April 18
OCD:
Optional Memorial
Barbe
Avrillot was born in Paris in 1566. At the age of sixteen she married
Pierre Acarie, by whom she had seven children. In spite of her household
duties and many hardships, she attained the heights of the mystical life.
Under the influence of St. Teresa’s writings, and after mystical contact with the Saint herself, she spared no effort in introducing the Discalced Carmelite nuns into France. After her husband’s death, she asked to be admitted among them as a lay sister, taking the name of Mary of the Incarnation; she was professed at the Carmel of Amiens in 1615. She was esteemed by some of the greatest men of her time, including St. Francis de Sales; and she was distinguished by her spirit of prayer and her zeal for the propagation of the Catholic faith. She died at Pontoise on April 18th, 1618.
Our novice,
Leli, is named after her.