Daughters of the Cross

The Daughters of the Cross of Liège (French: Filles de la Croix) are Religious Sisters in the Catholic Church who are members of a religious congregation founded in 1833 by the Blessed Marie Thérèse Haze, F.C. (1782–1876). The organization's original mission is focused on caring for the needs of their society through education and nursing care.

The founder, born Jeanne Haze in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, was forced into exile with her family in Germany whenFrench Revolutionary Army forces occupied her principality. Her father died during that period, leaving the family in poverty.

Her family returned to Liège. After their return, because of their own experiences, Haze and her sister Ferdinande felt drawn to help people in most need. When their mother died in 1820, the sisters wanted to enter a religious community, but were not able to do so due to the restrictions of Church law at the time. In an answer to a request by their pastor, Canon Cloes, the Dean of St Bartholomew Collegiate Church, the sisters opened a school for poor children in the parish in 1829 in the home of the curate of the parish, Canon Jean-Guillaume Habets. The creation of an independent Kingdom of Belgium the following year allowed them to establish the school officially as a Catholic institution.

Soon other young women joined the pair in their desire to follow the consecrated life. Habets, originally skeptical of their desire, came to support them. He helped the group to write their Constitutions.

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