St. Julie Billiart
Born: 1751
St. Julie (Julia) Billiart was born in 1751 and died in 1816. As a child, playing "school" was Julie's favorite game. When she was sixteen, to help support her family, she began to teach "for real". She sat on a haystack during the noon recess and told the biblical parables to the workers. Julie carried on this mission of teaching throughout her life, and the Congregation she founded continues her work.
Julie was the fifth of seven children. She attended a little one room school in Cuvilly. She enjoyed all of her studies, but she was particularly attracted to the religion lessons taught by the parish priest. Recognizing something "special" in Julie, the priest secretly allowed her to make her First Communion at the age of nine, when the normal age at that time, was thirteen. She learned to make short mental prayers and to develop a great love for Jesus in the Eucharist.
A murder attempt on her father shocked her nervous system badly. A period of extremely poor heath for Julie began, and was to last for thirty years. For twenty-two of these years she was completely paralyzed. All of her sufferings and pain she offered up to God.
When the French Revolution broke out, Julie offered her home as a hiding place for loyal priests. Because of this, Julie became a hunted prey. Five times in three years she was forced to flee in secret to avoid compromising her friends who were hiding her.
At this time she was privileged to receive a vision. She saw her crucified Lord surrounded by a large group of religious women dressed in a habit she had never seen before. An inner voice told her that these would be her daughters and that she would begin an institute for the Christian education of young girls. She and a rich young woman founded the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
At Amiens, the two women and a few companions began living a religious life in 1803. In 1804, Julie was miraculously cured of her illness and walked for the first time in twenty-two years. In 1805, Julie and three companions made their profession and took their final vows. She was elected as Mother General of the young Congregation.
In 1815, Mother taxed her ever poor health by nursing the wounded and feeding the starving left from the battle of Waterloo. For the last three months of her life, she again suffered much. She died peacefully on April 8, 1816 at 64 years of age. Julie was beatified on May 13, 1906, and was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1969. Her feast day is April 8th.
Previous Saint
< St. Juliet Kim
Next Saint
St. Julia of Troyes >
Rate This Saint
1 - 20 of 34 Comments
Leave a Comment
Previous Saint
< St. Juliet Kim
Next Saint
St. Julia of Troyes >
Find Saints
Catholic Online offers the largest searchable database of Catholic Saints on the internet.
| Browse Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
| Patron Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Videos
St. Francis of Assisi 78,928 views View Video
Padre Pio 47,374 views View Video
Black Saints Vol I 30,587 views View Video
Black Saints Vol II 27,128 views View Video
Most Popular
Pope Francis says atheists can do good and go to heaven too! Read More
There's the problem! Americans are out of touch with scientific consensus on climate change Read More
Culture of Corruption: Why Obama's misuse of Marines is wrong Read More
Bill Donohue, Catholic League, Disclose Fight with the IRS, Demonstrate Courage Read More
Receiving the Eucharist: I Have Decided to Kneel For Jesus Read More
Daily Readings
Reading 1, Sirach 6:5-17
A kindly turn of speech attracts new friends, a courteous ... Read More
Psalm, Psalms 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34, 35
Blessed are you, Yahweh, teach me your will! Read More
Gospel, Mark 10:1-12
After leaving there, he came into the territory of Judaea and ... Read More
Saint of the Day
St. David I of Scotland
May 24: David, the youngest son of Scotland’s virtuous queen, (Saint) ... Read More
Latest Videos
Rottweiler Puppies in a Easter Basket View Video
Pope Francis to Italian bishops: Bring hope! View Video
Italy, Vatican, Basilica of Saint Peter View Video
Pope calls on Italian bishops to reduce the high number of dioceses in the country View Video
May 24 - Homily: Care For The Soul First, Then The Body View Video
Marketplace
At Prayer with Mary
Deepen your appreciation of and devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary ... Read More
St Catherine of Siena. Eating Disorders. Recovery Necklace. Motivation Gift Read More
Dear Saint,
Kindly pray for all the religious nuns who are proclaiming Christ's teachings through their service all over the world. Bless them and guide them in praying for the priests, Bishops and the Pope so that they will be strengthened and enlightened by the Holy Spirit and lead the Church in the right path and attract the faithfuls back and make every sincere efforts needed to unify all the other factions of Christianity under the One, True Catholic faith. Amen.
St. Julie Billiart, please pray for me and my dear ones.
Please pray for Jacob that he finds peace and the right path, for Michelle and Gwen that the doctors can help them and for all cancer patients especially the children.
Dear Saint Julie, I have the priviledge of being born on the same date as yours. Pray Saint Julie pray for my whole family. Hope I will be able to help people just like you.
Praise be St Julie Biliart nd let her blessing be upn me3!!!!! I realy admre Her!!!!!
Santa Julia, alma linda y caritativa, he empezado a saber de ti y a admirarte. Te suplico me acompañes dia a dia para saber lo que Jesus espera de mi vida.
I went to was taught by Sisters of Notre Dame de Numer for six years so I am well aware of this saint.
Happy Easter!!!!!
St. Julie Billiart of Namur, who founded the sisters of Notre Dame of Namur, your prayerful and saintly life attracted many to Jesus. You endured years of illhealth with patience and endurance. Dear Saint, on your feast-day which falls on Easter Sunday, pray for my son and daughters, that they may truly love and serve Christ. Amen
Dear St. Julie Billiart, Please pray for me to recognize situations where kindness is required and must be shown. Today being Easter, I had the good fortune of giving water to some thirsty animals who were brought for salughter and were tied outside our compound.
I just happened to look up St. Julie on All Saints Day......what a surprise, I didn't know there was one, or that there were parishes named after her. I feel like I have my very own saint now.
Its really great reading St. Julie's profile....she is really a mathyr....am happy i chose as my saint for confirmation which was on the 6th of December 2006.....
May u always intercede for....especially at this moment of my life...
Dear St. Julie Billiart, Please pray for me!
she was a girl how she was.
I praying for ever person
i am soo mesmerised, for some reason i thought there was no saint called julie, was just checking for the sake. my birthday comes a day after hers april 9th. am soo excited.
Cool
this ws very helpful i am doing her for my religon project thx
I think Saint Julie is a wonderful saint. I am yet another soul who's doing her for a religion project, but I'm not upset. I think it's a good idea to have such projects because look at how much everyone learned by reading one little article! :-)
Thanks,
Joanne
my school is called st julies (in liverpool woolton)
lolz hey "another Julie," you posted your comment on St. Julie Billiart's feast day !!!!!!!!!!!! haha cool wat a coincidence. LoL