1

The Life of St. Julie BilliartA Saint for Our Time

1751-18161751-1816Foundress,Foundress,

Sisters of Notre Dame de NamurSisters of Notre Dame de Namur

2

A Saint for our time

““Ah! How Good is the good God!”Ah! How Good is the good God!”

3

Marie Rose Julie

Father Dangicourt invites Julie,Father Dangicourt invites Julie, at the age of nine, at the age of nine,

to make her First Holy Communion.to make her First Holy Communion.

4

Born to be a teacher

For hours, Julie Billiart’s friends sit and listen For hours, Julie Billiart’s friends sit and listen and laugh as she teaches them their lessons. and laugh as she teaches them their lessons.

Without a doubt, she was born to be a teacher.Without a doubt, she was born to be a teacher.

5

Helping her family

Julie goes to the city to try to sell Julie goes to the city to try to sell her father’s merchandise for a better price.her father’s merchandise for a better price.

6

A teacher in the fields

The other field workers enjoy The other field workers enjoy Julie’s lessons about the Good God.Julie’s lessons about the Good God.

7

Wounded heart, broken body

The peace of the little shop is shattered when a rock is The peace of the little shop is shattered when a rock is hurled through the window and a gun shot rings out, hurled through the window and a gun shot rings out,

frightening Julie and her father.frightening Julie and her father.

8

A quiet life

From her bed, Julie teaches From her bed, Julie teaches the little children from around her village the little children from around her village

about the goodness of God.about the goodness of God.

9

Revolution!

A farmhand carefully conceals Julie and A farmhand carefully conceals Julie and FelicitéFelicité under a load of straw and leads them to safety.under a load of straw and leads them to safety.

10

A vision of the future

Julie envisions her future Julie envisions her future and the sisters who will help her.and the sisters who will help her.

11

Friends help shape the future

Viscountess Françoise Blin de Bourdon Viscountess Françoise Blin de Bourdon visits Julie.visits Julie.

12

Teachers for the poor

A novice or young sister rings her bellA novice or young sister rings her bell to announce that the Sisters of Notre Dame to announce that the Sisters of Notre Dame

have opened a free school for little girls.have opened a free school for little girls.

13

Like a Sunflower

““The mind and heart should always The mind and heart should always turn toward and follow God alone.”turn toward and follow God alone.”

14

A step of faith

““Mother, if you have any faith, take a Mother, if you have any faith, take a step in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.”step in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.”

15

A community is established

The first sisters take vows February 2, 1804. The first sisters take vows February 2, 1804. In Belgium, they begin to wear a simple dark habit.In Belgium, they begin to wear a simple dark habit.

16

From France to Belgium

Mère Julie arrives in Belgium and Mère Julie arrives in Belgium and is greeted by young women eager to join is greeted by young women eager to join

the Sisters of Notre Dame.the Sisters of Notre Dame.

17

Hearts wide as the world

Mère Julie sees her sisters taking the message Mère Julie sees her sisters taking the message of God’s goodness throughout the world.of God’s goodness throughout the world.

18

Challenges in Amiens

Treacherous winter weather forcesTreacherous winter weather forces Mère Julie to abandon her carriage.Mère Julie to abandon her carriage.

19

Love for the Children

Mère Julie loves to visit the students at her schools Mère Julie loves to visit the students at her schools and to teach them about the Good God.and to teach them about the Good God.

20

The walking love of God

Mère Julie accompanies a group of sisters Mère Julie accompanies a group of sisters to a new town and a new school.to a new town and a new school.

21

Belief in God’s goodness

Mère Julie asks God to cure Mère Julie asks God to cure a young girl’s eye infection.a young girl’s eye infection.

22

To heaven on foot

Mère Julie returns to Namur, in the company Mère Julie returns to Namur, in the company of two of Napoleon’s soldiers, finishing of two of Napoleon’s soldiers, finishing

another journey through war-torn Belgium.another journey through war-torn Belgium.

23

Ah! How good is the good God!Ah! How good is the good God!

A Saint for our time

24

SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME DE NAMURSISTERS OF NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR Making Known God’s Goodness Since 1804Making Known God’s Goodness Since 1804

Visit us atVisit us atwww.SNDdeN.orgwww.SNDdeN.org