In 1751, St. Julie (Julia) Billiart was born. Julie used to love to play "school" as a kid. At sixteen, she started teaching "for real" in order to support her family. During the midday break, she sat atop a haystack and narrated biblical parables to the workers. Julie kept on her teaching mission throughout her life, and the Congregation she formed continues her work today.

Julie was the fifth child in a family of seven. She went to a little one-room school in Cuvilly. She loved everything she studied, but the parish priest's religious teachings particularly piqued her interest. Despite the customary age of thirteen at the time, Julie was secretly permitted to get her First Communion at the age of nine by the priest, who saw something "special" in her. She learned to say short mental prayers and developed a strong love for Jesus in the Eucharist.

A murder attempt on her father jolted her mental system severely. Post this, Julie started experiencing severe health problems, which persisted for thirty years. Of these, twenty-two years she was completely paralyzed. She gave all of her anguish and grief to God.

When the French Revolution erupted, Julie provided her home as a refuge for loyal priests. Julie found herself the prey of hunters as a result. She was compelled to flee in secret five times in three years in order to protect her friends who had sheltered her.

She had the honor of receiving a vision at this time. She saw a multitude of devout women, clothed in a habit she had never seen before, around her crucified Lord. She heard a voice inside her telling her that they would be her daughters and that she would open an institute for young girls to receive Christian education. The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur were established by her and a wealthy young woman.

In 1803, the two women and a few friends started leading a monastic life in Amiens. Julie's illness was miraculously cured in 1804, and she was able to walk for the first time in her twenty-two years. Julie and three companions made their profession and took their final vows in 1805. She was chosen to serve as the Congregation's first Mother General.

Mother's already precarious health was put to the test in 1815 when she cared for the injured and fed the malnourished survivors of the Battle of Waterloo. She endured severe suffering for the final three months of her life. At the age of 64, she passed away quietly on April 8, 1816.

Julie was beatified on May 13, 1906, and later canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1969. April 8th is her feast day. Saint Julie Billiart is revered as the patron saint of educators/teachers.

Other Saints of the Day
Saint Aedesius
Saint Amantius of Como
Saint Dionysius of Corinth
Saint Walter of Pontoise
Saint Januarius, Maxima, and Macaria