Alodie-Virginie Paradis

Alodie-Virginie Paradis (12 May 1840 – 3 May 1912) was a Canadian Roman Catholic nun who established the Little Sisters of the Holy Family congregation in 1880. It was dedicated to the domestic needs in the field of education across Canada while members embarked on the process of sanctifying themselves by private vows. She took the name of "Marie-Léonie" after she became a nun.

Pope John Paul II beatified her when he visited Canada in 1984 and she has been granted the title of Blessed. One final miracle is required for her to be canonized; one such miracle is now under investigation.^[1][2]

Life

Alodie-Virginie Paradis was born in Quebec in 1840 as the sole daughter - the third of six children - to Joseph Paradis and Emelie Gregorie. She was educated by the Sisters of Notre Dame. Paradis received the sacrament of Confirmation and First Communion in 1849 and 1850 respectively.

At the age of fourteen she joined the Marianites of Saint-Laurent in Montreal which was a feminine branch of the Holy Cross Congregation on 21 February 1854. Despite her frail health, she was nevertheless admitted and pronounced her vows on 22 August 1857. She received the name of "Marie-Léonie", formally as "Marie de Sainte-Léonie", and taught for several years. She taught until 1862 in Montreal, and was then sent to an orphanage to work as a governess in New York City. She remained there until 1870.^[3][4]

She established the Little Sisters of the Holy Family on 31 May 1880 in an effort to support and collaborate with the Holy Cross Congregation in the field of education. Paradis continued to wear the habit of her order but relinquished it on 2 October 1904 in favor of the one instituted in the new congregation. In 1905 it was Pope Pius X who relieved her of her obligations towards the Holy Cross Congregation.

Paradis soon became seriously ill with a malignant cancer, and her health slowly declined. On the morning of her death, she received permission to publish the Rule of the new congregation. She died suddenly following dinner and after receiving the last sacraments on 3 May 1912.^[5] Her remains were exhumed on 4 October 1935.^[6]

Beatification

The beatification process commenced in Sherbrooke in 1952 with the commencement of a local process to assemble documentation and testimonies; the process concluded in 1952. The formal introduction of the cause for the Servant of God came on 13 June 1966 under Pope Paul VI. A second process was convoked and spanned for a mere three months in 1968. Both of the local processes were ratified in 1970 and all documents were forwarded to Rome for evaluation.

Pope John Paul II recognized her life of heroic virtue on 31 January 1981 and proclaimed her to be Venerable. He approved a miracle attributed to her on 17 February 1984 and beatified her on 11 September 1984 in Montreal.

The second required miracle for her canonization was investigated and the process was ratified in 2006. The Medical Board that advises the Congregation for the Causes of Saints approved the healing as a miracle on 19 June 2008.

References

External links

• Hagiography Circle
• Saints SQPN
• Marie-Leonie Paradis
• Works by or about Alodie-Virginie Paradis at Internet Archive