Julie Billiart was born on July 12, 1751 at Cuvilly in Picardy to a Billiart peasant family. From age 22, Julie suffered from a mysterious paralysis that left her bedridden for 22 years (1774–1804).
During the French Revolution, the paralyzed Julie survived the Reign of Terror by being hidden by sympathetic Catholic laity — famously being carried to the Sacred Heart parish at Amiens in a hay-cart.
In 1804, Julie founded the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at Amiens — dedicated to the Catholic girls' education. On June 1, 1804, Julie was miraculously cured of her 22-year paralysis at the command of Fr. Enfantin ('Mother, if you have any faith, walk!').
In 1809, the mother-house was moved to Namur in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Julie served as Superior of the Sisters until her death in 1816. Canonized June 22, 1969 by Pope St. Paul VI.