Marie Therese, the eldest of 11 children, was of a noble, but relatively poor family. Her father, a lawyer, apparently was not skilled at being a business manager and had to sell various parcels of the family's property in order to make ends meet. All that remained for Marie Therese's inheritance was a portion of her mother's estate, a country home and farm at Pian en Medoc, some 12 miles northwest of Bordeaux.

Born and raised in Barsac, she moved to Bordeaux with her family when she was 12. Very close to her mother - they related almost as equals - she became head of the family at the latter's death in 1785. When nobles were forced out of the port cities in 1794, she retired to the family estate at Pian. The pastor at the local church there was a Constitutional cleric, so she refused to attend services. But she remained on good terms with the man and was instrumental in having him renounce his civil oath. With his departure, the parish church was abandoned; Marie Therese filled this void, and she became the heart and soul of the parish community for the next six years. She gathered the parishioners for prayer, religious instruction, family counseling, and secret Masses celebrated by disguised and fugitive priests. For all practical purposes, she was the "pastor" of the flock and was dearly-beloved by all. In fact, when the Revolution was over and priests could function in the open again, she had a hard time persuading "her" parishioners to go to the church again instead of coming to her.

She kept in touch with Chaminade during his three-year exile, 1797-1800. On his return she worked with him at developing the Sodality. But her major work after 1800 was breathing life back into a badly needed service in Bordeaux: providing a place to live and an opportunity to change for the many prostitutes who wished to redirect their lives.

Such a work had been begun before the Revolution by two of her friends. When calm was restored, one of them, Jeanne Germaine de Pichon, took it up again. When she approached Chaminade (founding the Marianists) to ask for Marie Therese's help, his response at first was negative; he had counted on Marie Therese for his work with the Sodality and was unwilling to let her spend energy on something else. On second thought, he left the decision up to her. She herself at first would not hear of it. But, after a couple of visits to the house where the prostitutes had been sheltered, Marie Therese changed her mind.

Even though she had been in poor health since her birth almost 50 years before, she approached her work with incredible energy, determination, compassion, and creativity. When the number of prostitutes proved too large for several different rented locales, she made a leap of faith. Without funds, but with great confidence in God, she purchased at auction a former convent, named it Maison de la Misericorde (the House of Mercy, or Loving-kindness), and took in as many prostitutes as it could hold - eventually up to 400 at one time. The only condition for entry was that the women wished to change their way of life. They came freely; they stayed freely. And despite overwhelming obstacles and difficulties, the work prospered. Through all the years until Marie Therese's death, Chaminade was at her side with his encouragement, fundraising, spiritual guidance, and personal friendship.

Jeanne Germaine, Marie Thérese Charlotte de Lamourous   1754-1836

Thèrese, la plus agée de 11 enfants, était noble, mais de famille relativement pauvre. Son père, un avocat, n'était apparemment pas un habile commerçant: il a dû vendre divers biens de la propriété de famille afin de joindre les deux bouts. Tout ce qui est resté de la transmission familliale à Marie Thèrese était une partie du domaine de sa mère, une maison au Pian en Médoc . Née et élevée à Barsac (comme le vin), elle s'est déplacée à Bordeaux avec sa famille quand elle avait 12 ans. Très près de sa mère, elle est devenue chef de la famille à sa mort en 1785. Quand les nobles ont éte bannis des villes en 1794, elle s'est retirée chez elle au Pian dans le Médoc. Le curé de l'église locale était un révolutionnaire, elle a refusé d'assister à des services: mais elle a gardé de bons rapports avec l'homme. A son départ, l'église de paroisse a été abandonnée: Marie Therese a rempli le vide, et elle est devenue le coeur et l'âme de la communauté de la paroisse pendant six années. Elle a accueilli les paroissiens pour la prière, l'instruction religieuse et organisé des messes secrètement célébrées par des prêtres fugitifs. Pour tous elle était le Curé de la paroisse. Quand la révolution fut finie et que les prêtres furent revenus , elle eut un moment difficile car elle n'arrivait pas à persuader ses paroissiens de retourner à l'église traditionnelle. Elle est restée en contact avec le pére Chaminade (fondateur des Marianistes) pendant son exil de trois ans, 1797-1800. À son retour elle a travaillé avec lui à développer l'Ordre. Mais son travail principal après 1800 à été d'héberger des nombreuses prostituées en mal de repentir. Un tel travail avait été commencé avant la révolution par deux de ses amies. Quand le calme fut revenu, l'une d'elle, Jeanne Germaine de Pichon, lui à demandé de s'en occuper. De santé fragile depuis sa naissance, presque 50 ans avant, elle à réalisé son travail avec une énergie, une détermination et une grande créativité. Sans argent, elle a acheté aux enchères un ancien couvent, nommé la Maison de la Misericorde, qui a hébergé jusqu'à 400 prostituées.

 retour à la premiere page