Eugénie Smet

Eugénie's founding intuition was born in November 1853: to found a congregation to pray for the souls in Purgatory while practicing charity on Earth. Encouraged by the Curé of Ars in 1855, she established herself in Paris in 1856 with the support of Mgr Sibour. She took her vows under the name Marie de la Providence. The sisters provided free home care to the poor. In 1859, the congregation adopted the Rules of the Society of Jesus. The institute expanded to Nantes (1863), Shanghai (1867), and Brussels (1869), and received pontifical approval from Pius IX in 1869. Afflicted with breast cancer, she died on February 7, 1871.

The reputation for holiness of Marie de la Providence spread rapidly after her death. The diocesan informative process for her beatification opened in Paris in 1926 and concluded in 1928. Her writings were approved by decree on May 22, 1935, and her cause was officially introduced in Rome on May 5, 1936. The heroic nature of her virtues was subsequently solemnly recognized by the Holy See.

Eugénie Smet was beatified on May 26, 1957, by Pope Pius XII in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The following day, the Pope received the religious sisters of the institute and delivered a speech praising her spiritual countenance, highlighting the intimate union between her charity toward suffering souls and her concrete apostolate.

Eugénie's spirituality rests on trust in Providence and the Communion of Saints, linking the Church Suffering and the Church Militant. Her legacy is perpetuated through the Society of the Helpers of the Holy Souls. Today, the sisters work in 22 countries across four continents in health, education, social work, and spiritual accompaniment, without a traditional religious habit in order to remain close to the world.