Louise de Marillac was canonized as a saint on March 11, 1934 in Rome. Sisters from the Daughters of Charity in the United States traveled to witness the ceremony. They arrived early at St. Peter's Basilica and waited two hours for the ceremony to begin as the Pope went through traditional ceremonies. When he arrived, he officially pronounced Louise de Marillac a saint to the joy of the thousands in attendance. The Sisters then participated in ceremonies over subsequent days commemorating Saint Louise.

1. Canonization of
St. Louise de Marillac
March 11, 1934

2. Source: Daughters of Charity Provincial Archives Blog:,
series on the canonization of St. Louise de
Marillac, taken from diaries of Sisters who
attended her canonization. Links:
March 10
March 11
March 12
Introduction
March 8
March 9
March 13
March 14
March 15

3. Louise’s canonization took place on March 11, 1934.
We are fortunate that the Daughters of Charity
Archives have detailed first-hand accounts from
Sisters who traveled from the U.S. to Rome for St.
Louise’s canonization.
In 1934 there were two American provinces of the
Daughters of Charity: the Eastern, or Emmitsburg,
Province, and the Western, or St. Louis Province. Both
Provinces sent delegations to the canonization. The
Sisters attending the canonization from the
Emmitsburg Province were: Sister Paula Dunn, Sister
Gertrude Eiseli, Sister Winifred Kerwin, and Sister
Delphine Steele. Sisters attending from the St. Louis
Province were Sister Mary Barbara Regan, Sister
Gertrude Foley, and Sister Alphonsine Casey.
The Sisters from Emmitsburg sailed from the US on
February 15, arriving in Naples on the 22nd.
Source
Detail of watercolor by Robert Wade, Sisters traveling

4. March 11, 1934:
Mass at St. Vincent’s at 5:30; Holy Communion before
Mass; a light, exceedingly light breakfast, and then we
were off to share in the greatest honor the Community
has received since the Canonization of St. Vincent de
Paul himself.
We arrived at the sacristy of St. Peter’s at about 6:45
but at least two thousand persons, including numerous
Sisters of Charity, had gotten in ahead of us. All the
American Sisters were well placed in tribunes that
allowed excellent views of the ceremonies … Though
we waited two hours before His Holiness was
heralded, the time seemed short with such a feast
before our American eyes.
Source

5. The two hours of waiting were due to the ceremony
that takes place in the Apostolic Palace. The Holy
Father goes through various rooms, ceremonially
significant, and finally, vested in his long white
mantle, is borne to the Sistine Chapel where on his
knees he intones the Ave Maris Stella. He then
receives the Mitre and being seated in the Sedia
Gestatoria follows the long procession which had
been in process of formation … Through the Scala
Regia and the Portico the procession advanced at
about 8:30 … The banner bearing a painting of St.
Louise with a group of Sisters came next and was
greeted by a wild burst of applause from all sides …
a thrill of joyous emotion filled the heart of every
child of St. Vincent and Blessed Louise, for the
Representative of Christ had deigned to come to
honor their mother.
Source

6. On his arrival at the Confession or central altar, our
Holy Father descended from the Sedia, said a short
prayer, then walked down to the great central
Throne, the Chair of Peter … Kneeling, the
[Consistatorial] Advocate addressed the Holy
Father in Latin thus: Holy Father, the very Reverend
Cardinal, here present, earnestly, petitions your
Holiness to insert in the list of Saints of Our Lord
Jesus Christ and order, that by all the faithful, be
venerated as a Saint, the Blessed Louise de Marillac
… The Cardinal Procurator and the Advocate again
approached the Throne making the same petition …
The Cardinal Procurator and the Advocate
approached the Throne for the third time and
repeated the petition. The Secretary replied that His
Holiness was convinced that the Canonization of St.
Louise was pleasing to God and that he would
pronounce the final sentence.
Source
Pope Pius_XI

7. The tens of thousands of faithful filling the Basilica rose
to their feet … Pius XI, seated on the Cathedra, the
Chair of Peter, in quality of Doctor and Infallible Head of
the Church, solemnly uttered the formula of the
Canonization and Louise de Marillac in that moment
became Saint Louise.
A few formalities were exchanged and then the Holy
Father rose and intoned the Te Deum. The choir took it
up and hundreds of priestly voices joined in, alternately,
making the effect most impressive. At the end the Holy
Father recited the prayer of Saint Louise and
immediately after this the Cardinal Deacon sang the
Confiteor, naming Saint Louise after the Holy Apostles
Peter and Paul. A final Pontifical blessing and the great
ceremony of the Canonization of St. Louise de Marillac
was accomplished …
Source

8. After His Holiness pronounced the words of
Consecration and adored the Sacred Host he elevated it
and turned from left to right giving the faithful in the
cross sections an opportunity to see it. … When the
sacred vessels had been purified and carried to the
credence the Holy Father returned to the altar and
continued the Mass. The solemn blessing having been
given … the Holy Father mounted the Sedia and the
recessional began … The silver trumpets that at the
moment of Consecration solemnly and majestically
pealed forth the exquisite strains of Silveri, rang out
again in the same stately march that ushered in His
Holiness, and the great bells of St. Peters, wild with joy,
loudly proclaimed to Rome and to the world the
entrance of a new Saint into the galaxy of the Church’s
chosen ones …
Source

9. … As we came out of the
Basilica it was teeming
rain but nothing could
dampen our joy, not
even a Roman rain.
Perhaps heaven was
weeping tears of
happiness over the
recognition given to one
of its celestial
inhabitants.
Source

10. The Church of St. Andrea della Valle was the
church designated for the Triduum … The Mass
proceeded with a large number of attendants and
much ceremony. The singing was beautiful …
There was no sermon but during the lengthy
singing of the Credo and the Gloria, the beautiful
frescoes in the sanctuary, depicting the crucifixion
and the burial of St. Andrew, gave much food for
thought.
The main altar was draped from the dome to the
altar with cloth of gold and scarlet velvet in the
style of a royal canopy. In the center of this
drapery was a large painting of St. Louise standing
in an attitude of ecstasy. At her feet two angels
hold large miraculous medals …
First day of the Triduum in honor of St. Louise.
MARCH 12, 1934
Source

11. ... we assisted at the Triduum Solemn
Pontifical Mass celebrated at St.
Andrea’s by His Eminence Cardinal John
Verdier, Cardinal-Archbishop of Paris. It is
not an exaggeration to say that the
crowd numbered 3,000 persons.
The ceremonies were beautifully
accomplished, the music formed an
emotional and aesthetic background;
devotion was sincere. All in all, it was
another triumph for Saint Louise.
MARCH 14, 1934
Source

12. Dinner at noon, a few minutes of
relaxation and then the way of the Cross
at the Coliseum [sic] … It was our first
experience in a Roman tram, but, going
and coming we enjoyed the novelty of
being jostled, pulled, yelled at, and
thrown on two or three persons before
we finished the trip.
We entered the Coliseum with a feeling
of profound reverence and made our
way over the area to the cross in the
center which many years ago had been
removed by Garibaldi but which Benito
Mussolini has replaced. The base bears
the name of Il Duce …
Source

13. Tonight the Triduum at St. Andrea closed
in glory. … The Te Deum was intoned and
its triumphant notes rang out praise and
thanksgiving to God for St. Louise and for
all the graces He was bestowed upon the
world through her.
Source

14. MARCH 15, 1934
Two Masses. For breakfast an extra sugar bun and
chocolate, if desired. At 9:00 our Most Honored
Father offered the Holy Sacrifice at Saint
Andrea’s. This gave space enough for the Sisters
to attend in a body. The assembly was impressive
and the occasion joyful for we felt as one great
family that had been re-united. The Ladies of
Charity and the Louisettes were also there as our
auxiliaries in saving God’s poor … All the musical
program for the Triduum was rendered by the
Schola Cantorum, directed by the Right Reverend
Monsignor Rallaolo Casimiri, Leader of the Lateran
Church Choir. It was wonderful to look up at the
altar and see our Father officiating at the glorious
function, sharing these great honors and dignities
and to know and feel that we are his children in
Saint Vincent and Saint Louise …
Feast of Saint Louise
Source

15. Source: Daughters of Charity Provincial Archives Blog , series on the
canonization of St. Louise de Marillac, taken from diaries of
Sisters who attended her canonization. Images: Depaul Image
Archive, Wikimedia Commons
https://docarchivesblog.org/
2013/03/09/canonization-of-
st-louise-de-marillac-
account-of-march-10-1934/
https://docarchivesblog.org/
2013/03/11/canonization-of-
st-louise-de-marillac-
account-of-march-11-1934/
https://docarchivesblog.org/
2013/03/12/canonization-of-
st-louise-de-marillac-
account-of-march-12-1934/
https://docarchivesblog.org/2013/03/
08/canonization-of-st-louise-de-
marillac-1934-introduction/
https://docarchivesblog.org/2013/03/
08/canonization-of-st-louise-de-
marillac-account-of-march-8-1934/
https://docarchivesblog.org/2013/03/
09/canonization-of-st-louise-de-
marillac-account-of-march-9-1934/
https://docarchivesblog.org/
2013/03/13/canonization-of-
st-louise-de-marillac-
account-of-march-13-1934/
https://docarchivesblog.org/
2013/03/14/canonization-of-
st-louise-de-marillac-
account-of-march-14-1934/
https://docarchivesblog.org/
2013/03/15/canonization-of-
st-louise-de-marillac-
account-of-march-15-1934/