Our Family : FDLSDaughter of Wisdom
-Today at lease 1,710 (to January 1st, 2010) Daughters of Wisdom continue the spiritual adventure of the search for the Wisdom so much desired by Montfort, and work to reveal the love of Wisdom to a wounded humanity. Contemplating the evangelical intuition of Montfort as lived out and passed on by their co-founder, Blessed Marie-Louise of Jesus, these consecrated women deepen the sense of their mission in today's world. This thrust wells up from the burning love which Montfort and Marie-Louise both cultivated for Wisdom, hidden in the poor. The adventure has begun!
Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, a priest for three years, was giving his all among the poor of the Hospital in Poitiers. Each day he came up against his powerlessness in the face of so many poor people, marginalised by society and sick in body and soul, whom Providence had confided to him. A young woman of the Poitiers bourgeoisie, Marie-Louise Trichet, had often spoken to the priest at the Hospital of her desire to be a religious. One day he said to her: "Come to the Hospital." Marie-Louise, entering the Hospital "as a poor woman" learnt to forget herself and the world, to serve Christ in "the one nearest to him."
Marie-Louise admitted 175 Sisters to their religious profession, and at her death there remained 122 still living, and the Congregation had 35 establishments in addition to the Mother House. Providence would train her own daughters and guide them through the centuries. The Revolution of 1789 forced the Sisters into a "wandering life" and claimed thirty-three victims
from 1793 - 1794. On 27nd February 1811, the Statutes of the Congregation were approved by Napoleon I. From that time on, the Daughters of Wisdom have committed themselves in schools, hospitals and prisons to the defenceless: deaf-mutes, the blind, children, prisoners...
The events of the second half of the 19th century, the Franco-Prussian War and the laws of Jules Ferry, brought about a fall in numbers in the Congregation, but no lessening of apostolic commitment. There began at that time the "exodus" of the Daughters of Wisdom towards other horizons: the neighbouring countries of Europe and lands beyond the seas welcomed them. The beatification of Louis Marie, on 22nd January 1888, made known his works, and the spirituality which he taught aroused great interest all over the world.
The two world wars of the 20th century certainly caused difficulties for apostolic activity, but at the same time gave the opportunity for the Congregation to be present outside of France. Novitiates were opened in various countries where the Spirit led the Daughters of Wisdom or where the poor had need of their generous devotion.
The canonisation of the founder on 19th July 1947, proclaimed him to the world as a "Master" of true devotion to Mary, a "tireless Apostle" and a "Prophet of the latter times", and, following in his footsteps, his daughters reached out to other countries to make Wisdom better known. The Second Vatican Council asked religious congregations to undertake their "Aggiornamento".
Today, this international Congregation comprises a network of Daughters of Wisdom spread over five continents. They work not only in Europe but also in North and South America, in Africa (Madagascar, Malawi et RD of Congo) in Asia (Indonasia, India and the Philippines) and Asia-Pacific (Papua New Guinea). Bringing their mission up to date, they pursue the way of Wisdom, which calls for a transformation in their own life and the advancement of the peoples among whom they work. In this way they continue the commitment of Montfort himself in the vast field of today's world.
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Today at lease 1,710 (to January 1st, 2010) Daughters of Wisdom continue the spiritual adventure of the search for the Wisdom so much desired by Montfort, and work to reveal the love of Wisdom to a wounded humanity. Contemplating the evangelical intuition of Montfort as lived out and passed on by their co-founder, Blessed Marie-Louise of Jesus, these consecrated women deepen the sense of their mission in today's world. This thrust wells up from the burning love which Montfort and Marie-Louise both cultivated for Wisdom, hidden in the poor. The adventure has begun!
Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, a priest for three years, was giving his all among the poor of the Hospital in Poitiers. Each day he came up against his powerlessness in the face of so many poor people, marginalised by society and sick in body and soul, whom Providence had confided to him. A young woman of the Poitiers bourgeoisie, Marie-Louise Trichet, had often spoken to the priest at the Hospital of her desire to be a religious. One day he said to her: "Come to the Hospital." Marie-Louise, entering the Hospital "as a poor woman" learnt to forget herself and the world, to serve Christ in "the one nearest to him."
Marie-Louise admitted 175 Sisters to their religious profession, and at her death there remained 122 still living, and the Congregation had 35 establishments in addition to the Mother House. Providence would train her own daughters and guide them through the centuries. The Revolution of 1789 forced the Sisters into a "wandering life" and claimed thirty-three victims
from 1793 - 1794. On 27nd February 1811, the Statutes of the Congregation were approved by Napoleon I. From that time on, the Daughters of Wisdom have committed themselves in schools, hospitals and prisons to the defenceless: deaf-mutes, the blind, children, prisoners...
The events of the second half of the 19th century, the Franco-Prussian War and the laws of Jules Ferry, brought about a fall in numbers in the Congregation, but no lessening of apostolic commitment. There began at that time the "exodus" of the Daughters of Wisdom towards other horizons: the neighbouring countries of Europe and lands beyond the seas welcomed them. The beatification of Louis Marie, on 22nd January 1888, made known his works, and the spirituality which he taught aroused great interest all over the world.
The two world wars of the 20th century certainly caused difficulties for apostolic activity, but at the same time gave the opportunity for the Congregation to be present outside of France. Novitiates were opened in various countries where the Spirit led the Daughters of Wisdom or where the poor had need of their generous devotion.
The canonisation of the founder on 19th July 1947, proclaimed him to the world as a "Master" of true devotion to Mary, a "tireless Apostle" and a "Prophet of the latter times", and, following in his footsteps, his daughters reached out to other countries to make Wisdom better known. The Second Vatican Council asked religious congregations to undertake their "Aggiornamento".
Today, this international Congregation comprises a network of Daughters of Wisdom spread over five continents. They work not only in Europe but also in North and South America, in Africa (Madagascar, Malawi et RD of Congo) in Asia (Indonasia, India and the Philippines) and Asia-Pacific (Papua New Guinea). Bringing their mission up to date, they pursue the way of Wisdom, which calls for a transformation in their own life and the advancement of the peoples among whom they work. In this way they continue the commitment of Montfort himself in the vast field of today's world.