Elizabeth Vassal was born into a Christian family on August 3rd 1795, in Tulle (Corrèze), a region near Charente. Her father was incharge of the Regional Office administrating national property. After the early death of her mother, Elizabeth moved with her father to Charente Maritime in 1816. After his death, she resided in Saintes with a family friend near the Cathedral where our Founder, Fr. Sigisbert de Rupt served as the parish priest. Their meeting and relationship proved to be providential, as both were deeply moved by the plight of children and youth left without faith and education, drifting towards delinquency.
A Divine Calling
Elizabeth showed great love and dedication to children as a young woman of 22 years old. She became concious of the social challenges faced by impoverished children, particularly girls, and felt a divine call to respond. When Fr. de Rupt offered her a role in the parish school, she eagerly accepted, viewing it as God's direction for her life. She expressed, "Children are my vocation", reflecting her profound love and commitment to their welfare. Her dedication was fuelled by "the fire of Charity" and a burning zeal for the glory of God, as evidenced in her later writings: “To love and serve you is my greatest wish. O my God, bless the zeal which burns within me like a divine flame.”
Foundation of the Congregation
On September 29th 1817, Elizabeth officially began her mission by accepting the charge of the small parish school, marking the founding of the Congregation of Our Lady of Providence. Elizabeth faced numerous initial challenges with patience, courage, and trust in Divine Providence. Her first companions, Justine Salmon (Sr. St. Pallais) and Jeanne Soulignac (Sr. Anne), joined her in this endeavour.
The biggest trial came shortly after the founding of the Congregation, when Fr. Sigisbert de Rupt died on January 19th 1819 worn out by his efforts to rebuild the ruined Cathedral and restore the faith of the parishioners. Elizabeth Vassal was left alone with two young companions to carry on the great task of caring for the growing Congregation.
Support and Spiritual Guidance
The early formation of the Congregation was greatly supported by several key figures. Mother Theon, a Carmelite nun who had been chased out of her monastery by the Revolutionaries, provided essential spiritual training to the sisters. Her experience of contemplative life helped to root our sisters in a spirituality centered on contemplative prayer. Additionally, Sr. Placide, a sister of Poor Clare also displaced by the Revolution, joined the young community to help prepare them for their first vows. These women played crucial roles in nurturing the spiritual and communal life of the fledgling Congregation.
The training received by those entering the Noviciate was rooted in a spirituality centered on the Incarnation, influenced by the French School.
Approval and First Constitutions
The Bishop of La Rochelle approved the new Institute on September 9, 1819, and appointed Fr. Bonnerot as its ecclesiastical superior. Elizabeth was named superior of the community on September 21, 1819. She wrote the first Constitutions in 1820, which continues to inspire and guide the Sisters of Providence. The sisters adopted the regional style of dress and made their first vows on March 25, 1820. Elizabeth took the religious name St. Irenee in 1835.
Life of Poverty and Service
Elizabeth and her sisters led a life of poverty, sharing everything with the children they served. Records from the Archives describe her humility and sacrifice; she often served meals to both students and religious, taking only leftovers for herself. She taught catechism and supervised the construction of the second chapel. In 1824, recognizing the need for more space, Elizabeth took a great risk by purchasing the "old Carmel" property despite limited funds, relying on prayer and trust in God's providence. She often instructed her sisters to go to the market without money, confident that God would provide. Miraculous accounts of food multiplication are part of their legacy.
Mission and Influence
Elizabeth's mission centred on giving a Christian education based on a spirit of faith and care for the poor and orphans. The sisters devoted themselves to teaching, visiting prisons, and caring for the sick and orphans. Later on they established several high-quality educational institutions in south western France and extended their care to elderly and widowed individuals. A significant person who influenced them in their apostolic activities was Miss de Manes, who was imprisoned during the Revolution and considered an angel of peace by the prisoners. She was always at the service of the poor and sick, significantly supporting Elizabeth and her companions. The missionary dimension of the Congregation owes much to her influence.
Mother Elizabeth Vassal was elected as the first Superior General and continued until 1952. During these years ,the Congregation spread to different parts of France, with insertions in different parishes, taking care of the faith formation of the people, opening boarding houses for the orphans and poor and taking care that every fee paying school also included classes for the poor .
Legacy
Mother Elizabeth Vassal entered eternal life on September 5th 1883, edifying her sisters through her life deeply rooted in prayer. Her life was marked by unwavering faith, great love for God and dedication to children and the poor in whatever condition. Her exhortations continue to inspire the Congregation to reach out to those most in need, often in challenging and remote areas in different parts of the world. Her legacy of love, humility, sacrifice, and education lives on through the work of the Sisters of Our Lady of Providence.
