The inspiration of our Holy Founder St. Francis de Sales, to form a congregation of women after the meek and humble Heart of Jesus, the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, have drawn women from the very beginning who would be given the grace to have merciful hearts themselves.
In our history, there have been many holy Visitandine souls, and we are highlighting a few who have been particularly known for mercy: St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, who received the revelations of the Heart of Jesus, is pre eminent.
She followed in the footsteps of our Foundress, St. Jane de Chantal, who served the needy both as wife, widow and religious.
Servant of God Sr. Anne Madeleine Remuzat, whose cause for beatification is before the Holy See, has been described as an “Apostle of Mercy”, in a recent book, Sœur Anne-Madeleine Rémuzat, Visitandine de Marseille, apôtre de la miséricorde (1696-1730) written by Bishop Jean Pierre Ellul, her postulator.
Servant of God Sr. Marie Therese Desandais, known as the Apostle of Merciful Love, is another, whom we have already presented to you.
Sister Benigna Consolata Ferrero, whose 100th anniversary of death is celebrated this year 2016, was known as the Little Apostle of Mercy and Love” from the Visitation of Como, Italy, and we will share more about her during this year.
Some of our contemporary Sisters evidence mercy in a visible, public way today. Sister Rose Marie Wangui of the Georgetown Visitation Monastery, founded an organization called Mercy Center Foundation to help the people of Kenya.http://www.mercyproject.org/who-we-are/sr-rose
Our Sisters of Minneapolis, by the very nature of their urban Monastery, exhibit their merciful hearts. http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/about-us/about/
May the mercy granted to our Sisters in turn be granted to you.