Bl. Agnes of Jesus

Agnès Galand was born in 1602 at Le Puy-en-Velay, France, one of seven children of a cutler. In 1623 she entered the new Dominican convent of St Catherine of Siena at Langeac, as Sister Agnes of Jesus.

She became novice mistress and then prioress. Her reputation brought her praise but also slander and envy, and in 1631 she was removed as prioress. She accepted this calmly and offered it to God for the reform of the clergy in France.

She prayed for a young abbé, Jean-Jacques Olier, years before she met him. Olier went on to found the first seminaries in France. She died at Langeac in 1634.

Legend and tradition. Her life says the Virgin Mary asked her to pray for Olier before she had ever met him.

Agnes of Jesus was beatified in 1994 by John Paul II.

Beatification allows public veneration, usually in a particular region or religious family. Canonization extends it to the whole Church.