Day 315 -- Saint Marie Madeline Postel

Saint Marie Madeline Postel was born on November 28, 1756 in Normandy, France as Julie Postel. She is the aunt of Blessed Placide Viel. She was educated by the Benedictines and at the age of 28 she became the director of a school for girls. The school was closed during the French Revolution, so she used the building to house fugitive priests. At age 52 she became a Franciscan tertiary and took the name Mary Magdalen. At at 61, in 1807, she founded the Poor Daughters of Mercy in Cherbury, France. The daughters are teachers and nurses. At the time of her death, on July 16, 1846 in Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicoste, France, there were 37 houses. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925.