Missio is very excited for the upcoming beatification of one of our founders, Venerable Pauline Jaricot, on 22 May 2022 in Lyon, France. This will be a day of prayer and celebration for the global Missio family, and the whole Church.
Pauline Jaricot
Born in 1799, Pauline Jaricot was a remarkable young lay woman with formidable faith. Through her resolution and strong beliefs, she founded Missio’s Association for the Propagation of the Faith (APF) aged just 23 years. That makes her one of Missio’s founders.
The England and Wales branch of the APF was formed in 1825. And Pauline’s legacy continues here today through the Red Box scheme; a partnership between Missio and the Mill Hill Missionaries.
Pauline Jaricot had a passion for helping to support missionaries around the world. She believed that if we all give a little and pray a little, we can share God’s love throughout the world.
The journey to Sainthood
Pauline Jaricot was recognised as Venerable in 1963 by Pope John XXIII. This means it was recognised that she lived a virtuous life, an important initial step towards being recognised as a Saint in the Catholic Church.
Beatification is the second major stage. For this step, a miracle through the candidate’s intercession must be recognised.
In Pauline’s case this happened in May 2012. A three-and-a-half-year-old girl named Mayline, from Lyon, choked on food and suffocated. Unable to resuscitate her, doctors explained that she was ‘brain dead’ and that she would die in the next few weeks.
Mayline’s miracle
Upon hearing the news, pupils and parents of Mayline’s school decided to ask for Pauline Jaricot’s intercession by praying a novena for Mayline’s recovery. At the same time, as Mayline lay in a coma hooked up to a feeding tube and respiratory machines her parents had begun looking for a child-sized coffin.
Soon afterwards the doctors were surprised to confirm that Mayline’s condition had changed – indeed, she was coming back to life. They released Mayline from the hospital in December, fully healed.
Doctors have been unable to explain the change in her health. Mayline’s parents are convinced of the intervention of Pauline Jaricot. A diocesan enquiry occurred in 2019, where a medical board validated the miracle of healing. The theological commission then certified the intervention of Pauline Jaricot in the full recovery of little Mayline.
Mayline’s miracle has led to Pauline Jaricot’s Beatification. For the final step, Canonisation, a second miracle will need to be recognised.
A worldwide celebration
Because Pauline Jaricot is such an important figure in the global Missio family, celebrations, masses and events will be happening around the world to mark her beatification, which coincides with the 200th anniversary of the APF.
Missio is full of joy at this special event, which recognises a woman who has shown us that small and simple initiatives, which bring people together in prayer and faith, really can change the world.
Visit our resources page to find everything you need to get involved in the celebration>>