Picture: unknown, painting from about 1687 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Anne de Xainctonge
French saint
SaintResearchedFranceSociety of Saint Ursula of Anne de XainctongePost-1588
Born
21 November 1567
verified
Died
8 June 1621
verified
Beatified
—
not on record
Canonised
—
not on record
Who they were
Anne de Xainctonge, of a noble Dijon family, watched the Jesuits' work from her window and conceived the idea of an uncloistered order of women to run public schools for girls, 'where education should be given, not sold'. Her parents and the prejudices of the time opposed her.
In 1606 she opened her first convent at Dôle, founding the Society of the Sisters of St Ursula, which spread through eastern France and Switzerland. She died at Dôle on 8 June 1621.
The miracles
Her first cause was lost when wars and the Revolution destroyed its documents; it was later renewed.
Why that counted as sanctity
A foundress who opened free schools for girls.
Sources
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Ven. Anne de Xainctonge
- Wikidata Q459168 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Anne de Xainctonge (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.