Victoire Rasoamanarivo
1848-1894 19th century Feast day: August 21
Holding the Church upright when the shepherds are gone, with no authority but faithfulness.
Who was Victoire Rasoamanarivo?
Born into the Malagasy high nobility and married to a violent man, she became the pillar of the Church in Madagascar when the missionaries were expelled in 1883. For three years this laywoman had the churches opened, gathered the faithful, and defended Christians before the powerful. She was beatified in 1989.
In their own words
You may kill me, but I will never deny my faith.
God is our Father; he will not abandon us.