Placide Viel

Saint Placide Viel

Stained glass window depicting Placide Viel in the abbey church of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte
Born 26 September 1815
Quettehou, Normandy
Died 4 March 1877
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Beatified 6 May 1951 by Pope Pius XII
Feast March 4

Saint Placide Viel (26 September 1815—4 March 1877) was a French nun and mother general who was active in organizing relief during the Franco-Prussian War. Born in Quettehou, Normandy as Eulalie Victoire Jacqueline Viel, she joined the Sisters of the Christian Schools in 1833, taking the name of Placide. St. Marie Madeleine Postel, mother general of the congregation, was her aunt.

She studied at Argentan and worked in school administration, founding new convents. In 1841, she was appointed assistant general of the sisters, an appointment that caused great resentment among her sisters. After her aunt died in 1846, she became mother general of the order at age 31. She directed the institute for 30 years and received papal authority for the order in 1859 from Pope Pius IX.

She died at Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte.

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