Blessed Émilie Doultremont Dhoogvorst

Biography

Blessed √âmilie Doultremont Dhoogvorst, also known as √âmilie d'Oultremont van der Linden d'Hooghvorst, was born on 11 October 1818, in Wegimont, near Liège, Belgium. She was born into the nobility as the daughter of Count √âmile Oultremont de Wégimont a de Warfusée, a diplomat who represented King Leopold I to the Vatican.

From a young age, Émilie was deeply devoted to the Eucharist and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Her faith grew and she developed a great admiration for Saint Ignatius of Loyola. In 1837, she married Victor van der Linden, Baron d'Hooghvorst, and they had two sons and two daughters.

Émilie sought out Jesuits for spiritual guidance and grew in her spiritual journey. Unfortunately, she was widowed in 1847. As her sons entered college in France, she made the decision to move there as well. It was during this time that a significant event took place on 8 December 1854. On the day the dogma of Mary's Immaculate Conception was proclaimed, Émilie had a profound spiritual experience. Inspired by this, she announced her decision to enter religious life.

On 1 May 1857, Émilie founded the Institutum a Maria Reparatrice, also known as the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix, in Strasbourg, France. She was accompanied by a small group of young women. The following year, on 2 May 1858, Émilie made her vows and took the name Mary of Jesus.

Despite opposition and turmoil within her own family, particularly regarding her daughters joining the Sisters, Mother Marie, as she came to be known, persevered in her mission. In 1859, she received a request for help from Jesuit missionaries in Madras, India. This led to the expansion of the Sisters to India in 1860, followed by England in 1862, Belgium in 1863, Mauritius in 1866, and other countries such as France, Italy, Ireland, Spain, and Jerusalem in subsequent years.

To accommodate the growing congregation, the mother house was relocated from Strasbourg to Rome, Italy. Mother Marie played a pivotal role in the development and growth of the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix, overseeing its expansion across various continents.

Blessed Émilie Doultremont Dhoogvorst passed away on 22 February 1878, peacefully and of natural causes, at the home of her son Adrien in Florence, Italy. She was laid to rest in the church of Saint Bonaventure in Rome, Italy.

Blessed Émilie Doultremont Dhoogvorst was recognized for her heroic virtues on 23 December 1993 by Pope John Paul II. She was beatified on 12 October 1997 by the same pope, acknowledging her profound impact and dedication to the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix. Her feast day is celebrated on 22 February, commemorating her life and contributions to the Catholic Church.