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Story goes that a fire raged through the town of Joigny in the Burgundy region of France
The fire came close to the house where Madeleine Barat was pregnant with her and her barrel making husband Jacques’ third child
As a result of all of the chaos happening on the street Madeleine gave birth to her daughter Madeleine Sophie prematurely -
Amongst the French Revolution it became too dangerous for Louis to remain in Joigny
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Because he had been to the seminary
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He decided Joigny was still too unsafe for him so asked his parents if he could take Sophie to Paris where she would further her education with him
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When the political situation eased off a bit she returned to Paris again
This time she remained for five years and spent her time living a life of prayer and study, catechising the children of the Marais quarter. -
Varin was in Paris looking for a foundational stone for a Religious Society of Women Educators dedicated to the Sacred Heart
When Varin first approached Sophie she wasn’t sure what to do because she was intent on becoming a Carmelite. -
Varin managed to convince her to join him and on November 21 1800 before a picture of the Virgin Mary Sophie and three others made their first consecration.
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The school had 20 boarders and 160 day pupils
In the beginning Mademoiselle Lequet who was the Superior of the Convent and Principal of the school. However, she was seen to be unsatisfactory. -
With Lequet gone Varin appointed Sophie Superior even though she was only 23 years old!
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Despite being a good teacher Sophie had to stop teaching after a year so she could deal with the administration of the society.
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In 1806 there were many communities and it was decided that there was a need to elect a Superior General. Anne Baudemont thought she was going to win. However, Sophie was elected and was to remain in the position for the rest of her life.
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These qualities were stressed in the original Constitutions of the Society in 1815 and reaffirmed in the revised Constitutions of 1982.
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In 1834 Sophie sent correspondence to the entire society informing them that the new mother house was to know be in Paris. During Sophie’s career she travelled to many parts of Europe. Some examples of these travels were:
- Grenoble
- Poitiers
- Rome -
Sophie died in the grounds of the Hotel Biron in Paris on May 25, 1865. Aged 85 years old.
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She was beatified in 1908 by Pope Pius X.
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She was canonised (became a saint) in 1925 by Pope Pius XI.
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It lies in a glass coffin in the Sacred Heart Chapel of the Church of St Francis Xavier (across the road from the Hotel Biron).