Legras, Louise De Marillac, Madame

Legras, Louise De Marillac, Madame foundress of an order of nuns, was born at Paris, August 12, 1591. She was daughter of Louis de Marillac, brother of the celebrated guard of the seals, and of the marshal of this name. In 1613 she married Antoine Legras, secretary of the queen Marie de Medicis. Being eventually left a widow, she devoted herself entirely to religious matters. In connection with Vincent de Paul she bore an important part in the establishment of various charitable institutions. They founded the institution of the sisters of charity called Saeurs Grises, on account of the color of their costume. Placed at the head of a community of this order at Paris, madame Legras devoted herself with great self-abnegation to the care of the sick. She aided Vincent de Paul in bestowing large charities in various ways. Her death occurred at Paris in 1662. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.