Mary Virginia Merrick was devoted to her faith from a young age. Despite paralysis that started while she was a teenager, she devoted her life to service for children in need and founded the National Christ Child Society. Below is a timeline of her life:
| YEAR | SELECTED EVENTS FROM "MISS MARY'S" LIFE |
|---|---|
| 1866 | Born in Washington, DC (615 E St NW) |
| 1874 | Prays, with her sisters, for their mother to become Catholic and for a baby brother (both were answered) |
| 1877 | A conversion experience occurs and she gives herself to God |
| 1878 | First Holy Communion; she pledges to "serve Our Lord in the poor" |
| 1880 | A fall from her playhouse at Linwood, the family's summer home in Ellicott City, MD (age 14) |
| 1883 | Diagnosis with Potts Disease; she is increasingly paralyzed |
| 1884 | Both parents die, leaving Mary to lead the family (then living at 1306 F St NW); Family and friends are enlisted to help serve the poor, the "Layette Service" begins, and Christmas gifts for children who write to the Christ Child |
| 1885 | Vision of "a Society dedicated to the Christ Child"; informal start of the Christ Child Society |
| 1887 | Official founding of the Christ Child Society |
| 1891 | "Fresh Air" program is established for children to spend two weeks in the country; the wife of President Benjamin Harrison donate to this appeal |
| 1893 | "Volunteer Visitors" group go into the community to identify additional needs of families who had received layettes and clothes |
| 1898 | The Christ Child Society has 352 members, distributes 2,200 layettes and 300 Christmas gifts and sends 30 children to the Fresh Air summer program |
| 1899 | Sewing School is established |
| 1899-1904 | Mary is in poor health and spends most of her time at Linwood |
| 1900 | Christ Child Society motto is adopted: To Work is to Pray |
| 1901-1902 | The CCS constitution is adopted, the headquarters moves and additional centers anda library are established in the city |
| 1904 | A Baltimore chapter is established |
| 1905 | Chapters are added in other cities |
| 1908 | 7 centers in Washington; 1 in Glen Echo, MD; and 6 chapters in other cities (in New York, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio and Maryland) |
| 1909 | Mary writes the book, "The Life of Christ for Children" |
| 1914 | 7 centers serve 2,600 children in Washington, DC, alone |
| 1915 | Mary writes "Come Unto Me: Prayers Before and After Communion" and fictional stories called "Margery's Tales"; 24 CCS chapters outside of Washington |
| 1916-1917 | National Christ Child Society (NCCS) is incorporated; Mary serves as president until 1948; World War I curtails some of the organization's work in 1917 |
| 1920 | Mary writes a children's book, "Altar of God," an introduction to the meaning of Mass; a dental clinic is established in Washington |
| 1922 | NCCS assists with training social workers at The Catholic University of America |
| 1926-1929 | NCCS is founding member of the Community Chest (later the United Way) |
| 1932 | Mary is first woman to receive Cosmopolitan Club's medal as "Washington's Outstanding Citizen" |
| 1937 | The Vatican awards her the Pro Ecclesiae Et Pontifice Medal for her work for the Catholic Church; the DC chapter has 1,000 members |
| 1941 | 159,740 people attend Washington's programs |
| 1948 | Mary receives an honorary degree from Georgetown University |
| 1955 | Mary dies on January 10, at the age of 88. |
| 2003 | Mary Virginia Merrick is declared a "Servant of God" by the Catholic Church |
| 2011 | The Cause of Beatification and Canonization" is initiated by Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington |