Anna Maria Martel

Anne-Marie Martel was born in Le Puy-en-Velay on Thursday, 11 August 1644. She was baptised two days later and grew up with her brothers and sisters in a Christian family, receiving an excellent education. In 1666, the parish priest, Mr Tronson, a Sulpician, sent her on a mission to help the poor, including hospice residents, lace-makers, street children, beggars, pilgrims, and peasants. She shared this mission with her companions, working together to help everyone discover that they were ‘loved by God’. As a laywoman who had taken a vow of chastity, she dedicated her life to God and the poor, as expressed in her prayer: ‘Lord, may all my pleasure be in pleasing you’.

She died of exhaustion on 15 January 1673.

Without realising it, Anne-Marie had founded the ‘Work of Instruction’.

On 21 May 1676, Monseigneur de Béthune, the Bishop of Le Puy, officially authorised this work, giving it canonical status and entrusting its direction to the Sulpicians.

For historical reasons, the ‘Demoiselles de l’Instruction’ became known as the ‘Sœurs de l’Instruction de l’Enfant-Jésus’.

Following in the footsteps of Christ and guided by Anne-Marie Martel’s vision, the Sisters of the Infant Jesus embody their charism: ‘Love of the Father and of our brothers and sisters, at the service of awakening and deepening the faith’.

Today, the spiritual family of the Enfant-Jésus brings together sisters, associates, friends, the Anne-Marie Martel fraternity and school leaders in seven countries, all under the supervision of the Congregation.