Blessed Rosalie Rendu was born in France during the chaotic French Revolution. Her life was one of prayer and charity which led her to enter the Daughters of Charity, eventually becoming the superior of the Paris convent. She served the poor, opened a free clinic, pharmacy, schools, orphanages, childcare centers, homes for the elderly, youth clubs for young workers, and cared for the wounded between both sides of warring revolutions. She worked closely with Bl. Frederic Ozanam whose work became the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She died of frailty and fatigue from a lifetime of incredible work.