Suzanne Aubert (1835-1926) founded a religious order in New Zealand, made it her life’s work to care for the sick and underserved, and could become New Zealand’s first saint.
Suzanne Aubert (1835-1926) founded a religious order in New Zealand, made it her life’s work to care for the sick and underserved, and could become New Zealand’s first saint.
History classes can get a bad wrap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.
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Hello! From Wonder Media Network, I’m Jenny Kaplan. This is Womanica.
This month, we’re talking about the women who’ve made important contributions to the world of health and wellness.
Today, we’re talking about a woman who founded a religious order in New Zealand, made it her life’s work to care for the sick and underserved, and could become New Zealand’s first saint.
Let’s meet Suzanne Aubert.
Suzanne Aubert was born Marie Henriette Suzanne Aubert near Lyon, France in June 1835.
Her early life isn’t well-documented. But she later recalled a few important moments that would lead to her religious calling:
When she was a child, she fell into an icy pond. The accident left her disabled for a time, affecting her eyesight and her limbs. This created in her an affinity and care for the seriously ill and disabled.
She also had contact with the Marists, a French Catholic congregation that led missionary trips to places like as New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga. And she sought guidance from Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney a priest on the outskirts of Lyon. He became known amongst French Catholics for his almost supernatural insight .
In 1858, the priest made predictions about Suzanne’s life -- One, that she would go on missions. Her family didn’t support her religious life, though. So, when she made up her mind to fulfill that prophecy, she had to do it in secret.
In 1860, at the age of 25, Suzanne boarded a whaling ship called General Teste, alongside a group of Catholic missionaries and Bishop Pompallier. The voyage took four months, and they arrived in New Zealand on December 30, 1860.
Suzanne later said that when they landed at the wharf, “a Maori hand was the first held out to me.”
On the ship, Suzanne had studied the Maori language. And she also took time to learn their healing traditions. She sought friendship with New Zealand’s indigenous people. And they came to call her Meri Hohepa.
Suzanne became known for helping people who were sick with herbal remedies and medicinal formulas she created herself. This has led some to believe she was growing and selling cannabis. It’s never been confirmed, but that hasn’t stopped people from calling her New Zealand’s first cannabis grower. Regardless of what they were made of, these remedies helped to fund Suzanne’s charity work.
Suzanne spent about nine years at a convent in Auckland, teaching and working with Maori girls and providing care to the people in the area..
In 1866, she was treating Bishop Pompallier when she accidentally ingested some ammonia, poisoning herself. At one point, she even fell into a coma. Everyone was convinced she had died. She was measured for a coffin and a grave was dug, when a nurse saved her life.
Suzanne went on to work as a missionary among the Maori, first in Hawke’s Bay, and then in Jerusalem, New Zealand, where she arrived in 1883. There, she opened a home for children. Thus began a period of social work, and she set out to care for the urban poor in Wellington.
In 1900, she opened the first “Home for Incurables” -- a place for disabled children. The next year, she opened a soup kitchen. And in 1907, she opened Our Lady’s Home of Compassion to care for disadvantaged children and babies.
In 1913, she traveled to Rome to gain recognition from the Pope for her own Congregation: Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion.
While she was in Italy, Suzanne still didn’t rest. She got to work nursing, taking care of victims of an earthquake, and caring for those wounded in World War I.
Suzanne’s impressive life came to an end when she died in 1926 at age 91. She was surrounded by her sisters in New Zealand. Fitting her legacy, she had a bigger funeral than any other woman in New Zealand’s history.
Today, Suzanne’s congregation continues to do the work she began, with social work, education, caring for the sick, and working with disadvantaged communities.
She is currently under consideration for sainthood. In 2016, Pope Francis declared her “venerable,” a big step in canonization. To be fully declared a saint, the Vatican will also need to assess proof of two miracles she performed.
All month, we’re honoring women who changed the landscape of health and wellness.
For more information and pictures of some of the work we’re talking about, find us on Facebook and Instagram @womanicapodcast.
Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator.
Talk to you tomorrow!