Alix Le Clerc
Alix Le Clerc ( born February 2, 1576 Remiremont, France, † January 9, 1622 in Nancy) was a French nun and co-founder of the Augustinian choir women. As a nun she took the name of Maria Theresa of Jesus, 1947, the beatification.
Life
Her father was a respected businessman from Remiremont in Lorraine, who was raised to the peerage. Her mother was related to several noble families. The mainly Christian parents had the most ardent desire to introduce her daughter in the noble society.
A sudden illness, which lasted over four years, resulted in Alix to a spiritual insight. After regaining health she went to confession and was shaken by mysterious dreams. In one of these dreams
" She saw herself in the Church of Our Lady in Remiremont during the fair. When they to the altar step at Offertory - the beautiful custom, make offerings, was at that time among the faithful - she remarked to a side of the altar a woman in a peculiar costume, which was quite different from any she had ever seen: a black dress, a black veil, a black kerchief. She recognized in this woman the Blessed Virgin Mary itself, " I did not dare to approach her because of my unworthiness ," writes Alix. " Then she noticed that, she called me and said: ' Come, my daughter, I will take you in, because it has my son was pleased that you went to confession. ' "Although Alix thought ," It's just a dream, "she felt again the conflict between their previous life and the call of God, who wanted to lead them into a new, unknown being. Everything would be better, she thought, if only they was leaving Remiremont, where she was involved in their " pleasures ". "
When his father died in 1595, the family moved to the countryside in the small village Hymont. For service, the family went to the church of Mattaincourt and here she met her spiritual father, the canons and Pastor Pierre Fourier ( 1565-1640 ). Encouraged by the spiritual and pastoral activities of this priest to Alix felt called to be a nun to live.
Founding of the order
Another dream that strengthened their desire and in which they believed to have received submits a job, she told her pastor. Fourier pastor encouraged her in the interpretation of dreams and instructed them to seek like-minded girls. Alix it, three young girls to win for a life in a religious community succeeded. In a midnight mass, they dedicated their lives to the church to Mattaincourt service in the grace of God. This is considered the founding of today's Augustinian canon women. On July 2, 1598, the Congregation opened in Poussay the first girls' school, this mixing did nevertheless a large increment for the new congregation. In 1599 they built the first monastery in Mattaincourt. Quick behind the other monasteries in Saint- Mihiel, Saint- Nicolas- de-Port, Pont-à- Mousson and Nancy were founded. In 1598 the first monastic rules were written, to which the choir Mr. Pierre Fourier had contributed a large share. 1616 Pope Paul V granted for the Convention of the monastery Nancy the papal approbation, this was followed in 1643 by Pope Innocent X to confirm and expand on the entire women's orders. 1606 Motherhouse of the Augustinian Canons women was built in Nancy and Maria Theresa took over to 1621 the office of Superior.
Death and beatification
At the age of only 46 years, Mother Mary Theresa of Jesus died on January 9, 1622 in Nancy. In her life she had had to survive a lot of inconvenience. Your strong belief in the help of the holy Mother of God, she had never lost. On May 4, 1947, she was called by Pope Pius XII. beatified. Your Church Memorial Day was established on the 9th of January.