miséricorde 3

Lamourous was not alone in her efforts... 

to help the filles restore their lives...

she had a staff of directresses that lived among the filles... 

and provided spiritual as well as physical support. 

Many of the directresses expressed a desire to become a religious institute... 

but Lamourous was hesitant. 

At that time all religious institutes were subject to regulation by the French government, and she did not want the government to be able to dictate how the community was organized and who was admitted.

The Miséricorde was entirely voluntary, filles could enter and stay, or leave at any time they wished – government help would mean, the house could have to accept women who were forced there, after having been arrested for prostitution...

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In 1818, after consulting... 

with her friend and spiritual director Chaminade, the archbishop, and other advisors...

Lamourous consented to have the directresses form a religious institute. While recognized by the government as a ´refuge´ (a place where arrested prostitutes were sent), the Miséricorde was able to maintain its come-freely-stay-freely policy. 

The first sisters took vows in 1818, but not much changed in the everyday life of the house. 

The sisters still shared their whole lives in common with the filles.

In 1972... 

the Sisters of the Misericorde merged with the Sisters of Marie-Joseph (becoming the Sœurs de Marie-Joseph & de la Miséricorde) and switched the focus of their ministry to prisons, which the Marie-Joseph Sisters were already doing.

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