Joan Elizabeth Bichier des ges

Joan Elizabeth Bichier des Âges

Joan Elizabeth Lucy Bichier des Âges (1773–1838), commonly referred to as Elizabeth Bichier, was a French religious sister and a significant figure in the establishment of religious congregations dedicated to charitable works and education. Together with Andrew Fournet, she co-founded the Sisters of the Cross, Sisters of St. Andrew, in 1807. This congregation was established with the mission of caring for the poor and providing instruction for rural children within the Diocese of Poitiers.

Early Life and the French Revolution

Born into an aristocratic family at the Château des Âges, Elizabeth Bichier's youth coincided with the upheaval of the French Revolution. The revolution brought severe restrictions on the practice of the Catholic faith, leading to social unrest and personal hardship for her family. Her brother emigrated, her father died, and their ancestral home faced potential confiscation due to laws concerning émigré property. During this turbulent period, Elizabeth and her mother were briefly imprisoned in Châteauroux due to the discovery of her father's weapons, though they were later released by another brother who had joined the revolutionary forces.

A New Direction and Foundress

After moving to a country home, Elizabeth experienced a profound spiritual longing, particularly the loss of access to the Eucharist due to the presence of a 'juring' priest, whom the local population rejected. Her desire to dedicate her life to God intensified. A pivotal moment occurred when she met Abbé Andrew Fournet, a refractory priest ministering underground. Fournet recognized the educational void left by the Revolution for rural children and asked Elizabeth to open her home for catechesis. With her mother's permission, a small school began to form. Following the Concordat of 1801, which allowed the Catholic Church to resume public activities, Bichier, after her mother's death in 1804, was encouraged by Fournet to recruit women for missionary work. She and four companions eventually joined the Congregation of Divine Providence in Poitiers to learn the fundamentals of consecrated life.

Establishment of the Sisters of the Cross

In 1807, the nascent community relocated to Maillé and acquired a local chateau to house their community and their work. Here, the five members professed religious vows, officially establishing the Sisters of the Cross. The congregation grew rapidly, and schools multiplied, allowing the sisters to minister to the needy. Ecclesiastical approval was granted in 1816. By 1820, their motherhouse was established in a former monastery in La Puye, which remains its headquarters. Within a decade, there were over sixty communities of Sisters of the Cross, and by 1850, they established their first foreign foundation in Bilbao, Spain.

Veneration and Legacy

Joan Elizabeth Bichier des Âges died in 1838, by which time approximately 600 Sisters of the Cross served in about 100 communities. She was beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1934 and canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1947. Her remains are enshrined at the motherhouse in La Puye. The congregation she co-founded has seen significant growth and global reach, serving in numerous countries across Europe, Africa, and the Americas.