Mother Mary of the Cross, real name Maria Nault, was born 21st April 1901, in Saint Aignan sur Roë, in the French department of Mayenne. Saint Aignan is a small village located in the Craonnais area, at the crossroads of the departments of Mayenne, Ille-et-Vilaine, Loire-Atlantique and Maine-et-Loire.

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In 1939, a small community is brought into being around Maria Nault and settles in Toulouse. Cardinal Saliège officially approves it, and in 1954, he grants the congregation the status of Association of the Faithful.

In 1963 Mother Mary of the Cross sets up a community in Castelnau d’Estretefonds (Dept. of Haute Garonne).

 

In 1965 a community is founded in Saint Aignan sur Roë, and in 1968 two other communities are founded in Arquenay (Mayenne) and in Lagardelle sur Lèze (Haute Garonne).

 

In 1969, the Mother House, located in Toulouse, is transferred to Saint Aignan sur Roë.

 

On 14th September 1989, Mgr Louis-Marie Billé, then bishop of Laval, elevates the Congregation founded by Mother Mary of the Cross to “Institute of Consecrated Life”.

 

Mother Mary of the Cross passes away on 9th April 1999, in the Mother House of the Congregation located in Saint Aignan sur Roë, where she had been living for the last 30 years of her life.

 

Throughout her life Mother Mary of the Cross endeavoured to practice the virtues of the Lord’s Mother, in a simple and profound devotion perfectly illustrated by her motto made of 3 inseparable phrases :

 

Ecce : here I am

Fiat : I accept

Magnificat : with Mary, I worship and bless the Lord

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The apostolate of the Little Sisters is totally in line with the conciliar directions, and in any case, is in full fidelity to the Church. 

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Come and meet the Little Sisters…

The Little Sisters of Mary Mother of the Redeemer would be delighted to welcome you in their communities located in Saint Aignan sur Roë, Arquenay, Lagardelle sur Lèze and Castelnau d’Estretefonds. Come and meet them, pray with them, in order to get to know them better and see by yourselves who they are, discover their story, their warming welcome, their simplicity, their Eucharistic and Marian religious life, in full fidelity to their founder, Mother Mary of the Cross…

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Website of the Little Sisters of Mary Mother of the Redeemer       

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