paris on February 7, 1871; beatified John Paul II on February 26, 1990. Feast February 25.
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