Marie was a French mother and wife who achieved sainthood in her heroic efforts to support and protect the faith among her family and fellow citizens.

She was born to the family of a high government official in Paris in 1566. Her aunt was head of a convent, and that’s where Marie received her education. She impressed the nuns at the convent, and would have joined them, except her parents wanted her to marry. She was their only surviving child.

She obeyed, and at 17 was married to Peter Acarie, an aristocratic lawyer who held an important position in the national treasury. Peter used his position to help Catholics who were fleeing England because of Protestant oppression.

Peter and Marie bore six children—three girls and three boys. All three girls entered a convent, in time, and one of the boys became a priest. All retained the piety and devotion they learned from their mother.

Peter was a strong supporter of a Catholic political party in France that opposed Protestant factions. When the political climate suddenly changed, Peter was on the wrong side of the new king, who exiled the family and confiscated his property. The family was reduced to poverty and nearly starved.

Marie took on the family’s cause and represented her husband before the court. She was able to prove his innocence, and he was granted permission to return to Paris. Their fortune had diminished, but she had won back his good name.

Marie was known for her charity, and many wealthy patrons—including Mary of Medici and other royalty—entrusted their almsgiving to her. She fed the hungry, assisted the elderly and forgotten, and helped the dying.

Marie was a mystic, even in the midst of her busy life, and she received two visions from St. Teresa of Avila, the nun who reformed the Carmelite order in Spain. The visions encouraged Marie to use her position to introduce these reformed Carmelites into France, which she did. Several convents were established, and Marie herself helped train young women for life as Carmelite sisters, even though she was a married laywoman.

When Peter died in 1613, Marie joined the Carmelite nuns for the last four years of her life. She took the name Mary of the Incarnation and joined a convent she helped to found, which was led by her daughter. Marie promised her daughter obedience and took on a role helping to wash dishes. She died of natural causes on Easter Sunday in 1618, and she is depicted in this stained glass window from the Basilica. She carries the banner of the Carmelites reformed by Teresa of Avila, and is also shown receiving a vision from Teresa.

St. Marie Acarie, you attained holiness as a busy wife and mother, pray for us!