Saint Júlia Billiart

Origins
On July 12, 1751, in a small village in the north of France, Maria Rosa Júlia Billiart was born, the daughter of poor and very religious peasants who baptized her on the same day of her birth. She, her parents and her 8 siblings lived by working on the farm and running a small business.

Eucharist, your only food
Júlia made her first communion at the age of seven, and by the age of eight she had already learned the entire catechism. By an interior disposition, or by a supernatural calling, and by living faith in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharistic Bread, the Eucharist became the only food in his life. She learned to read and write, because, with this knowledge, she helped support her home.

Charity
Even with all his work to help his family, he always tried to find time to visit the sick and the abandoned. She helped them and prayed for them.

“Education is the path to the fullness of life” – Saint Júlia Billiart

Paralysis
At the age of thirteen, without physical nutrition due to eating only Eucharistic communion, she began to have serious health problems. Júlia, who was already walking with great difficulty due to excessive work on the farm to help her parents, witnessed an attack on her father. An individual fired a rifle at him, and Júlia's nervous system was shaken. In 1782, a strong epidemic worsened Júlia's health even further, causing her to be paralyzed for 22 years. Since then, he has received the sacrament of the anointing of the sick five times due to his serious health situation.

Mystique
During her paraplegia, Saint Júlia Billiart delved into the deep mysteries of prayer, contemplation, and mystical life. The Lord, present in the Eucharist, became the center of his life. He revealed to her the mysteries of salvation, the suffering on Calvary, the immeasurable heavenly glory and the light of God that illuminates the life of the Christian.

Active life
The fruits of the Eucharist appeared. Saint Júlia Billiart had an active life even in this special situation of paraplegia. She was always linked to parish catechesis and paid great attention to the education of the poor, knowing that education is one of the keys to liberation from poverty. Always involved in the parish's catechesis, she was concerned with the education of the poor.

Friendships
He cultivated friendships within his family and expanded these ties with religious people, with noble women who, knowing his situation, tried to collect donations that helped his family. He also maintained friendships with the Carmelite sisters, who gave him spiritual support.

The Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namür

The dream of going further
Saint Júlia Billiart, after many years of paralysis and mystical life, felt in her heart the great desire to become a religious. This desire, however, carried a very defined goal: it was necessary to found a religious Congregation with the charisma of training good and holy educators to educate the poor.

The realization of the dream
In October 1794, at the age of 44, Júlia met Francisca Blin de Bourdon, who was 38 years old. They met at the castle of the noble French family, in Amiens. This friendship became the original cell of the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame, which, in the future, would be called the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namür.

On February 2, 1804, in Amiens, Júlia Billiart, Francisca Blin de Bourdon and Catarina Duchâtel took religious vows. This ceremony, presided over by Father Varin, marked the beginning of the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namür. The objective of the new Institute was the education of children and catechesis.

Cure
On June 1, 1804, after 30 years of illness and 22 years of paralysis, Júlia was miraculously healed during a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus healed her, as she walked again after all these years. The Mother of God was his great reference and model, and the Eucharist was the center of his life of unshakable faith. But living with her was not easy. It was a constant challenge, due to her firm goals she was considered stubborn and temperamental. Mainly because I did not accept that the congregation was only diocesan, that is, without a general superior. It took a lot for her to have this right, but, in the end, she was elected superior general.

The work of Saint Júlia Billiart grew

School
Saint Júlia Billiart opened her first free school for poor children in Amiens and began traveling through France and Belgium extending the work. It was a time of misery and difficulties. Therefore, she opened boarding houses and, with the profits obtained, founded free schools. He did not accept any donation that could take away the independence of the congregation. To have resources, he created boarding houses and, alongside them, a school for the poor. His work spread across several cities in these two countries.

Persecution and change
Saint Júlia Billiart was unfairly persecuted by the bishop of the city of Amiens. He even removed her from the Congregation. The sisters, however, decided to go with her to Namür, a Belgian city. There, the Congregation established itself and moved forward. Saint Júlia then continued with her work, helping thousands of poor children, giving them training that opened the door to a better future.

Legacy
During the 12 years that Júlia was at the head of the Congregation, she founded several communities and wrote more than 400 letters.

Death, beatification and canonization
Seeing her life's work accomplished, Saint Júlia Billiart passed away in the peace of Our Lord, which was the center of her life, on April 8, 1816, at the age of 55, while reciting the Magnificat. She was beatified by Pope Pius was placed on the path of divine option for the poor.”

Devotion to Saint Julia Billiart

Prayer to Saint Julia Billiart
“O God, who gave Saint Júlia Billiart the grace to have your Son Jesus Christ as the center of her life, also give us this essential grace, so that our lives may bear fruit in blessings for all those who need it. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen."