Marie de l'Incarnation

   1) (1566-1618)

   beatified religious figure

   Born in Paris, Barbe-Jeanne Avrillot was educated at the convent of Longchamps. Although she wanted to become a nun, in 1544 she married Pierre Acarie, viscount de Villemare, in obedience to her parents. Known as "la Belle Acarie," she was popular and respected both in Parisian society and among the poor and ill for whom she cared. After her husband was exiled, she dedicated herself to her six children. Greatly influenced by the work of Theresa of Âvila, she sought to introduce the reformed Carmelite order into France. This she succeeded in doing in 1603 with the assistance of Cardinal pierre de bérulle. She also helped to establish the ursalines. After the death of her husband in 1613, she was received into the convent at Amiens, taking the religious name of Marie de l'incarnation. Later, she was transferred to Pontoise, where she died. Having acquired a great reputation for holiness, she was beatified in 1794. Because of her position in society, as well as her piety and charity, she had an enormous influence on French Catholicism in the 17th century.

   2) (1599-1672)

   beatified religious figure

   Born in Tours, Marie Guyard entered the ursaline order after being widowed in 1619. she took the religious name of Marie de l'incarnation (1631) and became a missionary in Canada (1639). An active woman as well as a mystic, she founded there the first Ursaline convent. Her spiritual work (in particular the two Relations of Tours and Quebec, 1677) and her abundant Correspondance (1681) made her a leading personage in the religious history of New France. jacques-bénigne bossuet referred to her as the "Theresa of the New world."