Mary Virginia Merrick was in important figure in the history of Catholic social reform in America. A native of Washington DC, in 1887 she founded the Christ Child Society - which still operates today in 44 communities across the United States.

 

She did this to demonstrate her “personal love for the Christ Child expressing itself in personal service for the least of His little ones”. Despite becoming paralyzed following a fall while a teenager and living in daily pain until the age of 88, she transformed and inspired thousands of people through her deep love for the Christ Child, her Catholic faith and virtuous life.

 

She is a candidate for canonization in the Catholic Church.