Blessed
Blessed Marguerite Rutan
Daughter of Charity, hospital sister, martyr, Dax, 1736-1794
Early life
Marguerite Rutan was born at Metz, France, on 23 April 1736; around 18 she felt a strong desire to consecrate her life to the Lord, but had to wait until she was 21 before her father let her enter the postulancy of the Daughters of Charity at the hospital of Saint-Nicolas in Metz.[1] She was sent to Paris, to the mother house of the Daughters of Charity, to continue her formation in the service of the poor in the spirit of St Vincent de Paul.[1] She then served in hospitals at Pau, Autun, Brest, Belle Isle, Fontainebleu, Blangy-sur-Bresle and Troyes, caring for the sick of every social class, before the hospital of Dax, a town not far from Pouy, where St Vincent was born.[1]
Dax and the Revolution
The bishop, who was enlarging the hospital, asked for more Daughters of Charity, and she arrived at 43 with long experience of religious life, bringing her nursing skill to the new setting.[1] On 3 October 1793 all sisters serving in hospitals or schools were faced with a choice: swear fidelity to the new order of the state or lose their posts; the Daughters of Charity of the hospital of Dax refused to swear.[1] She was accused of corrupting and slowing, by her 'incivism', the revolutionary and republican spirit of the soldiers she nursed; the revolutionary committee declared her unpatriotic, uncivil, fanatical and aristocratic, and she was condemned to death.[1]
Martyrdom and recognition
Bound in mockery to the priest Jean Eutrope Lannelongue, also condemned to death, she was led to the scaffold on the afternoon of 9 April 1794, singing the Magnificat.[1] She was beatified on 19 June 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI.[1]
Follow the evidence
Sources and notes
- Marguerite Rutan
Dicastery for the Causes of Saints · Italian
Accessed 2026-09-05
Editorial notes
Translated and condensed from the Dicastery's official Italian profile by an automated pass on 2026-09-09; identity matched on the death date and name; editorial review pending.
This is an AI-assisted draft prepared from the sources above. Its citations identify its evidence; they do not replace a historical review.
The inherited biography
The earlier biography for this record, kept unchanged while the sourced draft is reviewed.
Read the inherited biography
Blessed Marguerite Rutan was a religious sister in the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. She was born on 23 April 1736 in Metz, Moselle, France. From a young age, Marguerite displayed a compassionate heart and felt the call to serve the sick and the poor. As a result, she joined the Daughters of Charity, a religious congregation known for their ministry of mercy.
Marguerite dedicated her life to caring for the sick and needy, and her service led her to the Dax hospital in France. There, she tirelessly attended to the physical and spiritual needs of the patients, offering them comfort, solace, and the healing touch of Christ. Marguerite's presence in the hospital became a beacon of hope for those in pain and despair.
Unfortunately, Marguerite's life of service coincided with a tumultuous period in French history - the French Revolution. As the revolutionaries sought to eradicate religious orders and institutions, Marguerite and her fellow religious faced persecution and ultimately martyrdom for their unwavering faith.
On 9 April 1794, Marguerite Rutan was guillotined in Dax, Landes, France. Her martyrdom testifies to her firm commitment to her religious calling and her refusal to renounce her faith amidst the violent upheaval of the time. Her sacrifice inspires and challenges us to stand firm in our beliefs, even in the face of grave danger.
Blessed Marguerite Rutan's holiness and martyrdom did not go unnoticed by the Church. On 1 July 2010, Pope Benedict XVI declared her venerable, acknowledging her heroic virtues and the sanctity of her life. Subsequently, on 19 June 2011, she was beatified by the same pope, recognizing her as a blessed in the Catholic Church.
Today, Blessed Marguerite Rutan's life serves as an example of selfless love and dedication to the service of others. Her legacy continues to inspire men and women to follow the path of charity, compassion, and faith. She remains a shining light in the history of the Daughters of Charity and in the hearts of those who honor her memory.
Image: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons (Marguerite Rutan c1903.jpg)
Heraldry & Devotional Emblems
Documentary record: no verified arms linked yet. Read the heraldry standard.
Know of a grace or miracle attributed to Blessed Marguerite Rutan?
Report a Grace or Miracle