Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon

The turning point of her active life occurred in 1808 when she came into contact with Father Guillaume-Joseph Chaminade, founder of the Congregation of the Immaculate in Bordeaux. Discovering a deep spiritual affinity with the Marianist project, Adèle affiliated her "Little Society" with this work. The turning point of her active life occurred in 1808 when she came into contact with Father Guillaume-Joseph Chaminade, founder of the Congregation of the Immaculate in Bordeaux. Discovering a deep spiritual affinity with the Marianist project, Adèle affiliated her "Little Society" with this work. Desirous of fully dedicating her life to God within an active religious community, she collaborated closely with Father Chaminade to conceive a new institute. On May 25, 1816, she founded the Institute of the Daughters of Mary in Agen (which would later take the name Daughters of Mary Immaculate, also called Marianist Sisters). Established in the former Refuge convent in Agen, the community dedicated itself to the education of young girls, Christian formation, the support of lay congregations, and service to the most destitute. Adèle, having become Mother Marie de la Conception, was its first superior. Under her energetic and spiritual leadership, the institute developed rapidly, founding new communities in Tonneins (1820), Condom (1824), and Arbois (1826).

Despite fragile health, Mother Marie de la Conception spent herself without counting the cost to consolidate and propagate her institute. At the end of 1827, her state of health deteriorated severely. She wrote her spiritual testament and ensured the civil recognition of her congregation, which was approved by the Bishop of Agen in November 1827. She passed away at dawn on January 10, 1828, in Agen, surrounded by her religious sisters, uttering her final words: "Hosanna to the Son of David!". She was buried in the cemetery of the Daughters of Mary convent in Agen.

The reputation of holiness of Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon endured through the decades. In 1947, Bishop Jean-Marcel Rodié, Bishop of Agen, initiated the first steps toward her beatification. The diocesan canonical process was officially opened on February 5, 1965, by his successor, Bishop Roger Johan. On June 5, 1986, Pope John Paul II promulgated the decree recognizing the heroic nature of her virtues, conferring upon her the title of Venerable.

The path to beatification opened with the recognition of a miracle attributed to her intercession. This involved the scientifically inexplicable healing of Sister Michela Messina, an Italian religious of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, who was suffering from terminal cancer in 1997 in the diocese of Novara (Italy). The diocesan inquiry into this miracle, conducted between 2013 and 2014, was validated by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. On May 4, 2017, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree authenticating this miracle. The beatification ceremony was celebrated on June 10, 2018, the anniversary of her birth, at the Parc des Expositions in Agen (France). The celebration was presided over by Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, representing Pope Francis.

The spirituality of Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon rests on an intimate union with Christ and a deep Marian devotion, characterized by the alliance with Mary to "multiply Christians." Her charism combines the contemplative impulse inspired by Carmel and a dynamic and bold apostolic commitment, turned toward the education of youth and the relief of poverty.

Today, Adèle's legacy is perpetuated through the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (Marianist Sisters), present in 14 countries around the world. They collaborate closely with the Society of Mary (Marianist Fathers and Brothers) and the Marianist Lay Communities (MLC), together forming the Marianist Family.