miséricorde 1

Before the Revolution... 

Jeanne Germaine de Pichon, a good friend of Lamourous... 

had begun a ministry of rehabilitating prostitutes (called ´filles´, daughters...) who wished to leave that way of life. This need was even greater after the Revolution, when de Pichon approached Lamourous to take over this ministry. 

At first Lamourous was horrified at the thought, as she had been raised to believe that these women were entirely disgraceful. Her friend and spiritual director, the priest Guillaume Joseph Chaminade, was at first opposed to this, as he wanted Lamourous to help with his Sodality [broederschap]. But he left the decision up to her.

Lamourous visited the filles. While there, she experienced a profound sense of calm, peace, and joy. She found the women pleasant and comforting. 

However upon leaving, her feelings of reproach and uneasiness returned. 

-

After an illness... 

and a very bad dream about the future of the filles...

she agreed to visit the house again, absentmindedly grabbing her nightcap as she left... 

On January 2, 1801 she toured the house, again met with the filles, and again was filled with the same warm feelings from before. As the day drew to a close, she escorted de Pichon and Chaminade to the door, and saw them out saying ´I will stay here. 

She became the Bonne Mère to the filles...

and the work was called La Maison de La Miséricorde (The House of Mercy). 

Lamourous chose Our Lady of Mercy as patron of the house.

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