Japan | St. Julie

Saint Julie Billiart

Saint Julie is known as the

“Saint of the Smile.”

Although there were many hardships in her life, including 23 years of illness and paralysis, and religious persecution, nothing took away her joy.

The reason for her joy? – It was because she understood the goodness of God through her wonderful friendship with Jesus Christ.

Julie was born in Cuvilly, a small village in France. Her father was an ordinary cloth merchant. At that time, France was going through a difficult time, including the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789. From a young age, Julie was known for her deep faith, spiritual wisdom and maturity. Her parish priest even allowed her to receive her First Communion two years earlier than her peers.

In her early twenties, Julie had become mysteriously weak. Then one night, someone shot her father through the front window of their house in an attempt to kill him. The shock made her condition worse, and she was no longer able to walk. But even in this condition, children from her village continued to come to her to hear her talk about God, and neighbors and friends continued to seek her advice.

Learn more about Julie here

But as the French Revolution progressed,

People of faith were persecuted and Julie’s life was in danger.

She was moved from her home to various hiding places and even had to flee from a mob that wanted to burn her alive until a brave man hid her and her niece under some hay in a horse-drawn carriage and took them to safety.

Through these frightening days, Julie continued to pray. And during those days, God revealed to her a beautiful promise. In a vision, she saw the sisters standing around a cross. And the Lord said to her, “Behold, I will give you daughters in the convent marked with my cross.”

Julie knew her weakness, but she believed that anything was impossible for God, and about 15 years later, together with another holy woman, François Brun de Bourdon, she founded the Sisters of Notre Dame, who now share God’s goodness in countries all over the world.

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