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Franciscans Servants of Mary

The Congregation of Franciscans Servants of Mary[1] is a religious family for women, founded by Marie Virginie Vaslin in 1852 in Blois France under the approval of Mgr. Pallu du Parc, Bishop of Blois, France on March 25, 1856. The Institute of the Franciscan Servants of Mary is a religious Institute of Pontifical right. It was integrated into the Franciscan order and adopted the Rule of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi on September 17, 1864. It was elevated to the rank of pontifical right on December 17, 1901. The Institute is a cell of the Church; it wants to live in the church and for the Church, in obedience to the Pope. link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Franciscans%20Servants%20of%20Mary%20.png|right|thumb

Life of the Foundress

Marie Virginie Vaslin was the fourth child of Alexis and Renee Vaslin Vance, France. Born April 28, 1820, she lost her older sister vary early in life, followed by the death of her mother in 1830. Her father remarried and when her sister Mary Anne was born, Virginie had already left home. She began working as a shepherdess for Ms. Dagoreau farm to Louptiere. Being young and weak that amiable lady hosted her in her castle and took great care of her. This act of kindness gave Virginie the idea first “to others what was done to her.”

At Louptiere, Virginie acquired the qualities of a housewife and cook. She also learned to care for and to decorate the altars, the first lessons of the liturgy and to mend and iron ornaments. When she was 19, Marie Virginie chose to join the Sisters of Providence of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, drawn by their poverty and inspired by a strong devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This Contemplative Congregation later became an active dedicating themselves to care for the poor and the rich. Sister Providence, as Virginie was known in religious life, was given to the Department of Nursing. This rather dramatic change in lifestyle caused her to reflect on her vocation was for a community life in prayer and charity. Thus, she returned in May 1845, once again, being known as Marie Virginie.

The opportunity to supervise a class for Refugees convent good Tours pastor brought her in contact with other girls who also face great difficulties and sad experiences. Here she often prayed before the statue of Our Lady of Miracles, and it is also here that, during a terrible illness, she showed the way “she had to follow the work she be undertaken for the salvation of souls.”This vision received in the Petit St. Gatien hospital held a tight secret until Fr. Gautier, a missionary of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, guided by an inner light sought Marie Virginie and confronted her details she had seen and heard in Tours. He told her it was not a dream but a question of salvation of souls. With the greatest humility, she accepted the way Fr. Gautier traced for it, an action plan and apostolate to the small world of the servants of the house staff and decided to implement the project in Blois, a town castle and castles on the Loire.

Life of the domestic servants in France

In the mid-nineteenth century, the condition of the domestic life in France was miserable and this attracted the attention of Virginie who wishes to help the servants come to a place where they felt wanted and supported especially in days of distress.With only 5 francs in her pocket, and the good will of God she rented an attic room in Blois, in an old fortified house of mud. Her only comfort was more homeless girls who asked to share her home. The first companions of Marie Virginie were enthusiastic and even with no finances; they were loyal to her and gave her their services.

They also allowed providing this dwelling place by bringing the rejected items from their workplaces. They started calling as Sr. Virginie and she wanted to turn to her sister and servant of the servants. She gave the example of the first to be anything – it increases the morning or when in trouble, giving the servants sincere advice, hard work, faith and devotion. She committed herself to work or took care to find work for its protected in Christian families. As the number of domestic rose, she was forced to look for another home.

In September 1853 Ms. Marie Emelie Crosnier joined Virginie in her mission as also Julie Ribouleau. A penniless existence with several girls caused many tongues to wag and Blois bishop reprimanded her for her manners. But her unwavering faith won him support, she continued in her new found project. She relied on friends like Rev.Fr. Gaubert and Fr. Venot, Secretary of the bishop, who were the source of encouragement in her life. Occasionally, she sought audience with Fr. Gautier Le Mans, which allowed her to open a community in Le Mans. Very poor, Marie Virginie and Julie move to an empty, dilapidated house. With only two francs and nothing they scrape and expand their aid mission; and their domestic workers.

Beginning of the Congregation

March 25, 1856, Marie Virginie and Emilie Crosnier make their way to the house of the Bishop of Blois and in his presence and that of Fr. Venot dedicate themselves to God and to poverty, chastity and obedience. They officially receive the name “Servants of Mary” a name that was given to them at Le Mans and also indicates that the role that we accept in the congregation – “to be a servant of servants.” Thus begins the journey of a young able, bold, who owned nothing and whose only purpose was to give poor girls of her time who were fighting in a dignified life.

In September, 1864, the feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi[1], Servants makes their profession to follow Christ according to the rule of the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi reformed and ratified by Pope Leo X.Entering the Franciscan order, was for Marie Virginie then the result of a well-maintained project quite accustomed to finding safety in poverty, it is comfortable in a lifestyle according the spirit of the “Overall”. A new life, a new name, Marie Virginie took the name of Marie St. Clare and continued as Superior General until October 1866 when she was elected Sr. Mary of Jesus as the new Superior General Mother Mary and St. Clare’s promises of obedience.

She hoped that the Congregation owned no property and follow the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi : “live as pilgrims to be ill-in for the father’s house to which we must return and to radiate peace along our path". Health problems and tired, she offers the Lord her terrible suffering for those she had stopped to help and comfort during her life. It draws its strength from Chapelle-Gaugain where she attended the Mass every day. Forced to return to Blois, she spend the rest of her days preparing herself to state to him who called HER TO SERVE. Surrounded by the affection of her sisters, she slept in the peace of the Lord October 10, 1873.

With St. Francis of Assisi, it echoes the words, “I have done my part, maybe the Lord will teach you yours.” The congregation continued to grow and spread in the world of branches with many more homes that is open not only in Marie Virginie during her time, but later, to serve society in the areas of health, education, skills development, social services and pastoral ministries.The best features of her life: a living faith, a humility quite ordinary and resolute will live on among her sisters who take his message forward in the many activities that engage them of women committed to living the Gospel in fellowship with all creature.

The Missionary Extension

“It is in giving that we receive”. Thus expressed, St. Francis of Assisi in the very beautiful prayer for peace which tradition attributes to him. 150 years after their foundation, the Franciscan Servants of Mary are present in India, in Madagascar, and in Chad. The daughters of Marie Virginie, mother Marie St. Clare, testify to the love of Jesus for the little and the poor and thus the new sisters who join from India and Madagascar enrich them.

In her vision of Tours, Marie Virginie had seen a crowd of poor: “ a third group, more numerous was composed of people in rags, the poor,  the old , orphans, beggars of all sorts, all those, who in a word, inspire pity. Virginie felt forcefully drawn towards this last category.” The Servants of Mary illustrates, in their way, the world of St. Francis to his brothers : “ if the Lord has sent you to the whole world, it is so that, by word and action, you give testimony to his word and that you may make known to all that there is no one more powerful than Him”.