The woman who founded the first female retreat house was born 400 years ago. Meeting setbacks in her life with faithfulness, flexibility and creativity, she provides a spiritual model for these more contemporary turbulent and uncertain times
It was 21 October 1673. Dusk was falling over the Breton town of Vannes, and candles were flickering into life in the refectory of a spacious house. Rows of women’s faces were discernible in the half-light. They were turned attentively towards a painting so large and vivid that it dominated the room. Then a woman’s voice began to speak.
This was the first retreat house for women, and it had been founded by a woman, Catherine de Francheville. She left few letters or other personal writings behind. Her story has dissolved into that of the religious community that grew out of her work, La Retraite. But what we do know of her life has particular relevance in the turmoil of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was characterised by uncertainty, frustrated beginnings, and unexpected forks in the road. Francheville’s story captures the value of the uncertain and the unexpected when they are met with faith and imagination.
She was born into a wealthy aristocratic family on 21 September 1620. Grinding poverty and wars of religion had left Breton society in tatters. Francheville was well educated and brought up with a strong faith – her father had arranged for Mass to be celebrated in the family’s chateau – but most local people were receiving little to no education or pastoral care.
