1591

Louise de Marillac is born in Paris, France.

1592

Louise de Marillac was placed in the royal Monastery at Poissy.  The monastery was run by Dominican nuns.  It was there that she received a humanistic education which would be the foundation of her life's work.

1604

With the death of her father Louise de Marillac was placed in a boarding house in Paris.  It was here that she began her charitable works.

1613

Louise marries Antoine de Gras.  De Gras was secretary to the Queen of France.

1624-25

Following the death of her husband, Antoine de Gras, Louise meets St. Vincent de Paul, who becomes her spiritual director and mentor.

1629

Louise de Marillac began to find and train schoolmistresses to aid in the education and training of poor girls.

1633

St. Louise de Marillac co-founds, with St. Vincent de Paul, the Daughters of Charity. 

1638

St. Louise opens schools in Saint-Germiane-en-Laye and Richelieu.

1641 - 47

St. Louise opens numerous schools in Paris, Fontenay, Sedan, Maule, chantilly, chars and Bicetre.

St. Louise the educator is now St. Louise the Educational Leader.

1652

The Daughters of Charity, under the supervision of St. Louise, open a school for girls in Poland.

1654 - 60

In the last six years of her life St. Louise de Marillac was as active as she had ever been opening more schools in Arras, La Fere and Saint Fargeau. 

She also opened a school for orphans in Cahors and another school for poor children in Ussel. 

1660

On March 15, 1660 St. Louise de Marillac died having lived a full life in the service of the poor and sick.

St. Louise's Legacy

Louise de Marillac was beatified by Pope Benedict XV in 1920 and canonized (made a saint) by Pope Pius XI in 1934.

In 1960 Pope John XXIII declared St. Louise de Marillac the patron saint of Christian social workers.