Etables-sur-Mer is on the northern coast of France.

Saint Mother Theodore Guerin — Anne-Thérèse Guerin — was born October 2, 1798, in the village of Etables-sur-Mer in Brittany, France, by the sea. As a young girl, she was drawn to religion and she knew at an early age that she would one day enter a religious congregation.

What do you want to be when you grow up? Why?

Anne-Thérèse was home-schooled by her mother, Isabelle Guerin, who taught her religion. Anne-Thérèse’s father, Laurent, an officer in the French Navy, was away from home for long periods of time. Anne-Thérèse was 15 years old when her dad was murdered by bandits while traveling home from war. After this tragedy, Anne-Thérèse cared for her mother and her younger sister, as well as the family’s home and garden.  Can anyone say “Survivor”?

Anne-Thérèse grew up in this home.

How do you think Anne-Thérèse felt after her father was killed and she began taking care of her family? Scared? Tired? Lonely? Sad? Responsible?

Her mom was reluctant to let her daughter leave to enter a religious congregation but, finally one evening, she said “My daughter, you may leave now; you have your mother's consent and her blessing.”