Françoise Teilhard de Chardin (1879 - 1911)

Born 4 May 1879 in Chateau de Sarcenat - Orcines, Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne, France

Ancestors

Died 7 Jun 1911 at age 32 in Convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Shanghai, China

Biography

Soeur Marie-Alberic du Sacre Coeur Teilhard de Chardin a des origines françaises.

Françoise Teilhard de Chardin was born on 4 May 1879 in Château de Sarcenat - Orcines, Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne, France, ^[1] daughter of Alexandre Victor Emmanuel Teilhard de Chardin (~1844 - 1932) and Berthe-Adele (de Dompierre d'Hornoy) Teilhard de Chardin (~1853 - 1936).

Her siblings were:

1. Alberic Citrice Marie Joseph Teilhard de Chardin (1876 - 1902)
2. Marie Gabrielle Josephe Teilhard de Chardin (1877 - 1881)
3. Marie-Joseph Pierre Teilhard de Chardin SJ (1881 - 1955)
4. Marguerite-Marie Teilhard de Chardin (~1883 - 1936)
5. Gonzague Marie Joseph Teilhard de Chardin (1883 - 1914)
6. Gabriel Teilhard de Chardin (1885 - 1941)
7. Olivier Marie Joseph Teilhard de Chardin (1887 - 1918)
8. Astorg Marie Joseph Teilhard de Chardin (1889 - 1978)
9. Marie-Louise Teilhard de Chardin (1891 - 1904)
10. Victor Marie Joseph Teilhard de Chardin (1896 - 1934)

Françoise died on 7 Jun 1911 in Convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Shanghai, China aged 32.

Birth Françoise was born about 1879. She was the fourth born of eleven children of Emmanuel Teilhard de Chardin and Berthe-Adele de Pompierre d'Hornoy. Dark-eyed Françoise was high-spirited and strong-willed which earned her the family nickname, 'Mademoiselle J'ordonne' (Miss I order). ^[2]

France The family lived in a château in rural France, but lived a simple lifestyle, with close family connections. The children seem to have enjoyed a happy childhood. Their mother was very pious and they participated in daily family devotions and regular celebrations of religious festivals.

China Françoise became a religious Sister with the Little Sisters of the Poor and was delighted to be posted to missionary work in China. She worked among the urban poor in Shanghai. Not long after she was appointed Mother Superior of her Community.

Death Françoise caught smallpox and died at the age of 32 years in 1911. Her brother, Pierre S.J, who was studying theology in Hastings, England, wrote to his parents, " ... it is difficult to imagine a holier death or more beautiful end." Francoise had wished above all to die in China and for China.

Sources

1. ↑ Teilhard de Chardin, Françoise, "lettre et témoignages", Éditions Beauchesne, Paris, 1975, 13. ("Née au château de Sarcenat, commune d'Orcines, près de Clermont-Ferrand, le 4 mai 1879...")
2. ↑ Lukas, Mary & Ellen, "TEILHARD". Collins, St James's Place. London, 1977, p 22

Books

• Mortier, Jeanne and Aboux, Marie-louise, editors, "Teilhard de Chardin ALBUM", Collins, London, 1966.
• King, Ursula, "Spirit of Fire, Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York.1996.

Family Trees

• Personne, famille : Phorcys - Henri de Breteche. Family tree for Alberic de Dompompierre d'Hornoy.