Saint Emily de Vialar

Saint Emily de Vialar was a woman who gave her life to helping others. She was born in France in the early 1800s and lived during a time of many changes in the Church and the world. Her full name was Anne Marguerite Adelaide Emilie de Vialar. She is often called Emilie in French, but in English, she is most often known as Emily.

Emily was best known for starting a religious group called the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition. This group focused on caring for the sick, helping the poor, and spreading the message of Jesus in many countries. Her deep love for God and for people in need shaped everything she did.

Her life was not easy. She lost her mother when she was young. Later, she faced many troubles from her own family and from people who didn’t understand her work. But she kept going, always trusting that God would guide her.

She did not seek fame or wealth. She only wanted to serve. Emily’s strong will and deep love for others made her a leader. She became a guide to many young women who wanted to follow God through a life of service.

She lived her faith in action. Her life reminds us that holiness is not just about prayer. It is also about loving others, helping those in need, and standing firm when things get hard.

Emily was born in Gaillac, a small town in southern France, in 1797. Her family was well-known and had some wealth, but her life was not easy. When Emily was only thirteen, her mother died. This loss changed her life.

After her mother’s death, Emily was sent to live with her grandfather. He was strict but gave her a good education. She learned many things, including how to read and write well, how to speak several languages, and how to care for others. She also learned how to be strong in hard times.

From a young age, Emily showed a deep concern for the poor. She would visit the sick and bring food and comfort to those in need. She also spent a lot of time in prayer. These habits would stay with her for life.

Her father, who was a doctor, did not always support her choices. He wanted her to live a quiet and proper life. But Emily felt called to something more. She wanted to live for God and help others, even if that meant going against what others expected of her.

She did not yet know how this would all come together. But even in her teen years, the seeds of her mission were already growing.

Emily felt a call in her heart to serve God in a special way. She wanted to give her whole life to Him and help those who were suffering. But this was not easy to do. Her father did not agree with her plans. He made it hard for her to take the steps she wanted to take.

In time, Emily received an inheritance from her grandfather. She decided to use this money to start something new. She gathered a small group of women who shared her dream. Together, they began caring for the sick and poor in Gaillac.

They helped people during times of sickness and disaster. They worked quietly and simply, showing love to all. Emily led them with care and strength. In 1832, she officially started a new religious order: the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition.

The name came from a moment in the Gospel when an angel told Saint Joseph about God’s plan for Mary and Jesus. Emily saw this as a sign of trust and mission. Like Joseph, she wanted her sisters to listen to God and act with courage.

It was a small beginning, but Emily’s faith was strong. She believed that God had called her to this work. No matter the cost, she was ready to follow.

As the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition grew, Emily sent sisters to many places. They opened schools, hospitals, and homes for those in need. They went to places like Algeria, Malta, and the Middle East. The sisters worked with people of many cultures and languages.

But not everyone understood what Emily was doing. Some people questioned her decisions. There were problems with money and disagreements with local leaders. Some people even tried to remove her from leading the group she had started.

Emily went through many trials. She was misunderstood, even by people inside the Church. At one point, she was removed from her own community and had to live apart from the sisters she loved.

Still, she did not give up. She kept praying and helping others however she could. She trusted that God would work through the pain and confusion. Her strength came from her deep faith and her daily prayer.

In the end, her name was cleared. She was able to return to her role as foundress, and her order continued to grow. She had suffered much, but she had stayed faithful.

Emily’s later years were quiet, but not without suffering. She had poor health and little money. She lived simply and kept her focus on prayer and service. She offered all her struggles to God.

She never stopped caring for the poor and the sick. Even when she was tired or ill, she still found ways to give. Her life was full of small acts of love and quiet faith.

Emily died on August 24, 1856. She had given everything to God. She had faced rejection and sorrow, but she never turned away from her mission. Her work lived on in the sisters she had trained and guided.

After her death, people began to speak more openly about how much good she had done. Her name was honored by those who had once doubted her. Her legacy grew stronger with time.

Her life was not marked by big events or loud success. It was marked by steady love, faith in suffering, and trust in God’s plan. She died in peace, knowing she had given her life fully.

The Church recognized Emily’s holiness and her faithful service. She was declared a saint in 1951 by Pope Pius XII. Her feast day is often celebrated on August 24, the day of her death.

Saint Emily is the patron saint of those who serve in hospitals and those who do missionary work. Her order, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition, still works around the world in schools, clinics, and places of need.

She is remembered not just for founding a religious order, but for the way she trusted God through every hardship. She showed that holiness can grow through pain, patience, and daily acts of love.

Her story reminds us that great things often start small. A simple act of love, a quiet prayer, or a step of faith can lead to much more. Saint Emily lived that truth every day.

Her life continues through the work of the sisters and through the people who follow her example. She shows us how to keep going when things are hard and how to love without limits. Her mission of mercy still brings hope to many.

Who was Saint Emily de Vialar?

She was a French woman who started a group of sisters to help the sick and poor.

When was she born?

She was born on September 12, 1797, in Gaillac, France.

What was her full name?

Her full name was Anne Marguerite Adelaide Emilie de Vialar.

What did she do?

She founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition. They worked in hospitals, schools, and missions.

Why did she start the order?

She wanted to serve God by helping people in need, especially the sick and poor.

Did she face problems?

Yes. She had troubles with her family, with money, and with people who did not support her work.

When did she die?

She died on August 24, 1856.

When is her feast day?

Her feast day is usually celebrated on August 24.

When was she made a saint?

She was declared a saint in 1951 by Pope Pius XII.

What is she the patron saint of?

She is the patron of people who serve in hospitals and do mission work.

Is her order still active?

Yes. The Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition still work in many countries around the world.