Born into a working class family, Antoinette Fage was raised by her seamstress mother who died when Antoinette was 13 years of age.

Antoinette did the same work as her mother and later became directness of an orphanage. At their first meeting, Etienne Pernet perceived in this frail woman a strength and faith in a common vision.

In 1865, when she was 40 years of age, Antoinette gathered a group of women, the first community of the Little Sisters of the Assumption in Paris.

By their active presence among the sick, by human acts of kindness, they wished to witness without words to the Love of God.

Poverty does not frighten me; I’m not afraid that Providence will fail us