Over the years Mary grew to understand how she could best serve God.Born Helene de Chappotin de Neuville, she came from a distinguished French family in Nantes. In 1860 she entered the Poor Clares, but poor health forced her to leave the following year. In 1864 she joined the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix and took the name Mary of the Passion. From 1865 to 1876 she worked in the Madura missions in India. In 1877 she established the Institute of the Missionaries of Mary, which became the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (F.M.M.) in 1882 when she adopted the Third Order Rule.
Mary was still living when seven members of her community were martyred in the 1900 Boxer Uprising. In addition to caring for people afflicted with leprosy, her sisters have served in education, social service, nursing and catechetics—frequently with F.M.M.’s of other nationalities.
Her cause for beatification has been introduced in Rome.