Marie-Madeleine Postel

Statue of Marie-Madeleine Postel, Basilique de la Trinité de Cherbourg

Marie-Madeleine Postel, born Julie Françoise-Catherine Postel (28 November 1756 in Barfleur, France – 16 July 1846 in Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, France) is a Roman Catholic saint who founded the Sisters of Christian Schools of Mercy (French: la Congrégation des sœurs des Écoles chrétiennes de la Miséricorde) in 1807. Her feast is 16 July. She was beatified in 1908 and canonised on 24 May 1925.

Biography

In 1774 Julie Postel opened a school for girls in Barfleur which during the revolution was a centre for the underground religious activities of those unwilling to recognise the "constitutional" clergy. In quieter times she continued her teaching and other good works. At the age of 51 she took vows as Sister Mary-Magdalen and began to found the Sisters of the Christian Schools of Mercy. There was little success in the early years but in 1830 she was able to acquire a derelict monastery at St-Sauveur-le-Vicomte to use as the headquarters of the congregation. The congregation was officially recognised in 1837 and it remained under the direction of the foundress until her final year.

Further reading

• Pierre de Crisenoy, Sainte Marie-Madeleine Postel, Paris, Bonne Presse, 1938
• Georges Grente, Une Sainte normande, Marie-Madeleine Postel, Paris, Bonne Presse, 1945
• Abbé François-Augustin Delamare, Vie édifiante de la très honorée supérieure Marie-Madeleine, née Julie Postel, réédition le Livre d'histoire, 2005; ISBN 2-8437-3726-5
• Wilhelm Hünermann Die Seilerstochter von Barfleur: Lebensbild der heiligen Maria-Magdalena Postel. Freiburg im Breisgau: Herder, 1956