Sacred Heart 

St. Madeleine Sophie Barat was born in France on December 12, 1779, a time of great political and social upheaval. Her older brother saw her great academic potential and educated her in theology, languages, and classical literature, a formation typically reserved for boys. Amid the chaos of the French Revolution and its aftermath, Madeleine Sophie recognized the urgent need for the country’s spiritual renewal. In 1800, at the age of 20, she founded the Society of the Sacred Heart in Paris with the mission of making God’s love known through the education of girls. Under her guidance as Superior General for over 60 years, the Society expanded across Europe, the Americas, and beyond. St. Madeleine Sophie’s legacy lives on in the global Sacred Heart network of over 150 schools. She was canonized in 1925, and her feast day is celebrated on May 25.

Upon their meeting, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne and St. Madeleine Sophie Barat established a deep friendship that lasted a lifetime. The growth of the Society of the Sacred Heart was greatly influenced by their vision for the education of girls, who, they believed, could transform the world. Philippine dreamed of bringing this vision to the New World, but Madeleine Sophie needed her as more and more schools opened across Europe. In 1818, Madeleine Sophie finally relented and allowed Philippine to travel to North America and establish the first Sacred Heart school in St. Charles, Missouri. Despite harsh conditions and cultural challenges, she remained committed to education and service. Known for her perseverance and deep prayer life, she was called the "Woman Who Prays Always" by the Potawatomi people. Her dedication helped lay the foundation for a wide network of Sacred Heart schools across North and South America and Canada. She was canonized in 1988, and her feast day is November 18.