Jesus urged his disciples to love one another as I have loved you. In fact, he went on to say that no one has greater love than ... to lay down one's life for one's friends (Jn 15:12-13). Throughout the history of the Church we have been blessed to witness many examples of this commandment being put into practice and among those wonderful examples is that of a woman who was born in Quebec City.
Alodie-Virginie Paradis was born in 1840. She was educated by the Sisters of Notre-Dame and at the age of fourteen years, she joined the Marianites of Saint-Laurent in Montreal, a feminine branch of the Holy Cross Congregation. Despite her frail health, she was nevertheless admitted and pronounced her vows on 22 August 1857. She received the name of Marie de Sainte-Léonie (or Marie-Léonie for short), and taught in Montreal for several years until 1862. She was then sent to an orphanage to work as a governess in New York City, and remained there until 1870.
On 31 May 1880, Marie-Léonie established the Little Sisters of the Holy Family in an effort to support and collaborate with the Holy Cross Congregation in the field of education. Paradis continued to wear the habit of her order but relinquished it on 2 October 1904 in favour of the one instituted in the new congregation. In 1905 it was Pope Pius X who relieved her of her obligations towards the Holy Cross Congregation.
Paradis soon became seriously ill with a malignant cancer, and her health slowly declined. On the morning of her death, she received permission to publish the Rule of the new congregation. She died suddenly following dinner and after receiving the last sacraments on 3 May 1912. Pope John Paul II recognized her life of heroic virtue on 31 January 1981 and proclaimed her to be Venerable. He approved a miracle attributed to her on 17 February 1984 and beatified her on 11 September 1984 in Montreal.
May she who spent her life in service to the poor help us to always be attentive to those in our midst who show us the tender loving face of our Saviour.
Have a great day.
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