In 1656 a Lille citizen gifted a house. This wasn’t just any house. It became the Hospital Notre-Dame des Sept Douleurs. This charitable institution was established to care for orphaned girls. These weren’t just any orphans. They were girls aged 5 to 15 from Lille.
The Hospital Notre-Dame des Sept Douleurs had a fascinating history. It wasn’t always smooth sailing. The first director Antoinette Bourignon wanted to turn it into a cloister. She even tried to bar the founder from entering. She was dismissed. Yet she left her fortune to the hospital. The institution grew. The Maison des orphelines de la présentation Notre-Dame and the Maison des Bonnes Filles joined it.
The Hospital Notre-Dame des Sept Douleurs wasn’t static. It moved in 1884. Its new home was the former Maison Noble Famille on Rue de la Barre. The requirements for the orphans changed. In 1912 they had to be between 6 and 12 years old. Eight Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul cared for 60 to 80 girls. These girls attended school and worked in a workshop.
Tragedy struck in 1954. A fire forced the girls to relocate to Les Bleuets on Rue Boileux. The Hospital Notre-Dame des Sept Douleurs closed in 1964. This marked the end of an era. An era of compassion and care for Lille’s orphaned girls. A legacy of kindness lives on. The story of the Hospital Notre-Dame des Sept Douleurs is a testament to the generosity of Jean Stappaert. It is a reminder of the unwavering dedication of those who cared for the orphans. And a reminder that even in the face of adversity the spirit of compassion can prevail. The building may be gone. But the spirit of the Hospital Notre-Dame des Sept Douleurs endures. Reflect on its legacy. Reflect on the lives it touched.