Saint Emily De Vialar

Biography

Saint Emily De Vialar, also known as Anne Marguerite Adelaide Emily de Vialar, Emilie de Vialar, or Emilie de Vialard, was born on September 12, 1797, in Gaillac, Albi, southern France. She was the eldest of three children and the only daughter of Baron James Augustine and Antoinette de Vialar. Growing up in a time of anti-Church sentiment following the French Revolution, Emily was baptized in secret and received religious education at home from her mother. At the age of seven, she was sent to Paris, France, for her education. However, when she was fifteen, her mother passed away, and Emily returned home to manage her father's household. Deeply devoted to a life of celibacy and prayer, Emily privately desired to enter religious life. However, she faced opposition from her father, who often disagreed with her aspirations. Despite the disagreements, Emily remained steadfast in her dedication to God and patiently waited for an opportunity to pursue her calling. In 1832, Emily received a significant inheritance from her grandfather, which became the catalyst for the fulfillment of her religious vocation. On Christmas Day of the same year, she founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition, together with three other women. The name of the congregation references the scriptural appearance of the angel Gabriel to Joseph, instructing him to flee to Egypt. Emily's desire for missionary work took her to Algeria in 1835, along with some of the Sisters, to assist during a cholera epidemic. This endeavor marked the beginning of her dream of serving the sick and engaging in missionary activities. Despite her commitment, Emily faced numerous obstacles in obtaining papal approval for the Sisters. Secular politics between France and Algeria and internal Church politics involving Bishop Dupuch of Alger hindered the recognition of the congregation. It was only on March 31, 1862, several years after Emily's death, that the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition received official papal approval. During the intervening years, Emily established fourteen new houses and traveled extensively, sending missionaries wherever they were accepted. However, the strain of these endeavors, compounded by financial mismanagement by her advisor, resulted in bankruptcy by 1851. Emily and her congregation faced significant challenges due to their financial difficulties. Their reputation suffered, and they were so impoverished that they sometimes relied on soup kitchens run by other religious Congregations. Determined to rebuild the congregation, Emily, with the assistance of Bishop Saint Eugene de Mazenod, established the mother-house of the Sisters in Marseilles, France. From there, she worked diligently to restore the congregation's resources and reach more people in need. In the years leading up to her death, Emily's dedication and efforts bore fruit, as she established forty houses in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Her work ensured that the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition continued their mission of serving the poor and marginalized around the world. Saint Emily De Vialar died on August 24, 1856, in Marseilles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France, due to natural causes. Recognized for her exemplary virtues, she was venerated on March 19, 1935, by Pope Pius XI. Further acknowledging her sanctity, she was beatified on June 18, 1939, and canonized on June 24, 1951, both by Pope Pius XII. Saint Emily De Vialar remains an inspiration for her dedication to serving God and her unwavering commitment to helping the sick and less fortunate. Her congregation continues its essential work worldwide, carrying on the legacy of their dedicated founder.