Feast Day of 

St Madeleine Sophie Barat

On Tuesday, 25 May, we commemorated the Feast Day of St Madeleine Sophie Barat. The origin of Sacred Heart education finds its source in the vision and charism of 

St Madeleine Sophie Barat, who began her work as an educator in 1800 when she founded the Society of the Sacred Heart in France. 

St Madeleine Sophie Barat responded to the needs of the world around her with daring trust and continued prayer. Over time and amid successes and failures as a founder and as an educator, St Madeleine Sophie Barat came to see that ultimate truth is encountered through relationships and in prayer. 

Sacred Heart historian, Sr Phil Kilroy, RSCJ revealed how Sophie created new places and spaces for education that had an impact on society far beyond her own expectations and lifetime:

For Madeleine Sophie education was never the end. Rather it served as the means for educators and students to come to know and experience God's love. Sophie hoped that education within her schools would be profound enough to inspire people to rebuild, renew and transform society, wherever they lived. As her intuition matured, developed, and expanded, she came to see education as the means and the way to renew society (Kilroy, Madeleine Sophie Barat, A Life, 2000).

 Wholly committed to the work of education, Sophie’s vision continues to inspire the work of over 150 Sacred Heart schools in over 40 counties. We are indebted to her passion, foresight and commitment. 

Thank you, Madeleine Sophie. 

Mark Oski

Director of Mission