Bl. Anne-Marie Javouhey

Anne-Marie grew up in a Catholic family while the French Revolution was trying to destroy the Catholic Faith. Anne-Marie had a deep love for Jesus and felt Him calling her to be a religious sister, but there were no more convents in France. She founded a religious community of sisters to run free schools for poor children. By 1804, there was a new government, and while it did not trust the Catholics, it allowed Anne-Marie to open schools. Years later, the government decided to free six hundred slaves in French Africa. They wanted someone to teach the newly freed people to be safe and able to take care of themselves. The government recognized that Anne-Marie was a trustworthy teacher and asked her to teach them. The Africans in French Guiana loved her, and were grateful for her help.