Madeleine d'Houet

The Venerable Mother Marie-Madeleine d'Houët, F.C.J. (Viscountess de Bonnault d'Houet) (1781–1858) was a French widow and single mother who, later in her life, was inspired by zeal for God and guided by Ignatian spirituality to found a religious institute of Religious Sisters known as the Faithful Companions of Jesus. Their goal is to work to help the poor and needy of society, and their communities have expanded around world, running schools and social service operations.

She was born Marie-Madeleine-Victoire de Bengy in Châteauroux, then in the ancient Province of Berry in the Kingdom of France (now in the Department of Indre), the second of five children of Chevalier Sylvain Charles Pierre de Bengy, commander of a corps of French Marines, and Marie de Cougny de la Presle. She was affectionately called "Gigi" by her family. The Bengy family was a large and prosperous one, prominent in the history of the region. Her parents, to whom she was close, were devout Catholics, and when the French Revolution broke out her father was imprisoned by the local Revolutionary Tribunal. While she worked to free her father, his wife took the children to a secluded farmhouse, where they followed a domestic routine. Madeleine was struck by the quiet determination and faith her mother displayed during this period.

Monsieur de Bengy was freed from imprisonment in 1800, and after his reunion with the family, they moved to Issoudun. There Bengy met another young girl her own age who was to become a lifelong friend, Constance. They became inseparable, sharing their innermost thoughts with one another. They would also go together to provide help to the poor and sick of the city.

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