Patron of abuse victims, people rejected by religious orders, widows
1556 – 1640
Saint Joan de Lestonnac (December 27, 1556 – February 2, 1640) was born in Bordeaux, France, in 1556. She married at the age of seventeen and had four children with her husband. After her husband suddenly died in 1597 she raised her children were raised alone.
Once her children grew up she entered the Cistercian monastery at Toulouse. Although later Joan was forced to leave the Cistercians when she became sick with poor health.
She then returned to Bordeaux and decided to form a congregation of her own and several young girls joined her as novices. They ministered to victims of a plague that struck Bordeaux. They formed the Congregation of the Religious of Notre Dame of Bordeaux.
In 1608, Joan and her companions received the religious habit from the Archbishop of Bordeaux. Joan was elected superior in 1610, and many miracles occurred at her tomb. She was canonized in 1949 by Pope Pius XII. Her feast day is February 2.
Leave a comment