Louise was born in 1590 in Ferriéres-en-Brie, France. In 1604, following the death of her wealthy father, she was entrusted to the care of a “poor spinster” who ran an orphanage. Despite these challenges, she received a decent education and grew in her spiritual life. We can imagine these early hardships helped foster the spirit of compassion that would be a hallmark of her later life and ministry. In 1613, she married Antoine Le Gras, a member of the royal court. As a wife and mother, she fulfilled her duties at court and still found time to care for the poor. During this time, Louise asked Saint Vincent de Paul to be her spiritual director. Following the collapse of her family’s fortunes and by her husband’s illness, Louise battled depression; Antoine died in 1625. In time, Louise was inspired by the example of Saint Vincent de Paul to bring together a group of women to share in Saint Vincent’s mission to the poor. This was the foundation of the Daughters of Charity. Louise served as the “Sister Servant”—superior—of the Daughters of Charity from 1634 until her death in 1660. She was canonized in 1934. She is honored as the patron saint of social workers.