21 Facts About Marguerite Bays

Marguerite Bays, OFS was a Swiss seamstress and mystic.

Marguerite Bays lived a simple life as a member of the Secular Franciscan Order and adapted the tenets of the order's charism into her own life and social apostolate, especially after she was healed of bowel cancer on 8 December 1854.

Marguerite Bays was canonized by Pope Francis on 13 October, 2019.

Marguerite Bays was born in - a hamlet of in the canton of Fribourg - on 8 September 1815 as the second of seven children to and.

Marguerite Bays's parents were farmers and devout Christians; Bays herself demonstrated great intelligence as a student while studying at school in, and demonstrated a particular, though noted, inclination towards reflection and contemplation, while deciding to cease interacting with her peers at school in favor of the solitude of talking to God.

Marguerite Bays created a small altar in her room at home, where she placed flowers and a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Marguerite Bays would awaken in the morning to request the intercession of the mother of God at the statue before going outside to complete her duties on the farm.

Marguerite Bays' family experienced a number of struggles: her sister saw the dissolution of her marriage; her brother Joseph, whose temper was violent, served a prison sentence; and her brother had a child out of wedlock, named, whom Marguerite Bays, aged 17, cared for and educated.

Marguerite Bays attended Mass on a frequent basis despite a 20-minute walk to the neighboring village of Siviriez and took part in the Eucharistic Adoration following the celebration of the Mass.

Marguerite Bays devoted part of her time on teaching catechism to children and often visited those who were ill.

Marguerite Bays later discovered that she had the stigmata around 1854 and consulted with her local bishop to oversee the verification of just how authentic the stigmata were.

Marguerite Bays first tried to hide the wounds however her injuries were later recognised and news spread about her condition.

Marguerite Bays was subjected to a medical examination on 11 April 1873 and the doctor allowed for her niece to be present for the examination.

Marguerite Bays's condition worsened in the weeks leading into Lent of 1879 and she suffered from extreme pain during this period.

Marguerite Bays grew frail and thin and her brother Jean said she felt like a bag of bones when he had to lift her.

Marguerite Bays's symptoms are known to have included acute pain in her head as well as her throat and chest.

Marguerite Bays died at 3:00pm on 27 June 1879 following several more weeks of acute pain.

Marguerite Bays's remains were later transferred to the parish church at Siviriez.

Marguerite Bays's cause was formally opened in Rome on 24 May 1930, granting Bays the title of Servant of God.

Marguerite Bays's writings were investigated and received approved on 25 November 1956.

Marguerite Bays was canonized alongside Mariam Thresia Chiramel, John Henry Newman, Irma Dulce Pontes and Giuditta Vannini at St Peter's Basilica on 13 October 2019.