from "Louise de Marillac: a bold and creative woman" by Celestino Fernández, C.M.

1. ST. LOUISE
DE MARILLAC
A Theology of Tenderness

2. One of the most outstanding
and yet least commented
upon facets of St. Louise’s
character is her tenderness.
Unfortunately on many
occasions and for a rather
long period of time we have
been presented with a false
image of Louise: an image of
a harsh, distant, and
unfocused woman. The reality
is quite different!

3. Someone has said that
Louise’s whole life was a
vocation of tenderness and
that this tenderness provided
a foundation for her tenacity,
her strength, her
organizational ability and the
existential course of her life.
The human and spiritual
character of Louise would be
greatly diminished if her
tenderness were not
highlighted as an essential
trait. It is clear that Louise is
presented to us as the
channel of God’s tenderness
toward the poor.

4. Louise’s tenderness toward
her husband is revealed in the
letter she wrote to Father
Hilorion Rebours, a letter in
which she described the
death of Antoine Le Gras. In
fact, ten years later, in her last
will and testament, she again
spoke with great emotion and
tenderness about her
husband.

5. Her tenderness as a mother
surpasses all limits when
dealing with her son. Vincent
attempted to make her see
her excessive maternal
tenderness when with a
certain humor he wrote: Our
Lord most certainly did well
not to choose you for His
Mother (CCD:I:109).

6. Her friendship with Vincent de Paul was also characterized by a
certain tenderness that was based on authenticity, a profound
acceptance of the other, and a recognition of and a respect for the
complementarity of their relationship. In her correspondence with
her director, we find many expressions of confidence and
endearment.

7. There is a chapter of her life in
which Louise’s tenderness
became most evident. Here I
refer to her relationship with
the Daughters of Charity, with
“her daughters”; I refer to the
community dimension of her
life. It is interesting that the
Daughters did not view her as
the superior, as the one who
ordered and/or commanded.
Rather they saw Louise as their
friend who accompanied,
educated and consoled them
and who created bonds of
friendship.

8. What the Sisters said
about Sr. Louise
during conferences
held by Fr. Vincent a
few months after her
death (CCD:X:
569-590).
… when she saw that I was
troubled, she would treat
me very kindly
… she was very
gentle and
approachable
… as soon as someone
approached her, she smiled
and never showed that she
was being inconvenienced
… she always
excused the Sister
who had been
angry
… she was very supportive of
the sick Sisters, often going to
visit them in the infirmary
… at times, many Sisters would be
talking to her at the same time
about different matters, but she
answered all of them without
urging them to leave her in peace
… during her illness she always
showed a cheerful contented
countenance

9. Louise’s last tender words… from the final recommendations of
Louise to the Daughters: Above all, live together in great union and
cordiality, loving one another in imitation of the union and life of Our
Lord (SWLM:835 [Spiritual Testament]).

10. Based on
Louise de Marillac: a bold and creative woman
by: Celestino Fernández, C.M.
Translated by: Charles T. Plock, C.M.