Marie of the Incarnation
Marie of the Incarnation, also known as Madame Acarie, was a French mystic and foundress of the Discalced Carmelite convents in France. She is remembered for her pivotal role in introducing the Carmelite order to France and her own profound spiritual life, which included receiving the stigmata.
- Feast Day
- April 18
- Century
- 17th century
- Country Or Region
- France
Key Facts
- ›Born Barbara Avrillot in Paris, she belonged to a wealthy bourgeois family.
- ›She married Pierre Acarie in 1584 and bore him seven children.
- ›Acarie is credited with founding the Discalced Carmel in France after a vision of Saint Teresa of Avila.
- ›She received the stigmata at age twenty-seven, attested by eminent persons.
- ›After her husband's death, she entered the Carmel as an extern sister, taking the name Marie of the Incarnation.
- ›Her mortal remains are interred in the chapel of the Carmelites of Pontoise.
Madame Acarie, La bell'Acarie, Barbara Avrillot
About Marie of the Incarnation
Marie of the Incarnation (Madame Acarie)
Marie of the Incarnation, born Barbara Avrillot (February 1, 1566–April 18, 1618), was a prominent French mystic and the foundress of the Discalced Carmel in France. Known in Paris as "La bell'Acarie" (the beautiful Acarie), she was a figure of significant spiritual influence and charitable action.
Life and Historical Context
Born into a high bourgeois family in Paris, Barbara Avrillot received her education with the Poor Clares. In 1584, she married Pierre Acarie, a wealthy and devout Catholic, with whom she had seven children. Her husband's involvement in the Catholic League led to his exile, during which Barbara managed their finances and defended him in court. She also suffered from physical ailments following a fall from her horse.
By the early seventeenth century, Acarie was widely recognized for her virtue, supernatural gifts, and especially her charity towards the poor and sick. Her residence became a gathering place for devout individuals, including future Carmelites and notable spiritual figures like Francis de Sales, who served as her spiritual director for a period.
Spiritual Gifts and Founding the Carmel
Acarie is reputed to have possessed gifts such as healing, prophecy, reading hearts, and discerning spirits. At the age of twenty-seven, she received the stigmata, the grace of physical conformity to the suffering Christ, a phenomenon attested by eminent persons. In 1601, she was deeply moved by the life of Teresa of Avila. A subsequent vision of Teresa informed Acarie that God wished her to establish Carmelite convents in France. This led to a meeting in 1602, involving figures like Pierre de Bérulle and Francis de Sales, which decided on the foundation of the Reformed Carmel in France. Pope Clement VIII granted the papal bull of institution in 1603. Acarie also cooperated in new foundations in Pontoise, Dijon, and Amiens, and was involved in the establishment of the Oratory and the Ursulines.
Later Life and Veneration
After her husband's death in 1613, Acarie sought to enter the Carmel as an extern sister. In 1614, she entered the convent of Amiens, taking the religious name Marie of the Incarnation. Her three daughters had also entered the Carmel. She made her perpetual vows on April 8, 1615. Sent to the Carmelite convent at Pontoise for health reasons in 1616, she died there at the age of fifty-two. St. Francis de Sales considered her death in spiritual poverty highly laudable. The process for her beatification began in 1627, and she was beatified by Pope Pius VI in 1791. Her mortal remains are in the chapel of the Carmelites of Pontoise, and her feast is celebrated on April 18.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Marie of the Incarnation?
Marie of the Incarnation, also known as Madame Acarie, was a French mystic who founded the Discalced Carmelite convents in France. She was born Barbara Avrillot in 1566 and died in 1618.
What is Marie of the Incarnation most famous for?
She is primarily remembered for introducing the Discalced Carmelite order to France, establishing its first convents. She is also known for her profound spiritual life and mystical gifts, including receiving the stigmata.
What were some of Marie of the Incarnation's mystical experiences?
Madame Acarie experienced visions, including one of Saint Teresa of Avila, which led her to found the Carmelite convents in France. She also received the stigmata at the age of twenty-seven, which was attested by eminent persons.
When did Marie of the Incarnation live?
She lived from February 1, 1566, to April 18, 1618, placing her active life in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
What happened after Marie of the Incarnation's husband died?
After her husband Pierre Acarie died in 1613, she settled her affairs and entered the Carmelite convent in Amiens as an extern sister in 1614, taking the religious name Marie of the Incarnation.
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