St. Julie Billiart Wooden Doll Ornament

Handmade original St. Julie Billiart wooden doll ornament. Perfect for the Christmas Tree. Bring out on her feast day or for a Novena. Gift for a birthday or sacrament (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Holy Orders, Marriage) celebration. Teacher, priest, grandparent gift.

Feast Day: April 8

Born in Cuvilly, France in 1751 the fifth of seven children to wealthy farmers, but as a teen in manual labor when poverty hit, spending free time teaching catechism. Hit at 30 with a mysterious illness, she was traumatized into paralysis after witnessing an attempt to kill her father. She continued to catechize from her bed for the next 20 years and house fugitive priests during the French Revolution in 1789. Friends smuggled her out of danger, moving from house to house despite growing physical pain and loss of speech. With a vision of Christ at Calvary, she and a rich woman started the Sisters of Notre Dame to teach poor girls and catechists; her paralysis miraculously ended after 22 years. Known as “the smiling saint” she died in 1816. “Be like the sunflower that follows every movement of the sun and keep your eyes always turned towards our God.”

Made of wood, felt, ribbon, and handmade accessories. Includes tag and card with Saint's biography and description. Approximately 4" tall. Packaged in cellophane bag. Shipped in box with bubble wrap.