After her mother’s death, seventeen-year-old Pauline Jaricot devoted herself to a life of prayer.

She also took a vow of ongoing virginity and changed her attire to that of a field worker. She did everything in her power to live as Christ had. She desired most of all to form her heart into a replica of Christ’s continually burning Sacred Heart, saying,

“If only I could love without reluctance…without measure, without end.”

During her long hours of prayer, Pauline heard Jesus. He was lamenting over the ungrateful nature of humanity. From then on, Bl. Pauline knew her mission. Shortly after that, Pauline organized a group that used the ‘circle of 10’. Each member would find ten other people to join, thus strengthening the group. The group prayed for the success of the missions in America. Meanwhile, each member donated the equivalent of a single penny every week. Soon, the group became 2,000 strong and eventually became known as the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

Later on, Pauline founded the Association of the Living Rosary. She organized this group by each decade of three ‘mysteries’, with each group containing 15 members. This group was given canonical status by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832. In 1845, Pauline envisioned creating a Christian social reform project that included housing, food, and employment for the participants. She purchased a furnace plant to provide the building for the project. Unfortunately, the project fell victim to dishonest administrators, and Pauline lost everything. Never recovering financially, she lived in poverty until she died in 1862.

The organizations that Pauline created are still in existence today and were incredibly influential in the New World’s adoption of Christianity. The structures she created among her organizations are still utilized today as optimal models for development and simplicity. Pauline was declared venerable on February 25, 1963, and beatified on May 22, 2022.