The “Daughters of Charity” society was founded on November 29th in 1633 by Vincent de Paul and Luisa de Marillac, both of whom would later be proclaimed saints.The main aim of its founders was not to create a religious congregation, but an association of laic women that would live together and dedicate their lives to charity work for those most in need.

Such a choice, that nowadays seems a completely normal course of action, was considered revolutionary at that time. In the community statute it was expressly established that the Daughters of Charity “are not nuns” and are therefore not compelled to lead a cloistered life or live in the convent dedicated to prayer and material work.

The Daughters of Charity, due to their contemporaries’ inability to understand, had to wear religious attire. However, this did not prevent them from being the first all-female non-cloistered catholic institute which has been a real point of reference and prime example for all active female communities since, and no doubt will be for those to come.