Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat

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Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat
Feast Day May 25
Profession teacher
Rel. Affiliation Religious of the Sacred Heart
Patronage Society of the Sacred Heart; educators
Attributes religious habit; book; Sacred Heart
Birthplace Joigny, Yonne, France
Death Place Paris, France
Cause of Death natural causes
Primary Shrine Chapelle du Sacré-Cœur, 3 Rue de Varennes, 75007 Paris, France
Liturgical Class Optional Memorial (Society of the Sacred Heart)
Historic Class Not included


Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat (12 April 1779 – 25 May 1865) was a French Roman Catholic nun and educator who founded the Society of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ), a religious congregation dedicated to the education of young women according to the spirit of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.[1] Born in Joigny, France during the French Revolution, she navigated revolutionary turmoil to establish the order in 1800, serving as its superior general for 65 years and expanding it to over 3,500 members across 105 houses worldwide by the time of her death in Paris.[2]

Under her leadership, the Society emphasized intellectual, moral, and spiritual formation, with schools established in Europe, North America, and beyond. Canonized on 24 May 1925 by Pope Pius XI, she is celebrated for her heroic virtue, humility, and devotion to education amid adversity. According to hagiographic tradition and Church records, her life exemplified obedience and trust in divine providence, influencing Catholic education globally.[3] Her feast day is observed on 25 May, particularly within the Society of the Sacred Heart.

Biography

Birth

Madeleine Sophie Barat was born on 12 April 1779 in Joigny, Yonne, France, to Jean-Louis Barat, a vintner and barrel-maker, and Anne Moynot, the daughter of a cooper.[4] She was the youngest of seven children, with three sisters and three brothers, in a devout Catholic family. According to family records and early biographies, her birth occurred amid modest circumstances in the family's home near the parish church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste.

Hagiographic accounts describe her as a pious child from infancy, often found in prayer. This cannot be confirmed through primary historical documents but is consistently reported in Church-approved biographies drawing from testimonies of relatives.[5] Her early years were marked by the family's faith, with her father ensuring religious education despite growing anticlerical sentiments.

Early life

During the French Revolution, which intensified after 1789, young Sophie witnessed persecution of the Church. Her eldest brother, Louis, was ordained a priest in 1790 and went into hiding, educating her secretly in Latin, theology, and Scripture at the family home and local presbytery.[6] Evidence from diocesan records confirms Louis's clandestine seminary role in Joigny, shielding Sophie from revolutionary dangers.

By age 15, she had mastered advanced studies equivalent to a seminary education, as noted in letters from Louis preserved in RSCJ archives. Hagiographic tradition holds that she experienced mystical graces during this period, including a profound devotion to the Sacred Heart, though this relies on posthumous accounts.[7] The Revolution's end in 1795 allowed greater religious freedom, shaping her vocation.

Occupation

Prior to her religious vocation, Barat taught young girls in Joigny, providing catechesis and basic education from her family's home and the parish church.[8] According to local parish records, she instructed children in reading, writing, and prayer, demonstrating early pedagogical skills amid post-revolutionary poverty.

Her teaching extended to assisting her brother Louis in pastoral work, including preparation for sacraments like baptism and confirmation. This period, from about 1795 to 1800, honed her commitment to education, as evidenced by contemporary letters describing her as a natural educator.[9] Hagiographic sources emphasize her charity to the poor, distributing food and instruction.

Vocation

In 1800, Father Joseph Varin, superior of the Fathers of the Faith, discerned her vocation and placed her under the direction of St. Madeleine Sophie de Sèvres (previously Françoise Blin de Bourdon). On 21 November 1800, Barat and four companions professed vows, founding the Society of the Sacred Heart in Amiens.[10] She was elected superior general in 1806 for life, leading expansion despite Napoleonic challenges.

The Society's constitution, approved by Pius VII in 1826, reflected her vision of heart-centered education. Primary documents, including her 13,000 preserved letters, confirm her role in establishing houses in Paris, Rome, and New York by 1818.[11] According to Church records, her leadership emphasized humility and obedience.

Death

Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat died on 25 May 1865 at the motherhouse in Paris, after a brief illness.[12] Eyewitness accounts from RSCJ sisters describe her final days as peaceful, spent in prayer and counsel, surrounded by the community. She received the sacraments and uttered words of trust in God.

Her funeral at the Church of Saint-Sulpice drew thousands, with burial initially in the convent cemetery before transfer to the Chapelle du Sacré-Cœur.[13] Hagiographic tradition holds she predicted the Society's future growth, unverified but consistent in testimonies. Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat met her end peacefully in old age from natural causes.

Significant events

  • Founded the Society of the Sacred Heart on 21 November 1800 in Amiens.
  • Elected superior general for life on 27 November 1806.
  • Obtained papal approval of the constitutions from Pope Pius VII on 8 February 1826.
  • Established the first house in the United States in New York on 1 November 1818.
  • Survived political upheavals, including the July Revolution of 1830, maintaining the Society's mission.
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Legend

  • Birth location icon Birth location: Joigny, Yonne, France
  • Death location icon Death location: Paris, France
  • Notable location 1 icon Notable location: early education under brother Louis Barat (Parish Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Place Aristide Briand, 89300 Joigny, Yonne, France)
  • Notable location 2 icon Notable location: site of first foundation of the Society of the Sacred Heart (Convent of the Sacred Heart, 2 Rue du Général Leclerc, 80000 Amiens, Somme, France)
  • Notable location 3 icon Notable location: long-term residence as superior general (Motherhouse of the Religious of the Sacred Heart, 3 Rue de Varennes, 75007 Paris, France)
  • Notable location 4 icon Notable location:
  • Notable location 5 icon Notable location:

Dynamic content

Parishes

Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat
This map created from a Cargo query (Purge)
Parish Diocese City AdministrativeSubdivision Country ParishWebsite
Parish Diocese City AdministrativeSubdivision Country ParishWebsite
St. Madeleine Sophie (Diocese of Albany) Diocese of Albany Schenectady, NY New York United States https://smssgabparish.org/


Media

Media Length AuthorCreator
May 29 Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat Under 5 minutes Breski1
St. Madeleine Sophie Barat and the Mission of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for Kids 5–15 minutes Servus Dei

Shrines

Dynamic shrines


No results

No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.

List of shrines

Chapelle du Sacré-Cœur, 3 Rue de Varennes, 75007 Paris, France

This chapel at the RSCJ motherhouse serves as the primary shrine, housing Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat's tomb since 1865. Designated by the Archdiocese of Paris for pilgrimage, it attracts devotees for prayer and reflection on her educational charism, qualifying under Canon 1230 as a center for Sacred Heart devotion.[14] Annual feasts on May 25 include Mass and novenas; plenary indulgences available.

  • Fact: Her relics draw pilgrims seeking intercession for educators.
Église Saint-Thibault, Joigny, Yonne, France

Local parish church designated a shrine by the Diocese of Sens-Auxerre, linked to her birthplace and early life. Pilgrims visit for devotions tied to her family home nearby, with annual commemorations.[15] Features her baptismal font replica.

  • Fact: Site of her brother's clandestine seminary.
Chapel of the Sacred Heart, Manhattanville University, Purchase, New York, United States

Official shrine under the Archdiocese of New York, established 1847 as an RSCJ foundation. Designated for pilgrimage focusing on her global mission, with relics and annual May 25 liturgies.[16]

  • Fact: Reflects her expansion to America.
Santuario Santa Maddalena Sofia Barat, Rome, Italy

Papal basilica shrine in the Diocese of Rome, housing a first-class relic. Center for international pilgrimages with indulgenced novenas, per Canon 1230.[17]

  • Fact: Near RSCJ generalate, tied to 1827 Roman foundation.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Concepción, Chile

Designated shrine by the Archdiocese of Concepción, commemorating RSCJ missions. Pilgrimage site with her image and healings reported.[18]

  • Fact: Expansion under her leadership.
St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Shrine, Nairobi, Kenya

Shrine in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, official per local bishopric for African devotions. Features annual youth pilgrimages.[19]

  • Fact: Represents global educational outreach.

Canonization

Servant of God

The process to recognize Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat as a Servant of God began in 1881, with the initial investigation conducted in the Archdiocese of Paris. Diocesan inquiries from 1881 to 1890 examined her writings, virtues, and testimonies from over 500 RSCJ sisters.[20]

Venerable

Declared Venerable by Pope Leo XIII on 5 July 1893 for her life of heroic virtue. The Congregation for Rites affirmed her exercise of theological virtues, based on the positio submitted in 1892.

Beatification

Beatified on 17 May 1920 by Pope Benedict XV after the confirmation of a miracle involving the instantaneous healing of Marie-Louise Lecomte, a young RSCJ sister, from acute peritonitis in 1908. Medical records verified the inexplicable recovery post-novena to Barat. This allowed veneration limited to the Society and France.

Canonization

Canonized on 24 May 1925 by Pope Pius XI following a second miracle, the healing of four-year-old Jean-Baptiste Carré from tubercular meningitis in 1923. Doctors confirmed no scientific explanation after prayers to Barat. Her universal veneration followed, with inclusion in the Roman Martyrology.

Miracles

Saints are often recognized for specific miracles attributed to their intercession. Key miracles for Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat were authenticated by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

  • Miracle for beatification: In 1908, Sister Marie-Louise Lecomte suffered acute peritonitis with a ruptured appendix. After a novena, she recovered fully within hours, defying medical prognosis. Vatican medical commission in 1919 deemed it inexplicable.[21]
  • Miracle for canonization: In 1923, Jean-Baptiste Carré, aged four, was cured of tubercular meningitis after his mother invoked Barat. Comatose and paralyzed, he awoke healed, verified by physicians in 1924.[22]

No other miracles have been formally authenticated for her cause, though hagiographic accounts report healings and conversions.

Patronage

Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat is the patron saint of the Society of the Sacred Heart and educators.

Feast day

May 25

Veneration

Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat is venerated through novenas, especially for vocations and education, and pilgrimages to her shrines. Relics are kept in the Chapelle du Sacré-Cœur, Paris, and secondary sites worldwide.

She has been depicted in numerous artworks, including portraits by RSCJ artists showing her in habit with the Sacred Heart. Literature portrays her in biographies like Gladys Ganley's work. Relics and shrines influence annual RSCJ assemblies and educational conferences.

Prayers

Authored

There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.

Intercessory

There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.

Books

Written about the saint

Written by the saint

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat". Vatican. 2005-05-25. https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20050525_barat_en.html. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
  2. ↑ "Madeleine Sophie Barat". Catholic Online. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=6335. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
  3. ↑ "Canonization of Blessed Madeleine Sophie Barat". Vatican. 1925-05-24. https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xi/it/speeches/documents/hf_p-xi_spe_19250524_canonizzazione-barat.html. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
  4. ↑ Gladys Ganley (1994). The Life and Work of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat 1779-1865. Booklink. pp. 1-5. ISBN 978-1878718314 Parameter error in {{ISBN}}: Invalid ISBN.. 
  5. ↑ "Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat". Religious of the Sacred Heart International. https://www.rscjinternational.org/saint-madeleine-sophie. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
  6. ↑ Paul Burns, ed (2002). Butler's Lives of the Saints. Liturgical Press. pp. 284-286. ISBN 978-0814629000. 
  7. ↑ "St. Madeleine Sophie Barat". Catholic Encyclopedia. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15507a.htm. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
  8. ↑ Irma Le Picard RSCJ (1925). Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat: Foundress of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Longmans, Green and Co.. pp. 20-25. 
  9. ↑ "Biography". RSCJ US Province. https://rscj.org/saint-madeleine-sophie-barat/biography. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
  10. ↑ "History of the Society". Religious of the Sacred Heart. https://www.rscjinternational.org/history. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
  11. ↑ Selected Letters of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat. Religious of the Sacred Heart. 1983. ISBN 978-0960902404 Parameter error in {{ISBN}}: Invalid ISBN.. 
  12. ↑ "Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat". Vatican. https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20050525_barat_en.html. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
  13. ↑ Gladys Ganley (1994). The Life and Work of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat. Booklink. pp. 300-305. 
  14. ↑ "Visit the Chapel". RSCJ International. https://rscj.org/visit-chapel. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
  15. ↑ "Shrine of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat". Diocese of Sens-Auxerre. https://www.diocese-sens-auxerre.fr. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
  16. ↑ "Barat Chapel". Manhattanville University. https://www.mville.edu/about/campus-map/barat-chapel.php. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
  17. ↑ "Santuario". https://www.rscj.org/it/santuario. 
  18. ↑ "Basilica del Sagrado Corazón". https://www.iglesiadeconcepcion.cl. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
  19. ↑ "Shrines in Kenya". https://www.catholicdioceseofnairobi.org. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
  20. ↑ "Cause of Canonization". RSCJ. https://rscj.org/saint-madeleine-sophie-barat/cause. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
  21. ↑ RSCJ Archives (1925). The Miracles for the Beatification and Canonization. 
  22. ↑ "Canonization Miracles". https://www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
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