Madeleine Sophie Barat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintMadeleine Sophie Barat RSCJ |
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Statue of St. Sophie Barat in St. Peter's Basilica
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| Virgin | |
| Born | 12 December 1779 Joigny, Champagne, Kingdom of France |
| Died | 25 May 1865 (aged 85) Paris, France |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 24 May 1908, Saint Peter's Basilica by Pope Pius X |
| Canonized | 24 May 1925, Saint Peter's Basilica by Pope Pius XI |
| Major shrine | St Francis Xavier Church, Paris, France |
| Feast | 25 May |
Madeleine Sophie Barat (December 12, 1779 – May 25, 1865) was a French saint. She belonged to the Catholic Church. She founded the Society of the Sacred Heart. This was a worldwide group of women who became educators. They focused on teaching young people.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Sophie Barat was born on December 12, 1779, in Joigny, France. A fire next door caused her mother to go into labor early. Sophie was born two months premature. She was so tiny that she was baptized the very next morning.
Her family was comfortable financially. Her father, Jacques Barat, was a cooper (someone who makes barrels) and a vine-grower. Both were respected jobs in France. The Barats were deeply religious Catholics. They were known for helping others and praying for people in need.
Her Education
Sophie's older brother, Louis, was a very smart student. Their parents hired a tutor for him at home. Louis decided he wanted to become a Catholic priest. He started studying at a seminary in Sens when he was 16.
When Louis returned home, he became a math teacher. He decided to teach Sophie as well. He taught her Latin, Greek, history, science, Spanish, and Italian. This was a very unusual education for a young girl at that time.
French Revolution and Its Impact
In 1789, the French Revolution began. Louis Barat became involved in debates about new laws for priests. He first agreed to a new law, but then changed his mind. This put him and his family in danger.
Louis had to hide and then fled to Paris. He was arrested in 1793 and spent two years in prison. He avoided being executed thanks to a brave friend.
After Louis was freed in 1795, he went back to Paris. He wanted to continue his religious work in secret. He took 16-year-old Sophie with him to continue her education. In Paris, Sophie worked as a seamstress. Louis continued to teach her about religion, math, and Latin.
Sophie decided she wanted to become a Carmelite nun. However, many religious groups, including the Carmelites, had been shut down. For five years, she lived a life of prayer and study in Paris. She also secretly taught religion to children.
Founding the Society of the Sacred Heart
When Sophie returned to Paris, she met Joseph Varin. He wanted to start a new religious group for women. This group would be dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It would also focus on educating young women.
On November 21, 1800, Sophie, at age 20, joined three other women. They took their vows and became the first members of this new group. This marked the start of the Society of the Sacred Heart. At first, it was called "Ladies of the Faith" because devotion to the Sacred Heart was not allowed in France.
The first school opened in Amiens, France, in September 1801. Sophie traveled there to teach. In December 1802, at just 23 years old, Sophie became the leader of the Society. They also opened a school for poor children in the town.
Growing the Society
In 1804, Sophie traveled to Sainte-Marie-d’en-Haut. She welcomed a group of Visitation nuns into the Society. One of these nuns was Philippine Duchesne. Philippine later brought the Society to America. She was also recognized as a saint in 1988.
More schools were quickly started in France. Father Varin dreamed of a large network of schools. Soon, schools were founded in North America (1818), Italy (1828), and many other countries.
In January 1806, Sophie Barat was chosen as the Superior General. This meant she was the main leader of the entire Society. In 1820, she gathered all the leaders to create a single plan for studies. The goal was to provide a strong education. It also aimed to help young women become devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
As the Society grew, Sophie wanted it to be more unified. She sought approval from the Holy See (the Vatican) in Rome. By 1826, the Society of the Sacred Heart received its official approval from Rome.
Sophie also founded a group called the "Congregation of the Children of Mary" in 1832. This was for former students and other women.
In 1840, Sophie helped prevent a major disagreement between the Vatican and the Archbishop of Paris. She refused to take sides and helped heal the problem. During her 65 years as leader, Sophie and her Society saw many changes in France. They also saw Italy become a unified nation.
The Sacred Heart schools became very well known for their excellent education. Sophie wanted to educate all children, no matter how much money their parents had. For almost every new school, a "free" school was opened. This gave poorer children a high-quality education they might not have received otherwise.
Death and Legacy
Sophie Barat led the Society of the Sacred Heart for 65 years. During this time, it grew to include over 3,500 members. They educated women in Europe, North Africa, and North and South America. Sophie died in Paris on May 25, 1865.
She was declared "venerable" in 1879. She was beatified on May 24, 1908. On May 24, 1925, Pope Pius XI declared her a saint.
Sophie Barat's remains are kept in a special container called a reliquary. It is located in the Church of Saint-François-Xavier, Paris.
Sophie did not like having her picture taken. For a long time, people thought no portraits of her existed from her lifetime. However, a photograph of her on her deathbed was found. In 1992, a portrait believed to be of her was discovered in Rome. It now hangs in the Society's archives.
One of her first biographers, Louis Baunard, wrote a book about her life.
Quotes from Sophie Barat
- “We don’t live with angels; we have to put up with human nature and forgive it.”
- “Before making any change take counsel.... Prudence and a wise slowness are necessary in the beginning.”
- “More is gained by indulgence than by severity.”
- "Be humble, be simple, bring joy to others."
- "For the sake of one child, I would have founded the Society."
- "Your example, even more than your words, will be an eloquent lesson to the world."
- "Give only good example to the children; never correct them when out of humor or impatient. We must win them by an appeal to their piety and to their hearts. Soften your reprimands with kind words; encourage and reward them. That is, in short, our way of educating."
- "Let us leave acts, not words. Nobody will have time to read us."
What Others Said About Her
- “It was her way to think well of people until forced to do otherwise.”
- “She loved people through their faults to the core of their best selves.”
Her Lasting Impact
Many of Sophie Barat's students went on to start their own religious groups. For example, Eugénie Smet founded the Society of the Helpers of the Holy Souls.
Sophie Barat's legacy lives on in over 100 schools run by the Society of the Sacred Heart. These schools are known for their high-quality education. She started the Society to create schools for both poor children and young women from wealthier families. Today, some Sacred Heart schools teach both boys and girls.
The Sophie Barat School in Hamburg, Germany, is an independent school run by the Society.
Barat College in Lake Forest, Illinois, was a college that grew from a Sacred Heart Academy. It closed in 2005. The Barat Education Foundation continues her legacy today. It supports new educational programs that follow the values of Barat College.
The "Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat Tribute and Memorial Scholarship" helps students attend Oak Hill School in St. Louis, Missouri.
Images for kids
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Statue of St. Sophie Barat in St. Peter's Basilica
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A photograph of Sophie Barat on her deathbed.
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Stained glass window in Saint Thibault Church, in Joigny, where Sophie Barat was baptized in 1779.
See also
In Spanish: Magdalena Sofía Barat para niños
