Venerable Théodelinde Bourcin-Dubouché

Théodelinde Bourcin-Dubouché, known commonly as Marie-Thérèse of the Heart of Jesus (French: Marie-Thérèse du Cœur de Jésus) (2 May 1809, Montauban – 30 August 1863, Paris), was a Roman Catholic French nun, artist, and founder of the Sisters of Adoration in Paris, France. The cause for her canonization has been formally accepted by the Holy See, and thus she has been declared "venerable". She was born in 1809 in the city of Montauban, Tarn-et-Garonne, the daughter of Jean-Baptiste Bourcin du Bouché, Sieur of Bouchet, (1772–1852), a high government official who served at that time as a Treasurer General of the First French Republic, and of Marie Élisabeth Carlotta Marini. The family was not religious, but rather enthusiasts of the arts. A nephew, Adrien Dubouché (1818–1881), later became a major collector of ceramics, whose contributions became the nucleus of the Musée national Adrien-Dubouché in Limoges. In this environment, Dubouché's artistic skills were encouraged and in 1833 she moved to Paris and began formal studies in the studio of François-Louis Dejuinne, who was known for his historical and religious paintings. She threw herself into her painting, spending eight to ten hours daily in the studio, producing primarily works with religious themes. At the same time, she regularly participated in the social life of Parisian society, frequently attending concerts, the theater and gatherings of literary societies, where she was noted for her high spirits and enthusiasm. In following her craft, however, Dubouché slowly developed an awareness of the suffering of people around her, especially the poor, which was leading her to a deeper love of Jesus Christ. In 1846, while in prayer at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, she experienced the first of several mystical visions which occurred until 1848 and were to effect the direction of her life. The first was a vision of the Blessed Sacrament.