Mariecon’s Personal Blog Site

New Saint: Sister Marie Eugenie de Jesus Milleret

Sister Marie Eugenie de Jesus Milleret, a French nun who in 1839 founded the Religious of the Assumption to educate young girls, was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI together with Rev. George Preca of Malta, Rev. Szymon z Lipnicy of Poland, Rev. Charles of St. Andrew of Poland.

The presidents of Ireland, Malta, Poland and the Philippines attended the canonization Mass for the three priests and a nun, whom Benedict praised as models for Catholics to emulate.

“May the example of St. Marie Eugenie invite men and women of today to transmit to the young the values that will help them become strong adults … May young people not be afraid to welcome these moral and spiritual values, to live them with patience and fidelity,” Benedict said in honoring the new saint.

Anne Marie Eugenie was born in 1817 in Metz after Napoleon’s complete defeat and the restoration of the Monarchy. She belonged to a non-believing and financially comfortable family and it seemed unlikely that she would trace a new spiritual path across the Church of France.

Mother Marie Eugenie founded the Religious of the Assumption on April 30th, 1839. Today, the Religious of the Assumption are present in 34 countries – 8 in Europe, 5 in Asia, 10 in America and 11 in Africa. Almost 1,200 sisters form 170 communities throughout the world.

President Gloria Arroyo of the Philippines attended the canonization because a 12 year old Maria Carmela Thérèse Eugénie “Risa” was miraculously cured in her severe brain damage affecting her sight after after praying to Sister Marie Eugenie. Risa attends an Assumption school in the Philippines, was present at Sunday’s Mass and was part of the offertory procession bringing gifts up to the pope.