Odilia Baumgarten was born on November 15, 1750 in Gondrexang in the east of France in the family of a miller. Her father often told her about St. Vincent and the congregation founded by him. Odilia first met the Daughters of Mercy in the town of Vic-sur-Seille, where she was simply impressed with their lives and work among the poor. There she decided to join them. On August 4, 1774 in Paris, she started her preparation for life in the Congregation. After a short stay in Brest, in 1777 Odilia was sent to Angers to serve the sick in the Saint-Jean hospital.
In 1789, when the French Revolution broke out, religious persecution began. Everyone, who remained loyal to the Church and to the Pope, was punished with confiscation of property, exile and even death. On Easter Friday, 1792, the National Convention issued an order to eliminate religious congregations and orders, which provide formation and take care of the sick. The General Superioress of the Daughters of Mercy wrote then to the sisters who served in Angers: “My dear daughters please do not stop to serve the poor sick unless you are forced to do this. Do not lose your courage; strengthen your faith and hope. Stay in prayer. That’s all you can do now”.
The Jacobins tied to force the sisters to take an oath, which was inconsistent with loyalty to the Church and to the Pope. When the sisters strongly refused, on January 19, 1794 they were arrested and imprisoned. On February 1, they were delivered to the square and joined other 200 prisoners. On February 1, 1794 all were shot.
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